Collections Spotlight

This past month the USF Archives was very productive in tackling some backlogged collections. Jojo, the Archives’ student worker, and I processed two collections: the Caritas Collection and the Drama and Theater Department Records. Processing is the act of organizing and arranging materials physically, while creating descriptive guides which provide context to the materials.

Student worker Jojo processed the Drama and Theater Department Records. This being her first attempt at processing I encouraged her to take her time to research the department and its history at the University. 
Left: Drama and Theater Department materials before processing.
Right: Completed processing job complete with new acid-free folders and proper housing.

She discovered the department began while the school was Assisi Junior College, and continued through the College of St. Francis years. Department Head Sister M. LaVerne and Dean of Students Sister M. Eulogia distinguished the department by promoting various activities in the community and reaching out to donors. The department provided opportunities for children in Joliet to showcase their talents through the Children's Little Theater. Performance locations includes: Little Theater, Children's Theater which was later renamed Piper's Playhouse in 1970, Walden III Theater, and College of St. Francis’ auditorium/atrium.

The Caritas Collection relates to the annual dinner and scholarship fundraiser for the University of St. Francis, which began in 1958.
 This is a letter  written by the Sisters of St. Francis to be sent to friends and benefactors of the school asking them to underwrite the cost of a table at the Caritas Dinner Dance, a black tie fundraising event.

The materials in this collection largely consist of administrative papers from the Caritas Committee, promotional programs and invitations, photographs and photo albums from various years, newspaper clippings, and other ephemera. In total, Caritas dinners have netted almost $4 million for the University. This collection is one of the larger holdings for the University of St. Francis Archives, and it contains a wealth of information about this annual event.


To learn more about these collections and the rest of the Archives' holdings, please visit the Finding Aids page or come in to look through them in person.

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