This image may be protected by Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.). Copyright restrictions applying to the reproduction and use of this image are available from the Sacramento Public Library
Description
The arrival of the Sisters of Mercy from San Francisco in 1857 began a tradition of education that served Sacramento for over a century. Commercial and traditional subjects along with lessons in musical instruments were the courses taught at St. Joseph’s Academy, which was contained within the square block bounded by Eighth and Ninth and F and G Streets beginning in 1861. Operating as a boarding school for girls and a day school for younger boys, the Academy naturally attracted children of Catholic families, though attendance was open to young people of all faiths. Sacramento County’s first female Superintendent of Schools, Mary Rooney O’Neil, was a graduate of St. Joseph’s, as was Ella K. McClatchy and hundreds of other children from prominent and pioneer families. The older structures were gradually replaced over the years and the initial post-WWII boom in building and families necessitated a radical facelift in the early 1950s. By the 1960spopulation shifts had pushed schools out of the downtown core and many venerable buildings were razed to make way for new buildings. Self-sufficient, steeped in history and silent witness to thousands of shared memories, St. Joseph’s graduated its last class in 1966, leaving the convent and auditorium for a few years longer until the whole block was razed to serve as the main jury parking lot for the Sacramento County Courthouse across the street.
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
