Mary Frances Clarke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Frances Clarke
BVM
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| Born |
Dublin, Ireland
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| Baptised | 15 December 1802 |
| Died | 4 December 1887 (aged 84) Dubuque, Iowa, United States
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| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation | Educator, sister of charity |
| Years active | 1828–1887 |
| Known for | Founding the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Clarke University |
Mother Mary Frances Clarke (born around December 15, 1802 – died December 4, 1887) was an Irish nun. She started a Catholic group called the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This group began in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to help educate children of immigrants. Later, in the 1840s, they moved to Dubuque, Iowa. There, they set up schools in many places. One of these schools eventually became Clarke University. Mary Frances Clarke was honored after her death. She was added to the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame.
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Mary Frances Clarke: A Life of Service
Mary Frances Clarke was born in Dublin, Ireland. She was baptized on December 15, 1802. Her parents were Mary Anne and Cornelius Clarke. She went to a "penny school." This was a basic school where you paid a small weekly fee. There, she learned many things. She studied botany, music, and needlework. She also learned to read and write well. Later, she helped her father. She worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for his leather business.
Starting a School in Dublin
When a serious illness spread in Dublin, Mary Frances and some friends moved. They went to a poorer area of the city. There, they decided to open a school for girls. In 1831, she and three other women joined a religious group. They decided to live together. The next year, they opened a school. They called it Miss Clarke's Seminary.
Journey to America
Before their school fully started, the women heard about a need for teachers. A priest visited their school in Dublin. He told them that teachers were needed in the United States. So, Mary Frances Clarke and four other women decided to move to America. Their goal was to teach the children of Irish immigrants.
In July 1833, they traveled from Dublin to New York City. Then they went on to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They faced a challenge when they lost their money. A kind stranger helped them with their journey. Father Terence Donaghoe also helped them find a place to live. The women worked in a clothing factory. This helped them earn money to pay bills. It also allowed them to start their school.
Founding the Sisters of Charity
On November 1, 1833, Mary Frances Clarke founded a new religious group. It was called the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She started it with her friends from Ireland. They stayed in Philadelphia for ten years. During this time, they opened two private schools. Their group grew to include 19 women.
Moving to Iowa
In 1843, a Bishop named Mathias Loras visited them. He was traveling to Baltimore. He asked the sisters to come to Dubuque, Iowa. He wanted them to help start schools there. In June 1843, five sisters traveled west. They went with Bishop Loras. They also traveled with another bishop, Peter Richard Kenrick. They went by train, canal, and rail. They arrived in Iowa at the end of June. They were the first religious group to settle in the Iowa Territory.
They had planned to teach Native Americans. But this plan did not work out. Instead, they quickly opened a school for settlers' children. They called it St. Mary's Academy. By September 1843, the rest of the sisters came west. They even brought their piano with them. They arrived in October.
A few months later, in May 1844, their school in Philadelphia was destroyed. This was done by a group called the Know Nothing rioters. Because of this, Father Donaghoe left Philadelphia. He joined the sisters in Iowa.
Building Schools and a Community
In 1845, a new place was chosen for the sisters. It was called the St. Joseph's Prairie Home. It was about eight miles southwest of Dubuque. The school building was finished in 1846. The sisters stayed on the prairie until 1859. They needed more space for new members. So, they moved the school to Dubuque.
The sisters started schools in many places. They opened schools throughout Iowa and Wisconsin. By 1867, they even started schools in Chicago.
Official Recognition
Father Donaghoe died in 1869. After his death, Mary Frances Clarke officially registered the group. She also asked the Pope for approval. On September 15, 1877, Pope Pius IX gave the order temporary approval. This approval was good for six years.
In 1881, St. Mary's Academy moved to a new location. This site is now where Clarke University stands. The school was renamed Mount St. Joseph Academy. Mary Frances Clarke kept working for full approval of her group's rules. This approval was granted on March 15, 1885, by the Vatican. The sisters then asked that Clarke be the leader for her whole life. The Vatican agreed.
Two years later, on December 4, 1887, Mary Frances Clarke died. She was buried in the Mount Carmel Cemetery in Dubuque, Iowa. When she died, her group had started many schools. They had schools in 23 towns in Iowa. They also had schools in Wisconsin, Chicago, Wichita, and San Francisco. The group had grown from five members to 449. In 1984, she was added to the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame.
