Finding Aid for the Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler Papers

Papers of an outspoken advocate for the rights of women in society and the Catholic church, who was instrumental in founding the National Coalition of American Nuns and the Institute of Women Today (directing the latter from 1974 until 2000, after eight years on the staff of the National Catholic Co...

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Format: Archival Material
Language:English.
Created: Marquette University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives. 1916-1918, 1924, 1941-2002
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id maread_MET
institution Marquette University
building Raynor Memorial Libraries
record_format index
title Finding Aid for the Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler Papers
spellingShingle Finding Aid for the Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler Papers
title_short Finding Aid for the Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler Papers
title_full Finding Aid for the Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler Papers
title_fullStr Finding Aid for the Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler Papers
title_full_unstemmed Finding Aid for the Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler Papers
title_sort Finding Aid for the Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler Papers
publishDate 1916-1918, 1924, 1941-2002
publisher Marquette University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives.
format Archival Material
physical 6.4 cubic feet (21 boxes).
language English.
description Papers of an outspoken advocate for the rights of women in society and the Catholic church, who was instrumental in founding the National Coalition of American Nuns and the Institute of Women Today (directing the latter from 1974 until 2000, after eight years on the staff of the National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice). Traxler also championed the State of Israel and the cause of Jews seeking to emigrate from the Soviet Union.
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spelling MET Finding Aid for the Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler Papers Finding aid prepared by Phil Runkel Marquette University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives. Finding aid encoded by Bill FlissMay 8, 2007 Finding aid written inEnglish. Collection Summary Marquette University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives. Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler papers 1916-1918, 1924, 1941-2002 6.4 cubic feet (21 boxes). Papers of an outspoken advocate for the rights of women in society and the Catholic church, who was instrumental in founding the National Coalition of American Nuns and the Institute of Women Today (directing the latter from 1974 until 2000, after eight years on the staff of the National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice). Traxler also championed the State of Israel and the cause of Jews seeking to emigrate from the Soviet Union. MET English Biography of Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler Margaret Ellen Traxler was born in 1925 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Raised in nearby Henderson, Minnesota, Traxler joined the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1941. She completed a bachelor's degree in English from St. Catherine's College and later received a master's degree from Notre Dame University. For 17 years Sr. Traxler taught in high schools and colleges, before dovoting herself to advocacy on behalf of the rights of women in society and the Catholic Church. Settling in Chicago, Sr. Traxler helped to found the National Coalition of American Nuns, the Institute of Women Today, Sister House, Maria's Shelter, and Casa Notre Dame. She was also co-founder of the Interreligious Conference on Soviet Jewry. In 1964 Sr. Traxler became head of the education department of the National Catholic Council for Interracial Justice and later served as the organization's executive director from 1969-1973. An outspoken advocate for womens' rights, Sr. Traxler joined 23 other nuns in signing