Name/Title
St. Joseph’s Hospital GatheringEntry/Object ID
70.80.086Description
Gathering at St. Joseph's Hospital located at 5000 West Chambers Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This event celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the Franciscan Sisters in the United States. Kneeling in the first row, from left to right, are Sister Jane Mary (Francisann) MacDonald and Sister Viola (Estelle) Francken. Seated in the second row, from left to right, are Sister Thelma Jordan, Sister Helen (Rene) Wiesend, Sister Tarcisa Germing, Sister Georgia (Irmina) Elliott, Sister Theresia (Josephine) Bertelsmeyer and Sister Rita (Benigna) Weyrich. In the third row standing, from left to right, are Sister Adelheid (Angelbert) Haubner, Sister Lupita (Maryellen) Archuleta, Sister Hedwig (Alphonse) Struckhoff, Sister Laura (Humilitas) Broeckelmann, Sister Margaret (Marie) Diebold, Sister Marcella Heinicke and Sister Clara (Regina) Kaslin. In the fourth row, from left to right, are Sister Genevieve (Alverna) Staeck, Sister Marcellina (Cortona) Seyer, Sister Rosa (Augusta) Woelfel, Sister Dorothy (Jeanne) Gengler, Sister Marie Weissler, Sister Jane Hermus, Sister Mary (Maureen) Coffey, Sister Dorothy (Lilian) Van Domlen and Sister Florence (Raynald) Smelich.
Opened in 1883, St. Joseph's Hospital was originally located at 4th Street and Reservoir Avenue in Milwaukee. In 1898, the nearby Presbyterian Hospital and School merged with St. Joseph's, leading to the creation of the St. Joseph's School of Nursing. The hospital moved to a new location at 5000 West Chambers Street in the late 1920s, and by 1936, the nursing school had become a collegiate program through Marquette University. In 2016, St. Joseph's Hospital became part of Ascension Health.Context
Born in Germany in 1827, Mother Clara Pfaender founded the Franciscan Sisters, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, in 1860. With a focus on education, nursing and care for orphaned children, the women reached out to those in need. In the following years, Sisters were sent to nations such as France, the Netherlands and the United States. There, they gained increased autonomy when America became a province in 1884, and by the early 20th Century, their health and education ministries included locations in Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and Colorado. Looking to relocate, in 1947 land was purchased in Wheaton, Illinois and a new motherhouse was completed in 1955. As time passed, the Sisters continued to develop their healthcare ministry and addressed pressing issues such as Polio, Aids and affordable housing. During the early 21st Century, they celebrated the 150th anniversary of the congregation and found new sponsorships for their healthcare and housing ministries. Today, the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters continue to follow in the spirit of Mother Clara Pfaender by responding to the needs of the Church and our times.Lexicon
Search Terms
Religion, Religious Organizations, Health, Medical, Historic Sites, People, Photos, Photographs, PicturesReproductions
Notes
Please contact the WFS Archives (archives@wfsisters.org) for further information or materials requests.