Archivists Conference

The Third International Mercy Archivists’ Conference entitled 'Mercy Outreach: Past, Present, and Beyond' was held from 5 – 10 November 2009 at Mercy Center in Burlingame, California.

This conference brought together 53 archivists, communicators, congregational and provincial leaders, heritage personnel, and historians from Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Ireland, Kenya, Newfoundland, South Africa, United Kingdom, and United States.

Row 1 (L-R): Patricia Bell rsm (Great Britain Institute/MIA), Rosaline O’Connor rsm (Ireland/US), Maureen McGarrigle rsm (Americas/US), Peter Connell (Australia), Jean Olwen Maynard (Great Britain Union), Cait O’Dwyer rsm (Ireland), Mary Kay Dobrovolny rsm (Americas/MIA), Elizabeth O’Hara rsm (Americas/US).
Row 2 (L-R): Sheila Carney rsm (Americas/US), Mary Lyons rsm (Ireland [WP]), Theresa Rutty rsm (Americas/Chile), Patricia Moran rsm (Ireland/Kenya), Angela Bugler rsm (Ireland), Mary Jeremy Buckman rsm (Americas/US), Susan Nowalis rsm (Americas/US), Agnes Gleeson rsm (Australia), Ann Marie McQuaid rsm (Ireland).
Row 3 (L-R): Cecilia English rsm (Ireland), Miriam Grech rsm (Australia), Marianne Cosgrave (Ireland/MIA), Katherine Doyle rsm (Americas/US), Jennifer Kiuvu rsm (Ireland/Kenya), Stephanie Kitching rsm (New Zealand), Marilyn Gouailhardou rsm (Americas/US), Majella O’Keefe rsm (Ireland).
Row 4 (L-R): Mary Coyle rsm (Ireland), Margaret O’Sullivan (New Zealand), Madonna Gatherall rsm (Newfoundland), Mary Lyons rsm (Ireland [SP]), Ita Keane rsm (Great Britain Union), Barbara Jeffery rsm (Great Britain Institute), Eleanor Little rsm (Americas/US), Cathy Edge rsm (Great Britain Institute), Marion McCarthy rsm (Great Britain Institute), Angela Forde rsm (Ireland), Roberta Doelling (Americas/US), Brenda Phelan rsm (Newfoundland), Joan Freney rsm (Americas/US).
Row 5 (L-R): Kay Lane rsm (Australia), Jane McGee (Australia), Eithne Lowther rsm (Ireland/US), Judith Weiley rsm (Australia), Monica Sinclair rsm (Australia), Joanne Ng Murphy (Australia), Kate Lewis (Great Britain Institute), Elizabeth Fletcher rsm (Ireland/Kenya), Anne Hewitt rsm (Great Britain Institute), Maria Goretti Comerford rsm (Ireland), Jean Evans (Ireland/South Africa), Monte Kniffen (Americas/US). Not pictured: Annie Medley (Australia).
Photo courtesy of Genemarie Beegan rsm (Americas/US).

Archives Committee Report

Marion McCarthy rsm provided an update of the work of the Archives committee from November 2001 until April 2009. View Presentation

Mercy Outreach Through Archives and Heritage Displays

	Peter Connell described the planning and implementation processes for developing Mercy Heritage Center in Brisbane, Australia. View Presentation
	Barbara Jeffery rsm discussed the transformation of some of the buildings and grounds of St. Mary’s Convent in Handsworth, England, into a heritage centre. View Presentation
	Monica Sinclair rsm explained how the Singleton (Australia) Congregation fulfilled its Chapter decision to develop and open up its buildings and land to the wider community for the promotion of Mercy values of spirituality, service, hospitality, and culture. View Presentation
	Katherine Doyle rsm explored the challenges and opportunities presented by permanent displays, temporary displays, and museum exhibitions. View Presentation

Oral Archive Experience

	Angela Bugler rsm provided an introduction to oral archives, including their purpose, strengths, and limitations, as well as examples of oral archives from the Congregation of Sisters of Mercy (Ireland). View Presentation
	Anne Marie McQuaid rsm talked about the interview process that the Congregation of Sisters of Mercy (Ireland) uses in expanding their oral archives. View Presentation
	Marianne Cosgrave presented information about the preservation and storage of oral archives material, as well as ethical and legal issues to be considered. View Presentation

Other Archival Considerations

	Kate Lewis discussed the limitations of present archival indices and thesauruses for religious congregations and presented the need for a Mercy subject thesaurus. View Presentation
	Sheila Carney rsm, vice postulator for the Cause of Catherine McAuley’s Canonization, talked about the process for canonization, how Catherine’s Cause is proceeding, and some of the value that Catherine’s canonization would be to the Church. View Presentation
	Mary Lyons rsm is a canon lawyer. She discussed the responsibilities of leadership and the rights and responsibilities of archivists for the preservation and careful handling of archival material. She included an overview of what should be kept in personal files and the documents to be kept permanently, and the importance of familiarity with both civil and canon law pertinent to archives. View Presentation