a controversial 1984 New York Times advertisement questioning the Catholic Church's position on abortion. The "Vatican 24" were threatened with dismissal from their congregations if they did not retract their support for the statement. Sr. Traxler died in 2002, two years after suffering a debilitating stroke that ended her public work. She was buried in Mankato, Minnesota, in the cemetery at the motherhouse of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Scope and Contents of the Collection Included are correspondence, subject files, press clippings, and publications. There is extensive correspondence resulting from Sr. Traxler's decision to join 23 other nuns in signing an ad in the New York Times on the diversity of Catholic teaching on abortion. Notable correspondents include Ritamary Bradley, Mary Margaret Johanning, and Jessica Powers Arrangement of the Papers This collection is arranged into the following series. Each series in turn is arranged either alphabetically or chronologically. 1. Private Correspondence, 1953-1995, undated 1.1 Private Correspondence, by Correspondent, 1958-1994, undated 2. Writings by Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler, 1950-1996, undated 3. Honors, 1970-1995, undated 4. Speaking Engagements, 1963-1996, undated 5. Subject Files, 1965-1994, undated 6. Family Papers, 1916-1918, 1924, 1941-1994, undated 7. Writings about Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler, 1941-2002 Restrictions on Access There are no restrictions on access to this collection. Restrictions on Use The archives staff will assist researchers in determining if copyright restrictions apply, although responsibility for copyright and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher. Related Materials The archives also holds the records of three organizations with which Sr. Traxler was afilliated: Institute of Women Today, National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice, and National Coalition of American Nuns. Index Terms This collection is indexed under the following headings in MARQCAT, the online public access catalog of the Marquette University Libraries. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings. Persons: Bradley, Ritamary, 1916- Johanning, Mary Margaret, 1936- Powers, Jessica Traxler, Margaret--Archives Organizations: National Interreligious Task Force on Soviet Jewry (U.S.) School Sisters of Notre Dame Subjects: Abortion--Religious Aspects--Catholic Church Church and social problems--Catholic Church Feminism--Religious Aspects--Catholic Church Freedom of Religion--Soviet Union Monastic and religious life of women--United States Monasticism and religious orders for women--United States Nuns--United States Women in the Catholic Church--United States Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Series Number, Box Number, Folder Number (if applicable). Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler Papers, 1916-1918, 1924, 1941-2002. Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives. Marquette University. Acquisition Information Gift of Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler, 1973. Additions received, 1973- . Accruals No further accruals expected for this collection. Series 1: Private Correspondence, 1953-1995, undated. 0.8 cubic feet. 1 1953-1975 2 1976-1986 3 1987-1995, undated Series 1.1: Private Correspondence, by Correspondent, 1958-1994, undated. 0.5 cubic feet. 1 1 Bradley, Sr. Ritamary, 1980-1993 1 2 Gillen, Sr. Ann, 1969-1977, undated 1 3 Goldboss, Ruth, 1972-1990, undated 1 4 LeVan, Rose Gordon, 1982-1993 1 5 May, Sr. Ruth Marie, 1971-1991, undated 2 1-2 Powers, Jessica (Sr. Miriam), 1958-1988, undated 2 3 Thompson, Margaret Susan, 1983-1994, undated Series 2: Writings by Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler, 1950-1992, undated. 0.3 cubic feet. Articles 1 1 Education and Literature 1950-1969 1 2 Women, 1958-1990 1 3 Women in Prison, 1977-1988 1 4 Women Religious, 1965-ca. 1971 Book edited by Sr. Traxler 1 5 Split-Level Lives: American Nuns Speak on Race. Techny, IL: Divine Word Publications, 1967. 1 6 New Works of New Nuns.St. Louis: B. Herder, 1968. 