Sister Mary Christopher O'Rourke papers
Scope and Contents
Most of the collection consists of correspondence. Additional materials include biographical information, professional records, speeches given by Sister O'Rourke, and documentation of her inauguration as college president, also largely consisting of correspondence.
Dates
- 1961-2003
- Majority of material found within 1968 - 1973
Creator
Language of Materials
Materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is not restricted.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
Various copying restriction apply, according to the Archives' use policy. Guidelines are available from the Salve Regina University Archives. Salve Regina University owns the copyright to material produced by employees and trustees of the University and work for hire. Requests for permission to publish material from the University Archives should be directed to the Archivist. See also the Archives' copyright and publication statement.
Biographical / Historical
Sister Mary Christopher O'Rourke served as president of Salve Regina College from June 1968 to 1973. Appointed in spring 1968, she was inaugurated on May 17, 1969. Previously, she had been head of the sociology department at the college.
Sister O'Rourke earned her B. A. from Brown in 1940, and then her M. A in 1955 and her Ph. D in Sociology in 1962, both from the University of Notre Dame. Her doctoral dissertation was titled, "The Impact of the Educational Environment on the Development of a Professional Self-Image."
After her tenure as President, Sister O'Rourke worked as Director of Guidance in New Bedford. At the time of her death in 2003, she was living at a convent in Tiverton, Rhode Island and had been part of the Sisters of Mercy for 61 years.
Extent
2 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
Abstract
Includes materials related to Sister Mary Christopher O'Rourke's work as president as Salve Regina College. In additional correspondence and professional records, the collection includes some materials about her life and professional work after her tenure as president.
Arrangement
Materials in the collection are arranged in five series:
Inauguration
Biographical and Personal
Correspondence
Salve Regina College
Speeches
Within each series, materials are arranged alphabetically.
Accruals
Additional accruals are not expected.
Separated Materials
Three folders of Commencement and Convocation speeches given by a variety of speakers were moved from the collection to RG 6.7: Convocation and RG 6.8: Commencement.
Processing Information
The collection was transferred to the Archives and processed sometime before 2014, possibly by former Archivist Sister Mary Smith. In fall 2017, University Archivist and Special Collections Library Genna Duplisea refined the arrangement and wrote the finding aid.
Creator
- Title
- Guide to the Sister Mary Christopher O'Rourke papers, 1961-2003 (bulk 1968-1973)
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Genna Duplisea, University Archivist and Special Collections Librarian
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Salve Regina University Archives Repository
McKillop Library
100 Ochre Point Ave.
Newport RI 02840 USA
401-341-2276
401-341-2951 (Fax)
archives@salve.edu