海角社区

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Dominican Marks 100 Years in River Forest
A groundbreaking ceremony on Feb. 2, 1920 celebrated the beginning of construction for Power Hall.

If you want to understand the history of 海角社区, you must first understand the driving force behind the institution that has remained true to its mission for over a century: The greater the need, the more Dominican rises to the challenge. It was that sentiment that sparked the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters鈥 dream of Rosary College.

The story of our humble beginnings in River Forest is one of remarkable leadership, steadfast perseverance and inspired ingenuity. Led by Mother Samuel Coughlin, the congregation鈥檚 mission to build a women鈥檚 college rooted in faith and dedicated to providing a rigorous liberal arts education faced difficulties each step of the way. Yet, the Sisters remained undeterred despite being met with resistance from leadership, having their building plans stalled by World War I and facing a host of other challenges.

The Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters quickly established a reputation for excellence in education following the congregation鈥檚 founding in 1847. Just years after becoming an institution of higher education in 1901, St. Clara College was revered for its quality academics. But with St. Clara College鈥檚 existing campus bursting at the seams with growing enrollment and the immense logistical challenges of southern Wisconsin鈥檚 terrain, Coughlin knew changes were needed.

鈥(Mother Samuel) knew that something had to be done,鈥 said researcher Rose Olszewski Powers 鈥77, MALS 鈥78, who is completing a historical account of Rosary College that was started by the late Sr. Jeanne Crapo. 鈥淭here was a lack of transportation, no railroad stop and no road, and the need for more space caused by increasing enrollment. Thus began the search for a new location. It was Mother Samuel鈥檚 faith, her vision, her practicality, and her leadership that built Rosary College.鈥

Conversations around the relocation of St. Clara commenced in the early twentieth century, but talks intensified in 1912 when the Sisters learned of a proposal from DePaul University for an affiliated women鈥檚 college.

Coughlin expressed initial interest in the proposal, but ultimately held firm her desire for curricular and administrative independence.

In a letter to the Sinsinawa Sisters sharing an update on the derailed proposal, Coughlin urged prayer for 鈥渙ur temporal needs and the establishment of a first-class college wherever God wills.鈥

The congregation considered locations around the country that featured adequate railroad access such as Denver, Nebraska, Milwaukee and Madison, according to Dr. Christopher Allison, history scholar and director of the McGreal Center for Dominican Historical Studies at 海角社区.

Yet it wasn鈥檛 until 1916 that the congregation began to again consider the possibility of the Chicago area.

In a correspondence with Chicago Archbishop George Mundelein, Coughlin detailed thought to be high-end suburbs,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hey had really good schools, really good homes and community services, and this emerging Catholic school network.鈥

Despite not yet having the full blessing of Mundelein, the congregation purchased land in Oak Park. But the sisters opted to sell it in 1917 after building plans were halted due to World War I.

Shortly thereafter, the sisters purchased property in River Forest 鈥 and the beginning of the university鈥檚 history in the community was officially underway.

Mundelein was still resistant toward the prospects of River Forest, but he knew a harmonious relationship with Coughlin was necessary to fulfill his hopes for a nationally regarded women鈥檚 institution in the Chicago area. Coughlin also knew the two would need to work together to help fund the new location.

鈥淪he needed his blessing to operate and fundraise in the archdiocese and to expand the impact of the congregation鈥檚 educational ministry, while he required Mother Samuel鈥檚 collegiate operation, including a roster of highly educated sister professors, to bring to fruition his dream of an elite Catholic women鈥檚 college in Chicago,鈥 Allison said.

The relationship between Mundelein and Coughlin eventually grew into an affectionate friendship, according to Allison. Mundelein became a strong advocate as he championed the Sinsinawa Sisters鈥 years of effort to create a women鈥檚 college in River Forest.

鈥淚t is useless for us to shut our eyes to the fact that woman is coming out of her former environment and taking her place alongside of man in almost every avenue of professional and commercial activity,鈥 Mundelein wrote a century ago in an address seeking parishioner donations for the fledgling Rosary College. 鈥淚t would be criminal neglect on our part not to prepare her for her new responsibilities.鈥

Fundraising would continue to be key to securing the millions of dollars needed to build a college campus in River Forest. The Rosary College Campaign was created as a major fundraising arm, appealing to Roman Catholic parishes and would-be donors.

Promotional materials for one campaign aimed at meeting a $500,000 goal stressed the importance of a Catholic College for women.

鈥淭he world is calling trained women today,鈥 a pamphlet read. 鈥淭here is only one way to prepare and that is through College Halls.鈥

Another fundraising brochure detailed the early values of Rosary College, describing it as an institution 鈥渄edicated to high Christian purposes and which aims to give a liberal education that will train leadership in intellect, in the fine arts and in character.鈥

Catholics throughout the Chicago Archdiocese and beyond were urged to contribute. Each contribution, no matter how small, was logged in a ledger and exemplified the grassroots nature of the campaign.

鈥淭here were so many different sources of donations,鈥 Powers noted. 鈥淐onvents would raise money, the Sisters themselves would donate, school children in Dominican schools would give.鈥

Ground was finally broken in River Forest in the winter of 1920. The first collegiate building constructed at Rosary College was Power Hall. A former farmhouse, which became known as Rosary House, also stood on the property, predating the new buildings.

鈥淚nspections of the institution last Saturday revealed鈥hat, when completed, it will rank among the really beautiful academic structures of the middle west,鈥 the Oak Leaves newspaper declared in June 1922.

A solemn dedication and blessing by Archbishop Mundelein took place on Oct. 1, 1922. 鈥淭housands鈥 witnessed the ceremony, 鈥渋ndicating that the institution is devoutly supported by both rich and poor,鈥 the Oak Leaves reported.

The campus officially opened to students for registration on Oct. 6, but the school buildings were far from complete, Powers noted.

鈥淐lasses were held in bedrooms, outside or wherever they had space and there weren鈥檛 workers around,鈥 she said. 鈥淪ome floors had no flooring. Rooms had no doors, windows, things like that. And yet, they persevered.鈥

There were 55 Sisters on faculty when Rosary College opened, with an enrollment of 163 students, Powers鈥 research confirmed. The majority of students 鈥 143 鈥 resided on campus and came from 13 states and Canada. Rosary initially awarded three degrees: A Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science in home economics and a Bachelor of Music. Tuition was $150 and room and board cost $450.

The Chicago Tribune reported that among Rosary College鈥檚 first students was Madeleine Grambois, a direct descendent of famed Mississippi River explorer Louis Joliet. But the average student did not have such a celebrated pedigree.

鈥淭his was a social elevation project,鈥 Allison said, explaining that the college drew largely 鈥渄aughters of working-class people in the city鈥 who represented immigrant communities.

One hundred years after bringing that vision to life, educators at 海角社区 continue to carry out the sisters鈥 history of high-quality liberal arts education, relationship-centered support and the mission of educating the children of immigrants and first-generation college students.

鈥淭he liberal arts are crucial in this journey as knowing how to respect and analyze the historical, intellectual, and cultural roots of the many peoples in our world is often key to improving it,鈥 said Mickey Sweeney, an English professor in the university鈥檚 Rosary College of Arts and Sciences. 鈥淲e are committed to partnering with our students so that we can continue to develop the intellectual skills we need to assess current complexities and thereby solve what needs solving, innovate what needs reinventing, and create what needs to be reimagined.鈥

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