Guests: Women's Religious Archives Collaborative

Sr. Susan Durkin, OSU, Executive Director

Sarah Lubelski, Lead Archivist

Catholic Sisters have shaped American society through education, healthcare, and social services since 1727, yet their stories remain largely untold outside their communities. The Women's Religious Archives Collaborative aims to change that by creating a state-of-the-art heritage center in Cleveland's historic Central neighborhood.

• Women Religious Archives Collaborative breaking ground May 2025 in Cleveland
• 41 congregations across US and Canada contributing their historical collections.
• 32,000-square-foot facility will include climate-controlled vaults and exhibition space.
• Project highlights sisters' contributions through education, healthcare, and social services.
• Archive preserves everything from photographs and documents to personal artifacts.
• Stories include the sister who roller-skated through "five-mile highway" convent hallways.
• Distinction explained between sisters (apostolic) and nuns (monastic/cloistered)
• Cleveland uniquely home to 17 motherhouses at one point in diocesan history.
• Facility expected to open December 2026 as research destination and educational center.
• Project celebrates the sisters' quiet, transformative impact on countless lives and communities.

Learn more at archivescollaborative.org and follow the project on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on this important preservation effort. Special thanks to Margaret Eigsti, Managing Director for her assistance with this episode.

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