Marquette High School - Explorer Yearbook (Alton, IL)

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History of the Ursulines in Alton For over four hundred years the Ursuline Order, founded by St. Angela of Merici, has devoted itself to the education of youth especially young girls. For one hundred years, the Ursulines have taught the youth of Alton. Right Reverend Damian Juncker, Bishop of the Alton Diocese, asked the Ursuline Order to take charge of the Catholic schools of Alton. In March, 1859, seven Sisters from the Ursuline Community in St. Louis moved into a three-storied house nearly opposite the Hayner Library on State Street. This was the first Ursuline Convent in Alton. In 1860, a new site on Fourth Street was purchased. A new convent was built there and on December 28, 1863, it was solemnly blessed and dedicated by Bishop Juncker. After a few years, with many new Sisters in the area, a new wing was added and dedicated by the Right Reverend Bishop Ryan, D.D., of happy memory, under the title of the Holy Family. At the close of the last century, the Sovereign Pontiff, Leo XIII, expressed a desire for the unification of the Ursulines throughout the world. In obedience to the Holy Father, the Alton Ursulines sent delegates to Rome where, on November 21, 1900, they subscribed to the Articles forming a canonical Union of Ursulines. As the Ursuline Community increased its numbers, the Convent on Fourth Street became totally inadequate. In 191. the Ursuline Sisters purchased twenty-eight acres of the old Armstrong place. This was used for some time as a Novitiate. The coming of Right Reverend James A. Griffin to the diocese of Springfield in Illinois added a new impetus to the work of the Ursulines in this diocese. The present beautiful convent on Danforth Street, is a result of his advice and encouragement. At this convent the Sisters conducted an Academy of Music and Art, a School of Commerce and a Child Garden. At this time, they were also teaching at three parishes. The need of a Catholic High School for the Catholic students of the area was impera- tive. The old convent on Fourth Street was razed and Marquette High School was built. This institution has prepared hundreds of Catholic citizens. The Ursulines now teach at Marquette High School, at St. Bernard in Wood River, St. Patrick, St. Ambrose in Godfrey, Sts. Peter and Paul, and maintain a Child Garden at the Danforth convent. A recent addition to Marquette was opened in 1957.

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MARQUETTE HIGH SCHOOL ALTON, ILLINOIS

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Dedication We, the seniors of 1959, wish to dedicate this edition of the Explorer to our Lrsuline teachers who, this year, are commemorating the centenary of their foundation in Alton. With a deep sense of pride and with lasting gratitude we join in the celebration of this happy occasion. We speak not only for ourselves, graduates and students of Marquette, but also for the many fathers and mothers who have benefited by the Ursulines’ long successful years in this city. Esteeming them as true educators, dedicated to the lofty pursuit of Christian ideals in their own lives and in their apostolic work we express a sincere prayer that theirs may be the rich rew r ard expressed beautifully in the words of Holy Scripture “ Those tvho instruct others unto justice shall shine as stars for all eternity.” (Daniel 12:3) The Seniors