Founded in 1847, the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters have been dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel through both word and deed. Their commitment to education led to the establishment of St. Clara College in 1901 which then became Dominican University today. The sisters have always emphasized diversity of through, rigorous education and a dedication to social justice. Below are brief biographies of some of our most notable Sisters, more information on the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters can be found through Dominican University's magazine publication, A Century of Opportunity. For any further questions, feel free to reach out to us at archives@dom.edu or (708) 524-5929
Mary Clemente Davlin (March 1929-December 2017) was an American author, journalist and advocate. She's widely regarded for her works on personal development, relationships, and women's issues. Davlin was a Sinsinawa Dominican sister born on the Southside of Chicago where she attended St. Phili Neri Elementary School and Acquinas Dominican High School. She earned a Bachelor's degree at Rosary Collect and a Master's degree at the University of Wisconsin, after which she studied Italian and violin at the Pius XII Institute in Florence, Italy. Davlin wrote for various magazines including The New York Times, Chicago Tribute, and The Boston Globe, in which she focused on personal development and societal challenges faced by women. She is also recognized for her books such as Married to a Schizophrenic, and The Courage to Change: a Woman's Guide to personal growth. The Sister Mary Clemente Davlin Diversity Leadership Award is given annually at Dominican in her honor. This also includes a Waters, Davlin, Crapo "Sisters" Scholarship specifically for African American students.
Sister Gregory Duffy (1912-1995) was a Dominican nun and long-term theatre professor at Rosary College. During the summer Sr. Gregory would travel to New York City to develop personal relationships with infamously known actors at the time and visit the theater. Some of these relationships included Mary Martin with whom she connected with after watching South Pacific in 1949. Sr. Gregory was also consulted in for productions which highlighted an inside perspective on religious life which was used for the musical Trapp Family Singers.
Sister Albertus Magnust McGrath (January 1911-October 1978) was an American Roman Catholic nun, philosopher, and educator. She entered Visitation High School in 1923 at the age of 12 and graduated from Rosary College in 1931. She soon after joined the Dominican church and took the name of Sister Albertus Magnus. She taught multiple subjects at Edgewood High School including history, English, Latin and Mathematics. In 1942 McGrath earned a M.A. from the University of Wisconsin and a Ph.D in 1946. She then taught that same year at Rosary College in the History Department. McGrath was known to have controversial opinions and openly answered questions regarding the oppression of women within institutionalized Catholicism. She was a strong advocate for women's access to higher education and was a member of the National Organization for Women. McGrath also published her book, What a Modern Catholic Believes about Women.
Sister Catherine Wall (1867-1938), came to St. Clara Academy at Sinsinawa Mound as an orphan at the age of four alongside her older sister, and was both raised and educated by the Sisters. She excelled within the Fine Arts and was awarded the Gold Medal in Art at her graduation in 1885, with highest honors for her work in oil painting, watercolor, pastel painting, and decorative arts. After spending five years in New York studying art, she returned to Sinsinawa and entered the Congregation, making her first profession of vows in 1891. Sister Catherine is considered a master copyist of Renaissance works where she received training in Florence, Rome, and Munich alongside Sister Angelico Dolan.
