Archives and Records
Contact Us
Sisters of the Holy Cross
Archives and Records
101 Bertrand Hall – Saint Mary’s
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556-5000
Phone: 574-284-5572
Fax: 574-284-5900
Email: archives@cscsisters.org
Hours:
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
We maintain records and materials about the origin, history, spirit and growth of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross and its ministries since 1843. Our department holds records of current, deceased and former members of the Congregation. Our special collections include the nursing services of the sisters in the Civil War and the Spanish-American War. As well as the emergency services provided to refugees under the sponsorship of Catholic Relief Services (CRS). We also house more than 260 papers delivered at annual Holy Cross History Association conferences.
Heritage tour
The Congregation’s heritage tour, known as Holy Cross Way, is located on the fifth floor of Bertrand Hall, Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, Indiana. Visitors are welcome to visit from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. We offer you the opportunity to view six rooms, Holy Cross Way, the Heritage Room, International Cultures Room, Moreau Room and Tribute Room. Come as often as your heart calls you. Spend time in reverence and in the good company of our family of Holy Cross.
Transcript requests
The Congregational Archives and Records office also houses the permanent records of students from all closed educational institutions sponsored by the Congregation.
The Request for Transcript form can be completed online, printed and signed. Please fill in the form completely. It can then be mailed, faxed or e-mailed as an attachment. A fee of $3 per transcript is required. Further instructions can be found on the form. Transcripts requests should be sent to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Archives and Records address, listed on the above.
Alumnae and friends of Holy Cross sponsored institutions who wish to contribute to the ministries of the Sisters of the Holy Cross may contact our Development Office.
History
The Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross traces its origin to Le Mans, France. In 1841 four women received the religious habit from Father Basil Anthony Moreau, our founder. In 1843 some sisters arrived at Notre Dame, Indiana, to assist the Holy Cross priests and brothers, and to begin their ministry of education. Their ministries expanded to include health care during the Civil War. Sixty-four Holy Cross Sisters, of the 160 sisters in the United States, nursed the sick and wounded on both sides of the conflict. The sisters’ services were again called for during the Spanish-American War when 12 sisters served in the Army camps in Kentucky and Georgia. In subsequent years the missions of the Sisters of the Holy Cross expanded to include not only many parts of the United States, but also Bangladesh, Brazil, Ghana, India, Mexico, Peru and Uganda.
The purpose of the association is “to promote and stimulate historical study of and research on those religious communities (priests, brothers and sisters) which trace their origins to Father Basil Anthony Moreau of Le Mans, France.” Find more details on their website.
