Name/Title
Letter from Jerome Finn to Leo PitassiEntry/Object ID
2021.1.775Description
Letter from Jerome Finn to Leo Pitassi instructing Pitassi to work on aisle/sanctuary windows for St. Leo's Church in Winston-Salem, NC.Collection
Pitassi Stained Glass Studio CollectionCataloged By
Weaver, JonahLetter Details
Letter Date
Dec 14, 1931Sender
Name
Rev. Jerome FinnAddress
867 W. Fourth St., Winston-Salem, NCAddressee
Name
Leo PitassiAddress
5345 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PATranscription
Transcription
St. Leo's Church
West Highlands
Winston-Salem, N.C.
Dec 14/31
Dear Mr. Pitassi,
Well here I am.
I made the trip to Richmond Va
saw the heir to the estate and he
gave me permission to have the two
windows instead of one.
Now I want you to go to work on
the 2 sanctuary windows, one
on the East side & the other on
the west side of the altar.
You have the plan of the Sanctuary.
Remember the two windows on the
back of the alter are the two angels &
the other on the west side is St Jerome.
These tree of course are in now. The
two remaining spaces - directly off
the east or left side for one & on
the right side or west side the other.
Let the East Side or left side be
St. Scholastica and the west or right
side be St Benedict. This will finish the 5 windows in the sanctuary.
I am calling left & right as you
[page 2]
face the altar coming into the church.
Have St Scholastic in a brilliant
setting with a white dove in her
hand, she is generally pictured that
way. Have St. Benedict with a
staff or crozier in his hand he is
pictured that way with a scroll
or letter in his hand with the latin
words "ora et labora."
These two Saints are Benedictine
Saints, one the founder of the Bene-
dictine order of men & St. Scholastica
the founders of order of women. They
are brother & sister & would most
appropriately fit in our church.
Have the inscription at the
bottom of both windows
In Memory of Clement Manly.
now if all this is not clear
write me but I want the left
or east side the window of the
woman, St. Scholastica. & the other
[page 3]
side St. Benedict.
You may make St. Scholastica
in white & blue or gold, her dress
in light colors. St. Benedict in
darker colors same thing like St.
Jerome which you made.
You know these are the large
$400.00 windows or $450 which
was it? I must reserve some
of this donation & bequest for the
work here of putting them in.
You pay the freight express to me
do you not? Please let me
know what they will cost.
But do so work on them at once
& give me a grand job as I wish to
show these windows especially as an
example to Non Catholics who gave
me this bequest.
Write me anytime
Ever F. Jerome Finn
"over"
[page 4]
at the bottom of each window
In Memory of Clement Manly
[page 5]
Letter #2
St. Leo's Church
West Highlands
Winston-Salem, N.C.
Dec 14/31
Dear Mr. Pitassi,
I forgot to mention
in my letter of yesterday that I have
your letter of Dec. 7 in which you say
that the figures of St. Benedict and
St Scholastic would be too sombre
or dark.
We are putting St. Benedict in the
West side and that will have the
afternoon sun & it will be OK even if
the robe & windows is darker than
others.
Have St. Scholastica in lighter colors
with the full robe & Sisters (Benedictine
Habit) dress. You can easily get a
picture of her. See the Nuns or Sisters
about Pittsburgh at St. Marys N. Side
in Allegheny. There are Benedictines there.
Please if possible let us have these
two Saints. It is a Benedictine Church &
I especially wish these two Saint rep-
resented in my church.
Write me if all is not plain to you
F. Jerome Finn OSBTranscriber
Weaver, JonahCreated By
jonah@weaverphoto.comCreate Date
October 20, 2025Updated By
jonah@weaverphoto.comUpdate Date
October 20, 2025