1 7 Book Reviews, 1965-1981 1 8 Letters to the Editor and Commentaries, 1965-1992 1 9 Manuscripts, 1951-1989, undated Series 3: Honors, 1970-1995, undated. 0.2 cubic feet. 1 1 Teresa Avila Award, College of St. Teresa (Winona, MN), 16 May 1970 1 2 Interfaith Award, Chicago Chapter of the American Jewish Committee, 8 June 1972 1 3 Honorary Degree, Bishop College (Dallas, TX), 7 May 1973 1 4 Mary Rhodes Award for Service, Sisters of Loretto, 3 August 1983 1 5 Gladys G. Shute Award, Oakton Community College (Des Plaines, IL), 26 October 1986 1 6 Honorary Degree, Augustana College (Rock Island, IL), 31 May 1987 1 7 Other Honors, 1974-1995, undated Series 4: Speaking Engagements, 1963-1996, undated. 1.2 cubic feet. 1 1963-1973 2 1974-1979 (including audiocassette recordings of talks on 1975 April 9, October 12, and November 15 3 1980-1996, undated 4 Undated Manuscripts for Talks Series 5: Subject Files, 1965-1994, undated. 2.4 cubic feet. Abortion 1 1-2 General Correspondence, 1971-1989 1 3 Hyde Amendment, 1977-1978 1 4-6 New York Times Ad, 1984-April 1985 2 New York Times Ad, May 1985-1990, undated 3 1 Bangladesh, 1971 3 2 Bread for the World, 1974 3 3 Byrne, Jane, Re-Election Campaign, 1982-1984 3 4 Catholic Peace Fellowship, 1971-1974 3 5 Central Intelligence Agency Investigation (Rockefeller Commission), 1975 3 6 Chicago Catholic Women, 1977-1989 3 7 Church Women United, 1969-1985 3 8 College of St. Teresa, 1970-1976 3 9 Equal Rights Amendment, 1970-1980 3 10-12 Fellowship of Reconciliation, 1971-1980 4 1 Fellowship of Reconciliation, Wounded Knee Task Force, 1973-1974 4 2 Israel, 1972-1991, undated 4 3 Jewish-Christian Relations, 1973-1984 4 4 Language about God Task Force (United Presbyterian Church), 1975-1979 4 5 Mary's Pence, 1987-1990 4 6 McCarthy, Eugene, Presidential Campaign, 1968 4 7 Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (for Sr. Traxler), undated 4 8 National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice, 1973-1990 Drawer C-1 Oral History Memoirs (4 audiocassettes), 1973 Peace 5 1 Citizens Conference on Ending the War in Indochina (3-11 March 1971), 1970-1971 5 2 General Correspondence, 1972-1988 5 3-4 Set the Date Now: An Interreligious Campaign to End the War, 1970-1971 5 5 Vietnam War, General Correspondence, 1970-1974 5 6-7 "Women's Role in Peace Education" Conference (14-20 May 1972), 1972 6 1 Philippines, 1973-1975 6 2 Photographs, 1965-1989, undated 6 3 Proposals to Funding Agencies, 1969-1979 1986 6 4-5 School Sisters of Notre Dame, 1968-1990 6 6 Sister Formation Conference, 1972 1981-1986 7 1-4 Soviet Jewry, 1971-1987 7 5 Third World Sabbatical, 1972-1974 8 1 United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, Vancouver, British Columbia, 31 May-11 June 1976 8 2 Walters, Sr. Annette, 1976-1979 Women 8 3-4 General Correspondence, 1969-1994 8 5 Women Religious, 1968-1988 8 6 World Conference of the United Nations Decade for Women, Equality, Development and Peace, Copenhagen, Denmark, 14-20 July 1980 8 7 World Council of Churches Fifth General Assembly, Nairobi, Kenya, 23 November-10 December 1975 (Sr. Traxler declined invitation to serve as adviser on women's affairs because of discrimination against women in Catholic Church) 8 8 World Council of Churches Consultation of Church Women Executives, Geneva, Switzerland, 17-22 January 1977 (Sr. Traxler served as consultant on women's affairs) Series 6: Family Papers, 1916-1918, 1924, 1941-1994, undated. 0.3 cubic feet. 1 1 Birth Certificate, 1924 1 2 Family Correspondence, 1942-1994, undated 1 3 Genealogical Records, 1969, 1980, 1991, undated 1 4 Photos, 1941-1961, undated 1 5 Press Clippings, 1956-1991, undated 1 6-7 Traxler, John Felix, Letters to Marie Fitzgerald, 1916-1918 Series 7: Writings about Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler, 1941-2002. 0.2 cubic feet. 1 1 Press Clippings, 1941-2002 1 2 McClory, Robert. "The Church, Abortion, and Sister Margaret Traxler." Chicago 34 (December 1985); 199, 230-232, 247-252. 1 3 "The Anger of Sister Margaret Traxler." De Tijd, 28 March 1987, pp. 28-33 1 4 Unsworth, Tim. "Margaret Traxler, S.S.N.D.: 'We want to be a Part, not Apart.'" In Catholics on the Edge (New York: Crossroad, 1995), pp. 101-111.

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