Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
CATHOLIC WOMAN'S LEAGUE
CATHOLIC WOMAN'S LEAGUE. On January 10, 1915 due to the efforts of Archbishop Keane, the Catholic Woman's League was established in Dubuque. At a meeting held at ST. MARY'S CASINO, Msgr. Brady, rector of the Cathedral, presided over the initial meeting at which the archbishop appointed Mrs. George Wallace Myers as the first president. The executive board of the League and members of the church councils of ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY formed the Board of Associated Charities.
The first project of the League was establishing the Neighborhood House in the former Levi home at 1057 Main. The building was renovated for the needs of the center and the headquarters of the League. Sewing classes, catechism classes, an employment bureau, and visiting nurse office were created.
As the work of the League expanded, new headquarters were found on White Street near the corner with 12th Street. The work of the League then grew to establishing a home for the babies of unwed mothers and to find suitable families for adoption.
This building became St. Theresa Home at 5th and Locust STREETS. The service's growth led to a relocation of the program to a home on Grandview Avenue. This building had the capacity for twenty-eight babies. Miss Naomi Lorenz, R.N. was in charge with two practical nurses as assistants a cook, laundress, and janitor. Neighborhood House looked after the children of employed mothers. For a small fee, the children were provided with a warm lunch, rest period and games. Between 25-30 were served daily.
By 1930 the League had entered into such work as finding work for the unemployed; looking after juvenile court cases; finding homes for abandoned infants; assisted in financing a school nurse for parochial schools; sewing and knitting for the Red Cross during WORLD WAR I; outfitting poor children for their First Holy Communion; and donating kneeling benches, pews and altar supplies for the chapel at the POOR FARM.
Records of officers being elected to the League were made as late as 1941.
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Source:
1. Catholic Women Do Charity Work," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, August 24, 1930, p. 48
[[Category: Organization
