Box 1

Scope and Contents Letters from Mo. Drexel and Sr. Mary Mercedes regarding donations from the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to help Fr. Emerick establish a catechist school in Jamaica and to pay the salaries of the teachers there. Includes discussion of further donations to assist in “promoting virtue” of Jamaican women through industry. Also a letter from Fr. Lambert of the New York Freeman’s Journal and Catholic Register thanking Fr. Emerick for an ebony cane sent from...

Scope and Contents

Letters predominantly from Mo. Drexel referring to the “industry among the girls in Jamaica” and the possibility of the Sisters of Mercy of Jamaica accepting a Black woman into their community who was a student at the St. Francis de Sales (Rock Castle) boarding school. Further includes discussion of a possible mission in Philadelphia for “the non-Catholic negroes” and an impending visit by Fr. Emerick.

Scope and Contents Letters from Mo. Drexel concerning a Jamaican applicant for the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and the successful purchase of a property in Philadelphia–likely 836 N. Broad St.–through the efforts of her attorney and brother-in-law Walter George Smith. Further includes discussion of the possible purchase of a Presbyterian church at 704 N. Broad St. for $100,000, which would eventually become the Church of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. Also letters from Fr. Hanselman, Sr. Mary...

Scope and Contents Letters from Mo. Drexel regarding the possible site of the Church of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament at 704 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, and a proposed agreement between the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and the Society of Jesus to manage it. Also contains letters from Fr. Hanselman that Fr. Emerick should form a corporation, later the St. Ignatius Religious and Missionary Society of Pennsylvania, to facilitate the arrangement. Further correspondence includes a note from Fr. Mulry...

Scope and Contents Letters between Mo. Drexel, Fr. Hanselman, and Fr. Emerick about the proposed agreement with the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament regarding the Church of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Philadelphia. Includes discussion of conflict in the matter and the eventual decision of Philadelphia Archbishop Patrick Ryan to transfer the mission to the Holy Ghost Fathers. Further correspondence includes information from attorney Anthony Hirst on the tax exemption status of the secondary property at...

Scope and Contents

Letters from Mo. Drexel regarding support of Fr. Emerick’s mission; a plan to rent a house for Fr. Emerick while he teaches at St. Peter Claver; a proposal to purchase the property at 704 N. Broad St. for the Church of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament; and the decision to not move forward with the aforementioned agreement. Also letters from Srs. Mary Francis Xavier, Mary Mercedes, Mary John, and Mary James of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.

Scope and Contents Letter from Sr. Mary John wherein she prays Fr. Emerick will return to “the colored work again” (1910); letter from the rector of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Fr. Thomas Park of the Holy Ghost Fathers regarding their fundraising efforts (1911); letter from Mo. Drexel to a Fr. M. Woods discussing his work in Newburn with “our Black and beautiful ones” (1913); letter from Mo. Drexel to Fr. Emerick that his plan to refuse day school admission to students who do not attend Sunday school...

Scope and Contents

Handwritten and typed copies of proposed agreements between Mo. Drexel and the St. Ignatius Religious and Missionary Society of Pennsylvania for her financial support for the Church of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament.

Scope and Contents

Includes newspaper clippings regarding the sale of Central Presbyterian Church on N. Broad St., which would become the Church of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament (1909), and the dedication of the church by Archbishop Ryan (1910). Further contains a note from Fr. Emerick regarding the donation of these letters and his preliminary inventory (1918).

Scope and Contents

A small sacramental register written by Fr. Emerick containing the names of children of the Mission of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament; those he baptized and confirmed; those who he gave first communion; and those who received the Scapular of Our Lady.