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Notre Dame of Maryland University Junior Ladies of Charity records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: NDMU-007-010

Scope and Contents

The Notre Dame of Maryland University Junior Ladies of Charity records, dated 1938-1960s, consist of the organization's constitution, correspondence, financial documents, meeting minutes, activity and project/program reports, newsletters, event programs, workshop and conference schedules, brochures, photographs, photographic negatives, news clippings, award certificates, and a scrapbook.

Documentation about the Baltimore chapter of Ladies of Charity, specifically correspondence and reports, is also included in this collection.

Dates

  • Creation: 1938-1960s

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is located at the Loyola Notre Dame Library. Contact Archives and Special Collections for more information.

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Notre Dame of Maryland University Junior Ladies of Charity records are the physical property of the Archives and Special Collections, Loyola/Notre Dame Library. Copyright, except in cases where material has passed into the public domain, belongs to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns.

Biographical / Historical

According to its undated constitution, the Junior Ladies of Charity (JLC) was a “confraternity” whose purpose was to “honor Our Lord Jesus Christ in His suffering members the sick poor, by aiding them corporally and spiritually.” JLC was affiliated with The Ladies of Charity, an arm of Catholic Charities of Baltimore. According to an October 15, 1942 Columns article, its inception at Notre Dame was in 1939, but JLC did not become a “recognized unit” of the college until 1942. The activities of JLC were more diversified than their constitution suggests. While they did visit sick children in hospitals and veterans at their Perry Point hospital, they also engaged in outreach to other facilities housing orphans and children with special needs. They collected and distributed clothing, toys, household, goods, and reading material to needy families, and held Christmas parties for children in various locations. A document from the 1960s summarizes: “The Junior Ladies of Charity of Notre Dame College have been engaged in volunteer service for approximately a quarter of a century. During this time the organization has provided thousands of college women the opportunity of ‘carrying Christ’ to others.”

JLC persisted until the late 1960s, but as with many other organizations, changes in society and the Catholic Church brought about their attenuation and eventual demise. A March 17, 1967 Columns article states “In an effort to bring back a religious emphasis into the now totally secular club, the members hope to establish at least one project, primarily based on religion.” This same issue reported plans for a meeting whose speaker would talk about “what college students are doing in Chicago in the interracial field.” While Columns listed a JLC president for 1967-68, JLC makes no further appearance in the newspaper in 1968 or 1969.

Extent

1.37 Cubic Feet (2 legal size document boxes and 1 oversize box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Junior Ladies of Charity (JLC) became a “recognized unit” of the College of Notre Dame in 1942; the organization provided college women the opportunity of "carrying Christ" to others through volunteer service. This collection, dated 1938-1960s, consists of the organization's constitution, correspondence, financial documents, meeting minutes, reports, newsletters, programs, brochures, photographic materials, news clippings, and a scrapbook.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Materials in this collection were transferred to the Archives by various university offices and individuals affiliated with the university.

Processing Information

This collection was processed in 2019 by Christina Meninger.

Title
Guide to the Notre Dame of Maryland University Junior Ladies of Charity records
Author
Christina Meninger, Jack Ray, and Bria Langston
Date
2019
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Notre Dame of Maryland University Archives Repository

Contact:
200 Winston Avenue
Baltimore MD 21212
410-617-6870