 |
| St, Joseph's Acadamy, Sumter, South Carolina Credit: The University of South Carolina Digital Post Card Collection https://digital.tcl.sc.edu/digital/collection/sclvispc/id/18423 |
My maternal great grandmother, Loretta (McManus) Daughrity (1894-1936) attended St. Joseph's Academy in Sumter, South Carolina. A boarding school for girls, it was said that she was sent there sometime after the death of her mother, Frances "Fannie" Victoria (McRady) McManus (1856-1903).
 |
| Loretta McRady McManus (1894-1936) Graduation Picture St. Joseph's Academy About 1911 ©Cheri Hudson Passey |
St. Joseph Academy was started in 1863 by the Sisters of Mercy, who moved to Sumter County to get away from the unrest of the Civil War. The school served as a place of learning and community events for Catholics and Non-Catholics until 1929.
 |
| St. Joseph's Academy About 1907 Sumter County Postcards-Schools |
It is not known exactly when Etta McManus began attending St. Joseph's but two newspaper reports of the 1910 and 1911 Graduation Ceremonies name her as a participant.
Award for Household Industry
 |
| June 1910 Commencement Exercises The Watchman and Southron 22 June 1910, pg. 2 image from newspapers.com |
Junior Grade
 |
| June 1911 Commencement Exercises St. Joseph's Academy The Watchman and Southron 24 June 1911, pg 2 image from newspapers.com |
Musical Trio Participant
 |
| June 1911 Commencement Exercises St. Joseph's Academy The Watchman and Southron 24 June 1911, pg2 image from newspapers.com |
A search for school records to further learn of Etta McManus' time at the academy has not produced any results.
The following bill showing the price of tuition found in a hanging file for St. Joseph's Academy at the Sumter County Genealogical Society. There is no date on the bill, but a search for Florence Bradford, daughter of R.D. Bradford, named on the document shows that Florence was 12 in the 1920 Sumter County, South Carolina Census, and 22 in the 1930 Census of the same county.
The bill most likely represents prices from the early to mid-1920s.
 |
| Bill for Tuition St. Joseph's Academy Hanging File Sumter South Carolina Genealogical Society |
$3 a month for tuition. My, times have changed!
Do you have a connection with St. Joseph's Academy?
I'd love to hear from you!
Hi Cheri, I have a good number of Hudson's in my data base, wondering if you have any DuBose connections? My family in from Clarendon Cty, SC also have family in Sumter.
ReplyDeleteAl DuBose, Beaufort, SC
Thanks for contacting me. I have many Sumter and Clarendon surnames. Some of these are Daughrity, McManus, Stafford, Thames, Gibson and McRady. As far as I know I am not directly related to the Dubose family but they are often friends and neighbors to my people. My Hudson's were from Darlington County and later in Florence and Clarendon. Maybe we have some connections!
DeleteThe postcard of the Academy looks quite pretty. It is great that you have evidences of your great grandmother attending the academy. The reason for her attendance is sad but maybe it was best for her.
ReplyDeleteIt most likely was best for her. She was the youngest child.All her siblings had married and moved on. I would really like to find some school records. Thanks, Colleen!
DeleteYou may be interested in this website. There are digital Sumter High yearbooks dating back to 1928. Lots to elementary class pictures also. Great website with a lot of Sumter historical stuff. Here is the link... http://www.edmundshigh.com/library.html
ReplyDeleteCheri, my great great grandmother, Sarah Theresa McAndrew and her sister, Mary Ellen McAndrew were from Charleston, SC and I was told by Sarah's granddaughter (my great aunt) that they were sent to St. Joseph Academy during the War. Glad I found your page. I don't have any records personally that say she really went here. I'm named Sara (Sally) and my daughter is a Sara. The nuns that taught at St. Joseph were of the same order that taught me and my siblings at St. Angela Academy in Aiken, SC. I was also born in Charleston. Sara (Sally) Caver Messier, Camden, SC
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your comment. I am still on the hunt for any information on the school and students. I will be sure to contact you if I am successful!
Delete