Series 2 - Governance and Administration

6.5m of textual records

The contents of the early records of Fr. Daly from the founding in 1922 were stored at the Motherhouse in Toronto. Much of the material since 1937 was transferred from the office of the Sister General in 1988 to the newly-established formal archives. Continuous accurals were accessioned in the archives, located in the basement of the Motherhouse at 10 Montcrest Boulevard.

The Administration Series consists of the records of Rev. George Daly, CSsR, spiritual and financial director (1922-1956), the elected leadership of Sisters General, council members and later directors, (1937-2011), the changing governance through the Circle Meetings (1998-2011) and the preparation for the Sponsorship Agreement with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto.

Correspondence documents the writing of the rules [of the congregation], approved in 1934 and the process of the rewriting the constitution and statutes between 1978 and its approval in 1983. The spiritual life is documented though community prayers, conferences, and liturgies while correspondence and reports of the original apostolates of the immigration, residences, hospitals, and teaching depict the success and challenges of the missions.

Changes in customs, rules, personnel and missions, as well as deaths and spiritual reflections were relayed through the circular letters of Sisters General and Father Daly. In response to Second Vatican Council’s call for renewal through participation by all members, sisters were kept abreast of the sisters at university and the opening/closing of missions from newsletters, From Headquarters and Council Notes.

Financial correspondence and reports document Fr. Daly’s financial management through bond issues and varied fund-raising options. Records show the early close collaboration and financial support of the Catholic Women’s League, the major contributor for 30 years, and the more than 500 benefactors. Financial statements of the SOS corporation and the Daly Foundation are included, as well as correspondence and documents of real estate purchases and sales.

The correspondence and reports, which are arranged alphabetically and chronologically, consist of the requests to establish missions, and annual reports to archdioceses and dioceses, where the sisters’ missions were located. Correspondence, reports and meeting minutes document the Circle meetings (1998-2011); the developments leading to the sponsorship agreement. At the signing of the agreement on 26 January 2011, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto assumed the administration of the Sisters of Service.

The series is divided into the following subseries:

1. Finances
2. Constitution, Rules, Customs
3. Spiritual Life - Prayers, Conferences, Liturgies
4. Apostolates
5. Sister General - Circular Letters
6. Sister General - Correspondence, Reports
7. General Council
8. Circle Meetings
9. Directors' Meetings
10. Sisters of Service of Canada Corporation
11. Real Estate
12. Correspondence, Reports - Archdiocese of Toronto
13. Correspondence, Reports - Archdioceses, Dioceses
14. Correspondence - Clergy
15. Correspondence [General]
16. Reports
17. Benefactors, Annuities, Bequests
18. Canadian Religious Conference
19. The Daly Foundation
20. Sponsorship Agreement with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto
21. Archives

No further accruals expected.

Series arrangement maintained as received during transfer to USMC, except where related subseries and duplicate files were combined. These are indicated at the appropriate level by the previous identifier.

Files are restricted for 30 years after the date of creation.

Created by F Rousselle, 4 November 2024.
Revised by F Rousselle July 4, 2025.

Archival History and Content descriptions by MC Havey, congregational archivist, and adapted for brevity upon USMC transfer.