36th Annual Holy Cross History Conference Is June 1-4

The Holy Cross History Association will hold its 36th conference June 1-4 at the University of Notre Dame. Presentations during the event will include:

• A digital presentation about the Sisters of the Holy Cross during the Civil War, biographies of notable priests and accomplished brothers, and visits to historical places in the Notre Dame area will highlight the event.

• Margaret Hultz and Marie Davis, who have created a syndicated cartoon strip among other projects, will present a series of digital apps featuring the stories of Catholic sisters highlighting their service as nurses during the Civil War.  Thirty-six Holy Cross sisters answered the call of Indiana’s governor for their service. CSC sisters were the first paid women in military service. They earned one dollar a day.

• Brother George Klawitter, author of numerous books on Holy Cross history and currently teaching at Holy Cross College, will talk about early founder Jacques Dujarie and his dealings with the Count du Roscoat.   

• Anthony Oleck, who has two degrees from Notre Dame and is now an assistant rector on campus, will present “Leo R. Ward, CSC”.  

• Brother Bernard Klim, missionary and artist, is the subject of Joseph Tobin’s research. Tobin, who has a BFA and a MA in art from Notre Dame, taught art at the secondary level for 43 years and is now a resident in Holy Cross Village.

• Brother Francis Ellis, now retired but formerly a teacher (math, Latin and history) and administrator for more than 50 years, has researched “Brothers’ Land on State Road 933.”

• “Using The Notre Dame Archives” is the topic of Kevin Cawley’s presentation. He has been in charge of the Catholic historical collections in the Hesburgh Library for more than thirty years.  

• Marsha Stevenson will talk about the art history of Roman churches, in particular Santa Brigida, which was a Holy Cross property from the mid to late 19th century.  Stevenson studied art history at the University of Wisconsin and has been employed at the Hesburgh library since 1990.

• Father Sorin’s vision of the apocalypse and incorporating it into the tabernacle in the Sacred Heart Basilica is the subject of Hugh O’Donnell’s presentation.  O’Donnell has Masters Degrees in chemistry and theology.  He has taught AP chemistry for twenty years in Pittsburgh public schools and presently teaches pre-med chemistry at Holy Cross College.  He is the father of five (all ND grads) and grandfather of 13.  

• “Little Known Facts About Notre Dame” is the topic of the banquet speaker, Thomas Blantz, CSC, emeritus professor of history at Notre Dame.

The conference also will include tours to Sacred Heart Basilica, Log Chapel and the congregations’ archives offices.

For information about the conference contact Brother Lawrence Stewart, CSC, at

574-631-8972.