Our Roots

The Archivists for Congregations of Women Religious (ACWR) came into being on September 1, 1990. This was a result of discussions held at the Society of American Archivists meeting in 1989, which identified the need for a professional organization for archivists of congregations of Catholic sisters. From its inception, ACWR has had ties with the Society of American Archivists (SAA), the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), and the History of Women Religious (HWR). In fact, LCWR provided seed money to solidify the foundation of ACWR.

A task force, under the direction of S. Rosalie McQuaide, CSJP, oversaw the creation of a structure for the new organization and the election of its first officers, who assumed their responsibilities in the fall, of 1992. A national office has existed since 1993, first in Pittsburgh, PA, under the direction of S. Patricia Hodge, RSM, and later at Trinity College in Washington, D.C. now the National Office is headquartered in Mount St. Joseph, Ohio. Since 1994, ACWR has sponsored triennial conferences, and each one provides an enriching opportunity for members and friends of ACWR to learn, share, and grow in their professional competence and ability to approach their work as a sacred ministry.

ACWR was officially incorporated in 1993 and today represents more than 135 religious communities with a current membership of nearly 200 members.  ACWR promotes professional development, supportive services, and networking among archivists (both Lay and Sister), leaders, historians, researchers, and archive adjacent professionals interested in both the history and the historic records of congregations of women religious. ACWR offers free webinars, an active listserv, an engaging mentoring program, robust educational resources, an informative newsletter, and consultant support as women religious archives pioneer new ways to preserve archives and transform charism into perpetuity.

Open PDF of Past leadership and their roles