St. Catherine’s scrapbook
Finding aid created by Dominican Sisters of San Rafael Archives staff using RecordEXPRESS
Dominican Sisters of San Rafael Archives
2021
1520 Grand Avenue
San Rafael, California 94901
(415) 453-8303, ext. 110
info@sanrafaelop.org
https://sanrafaelop.org/
Title: St. Catherine’s scrapbook
Dates: 1945-1949 (bulk 1945-1947)
Collection Number: DSSR3
Creator/Collector:
Dominican Sisters of San Rafael
Extent: 1 oversized scrapbook, 12”x14”x1.5”
Repository:
Dominican Sisters of San Rafael Archives
San Rafael, California 94901
Abstract: St. Catherine’s scrapbook consists of one oversized, hardcover scrapbook with riveted binding. Composed of newspaper clippings,
photographs, school and congregation programs, and other ephemera, the scrapbook represents the time period, geographic location,
and focus of its creators. Though it is composed mostly of secondary source newspaper clippings, the scrapbook provides a
glimpse into the life of the students and sisters at the time, the cultural weight of WWII, and life at St. Catherine’s, the
city of Benicia and its surroundings.
Language of Material: English
Collection is open for research
Property rights reside with the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael Archives. For permissions to publish, please contact the Archivist.
St. Catherine’s scrapbook. Dominican Sisters of San Rafael Archives
All records were created or collected by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael
Biography/Administrative History
St. Catherine’s Academy was founded by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael in 1854 in Benicia, CA, upon their arrival from
Monterey. Originally a boarding school for girls, St. Catherine’s became a co-educational school in 1889 and continued as
such until its closure and subsequent demolition in 1966. The former site of St. Catherine’s is now a shopping center known
as Solano Square, located in downtown Benicia. The school was staffed by sisters who lived in the adjoining convent.
In addition to working at the school, the sisters conducted work in the community which, at the time, often found them interacting
with the numerous military facilities, soldiers, and officers in the region, such as providing religious services at the Benicia
Arsenal and Barracks.
Scope and Content of Collection
St. Catherine’s scrapbook consists of one oversized, hardcover scrapbook with riveted binding. Composed of newspaper clippings,
photographs, school and congregation programs, and other ephemera, the scrapbook represents the time period, geographic location,
and focus of its creators. The newspaper clippings cover major national and international news as well as local happenings
both within St. Catherine’s as well as the city of Benicia and its immediate surroundings.
Given the time period of the scrapbook’s creation, as well as Benicia’s proximity to numerous military facilities - including
the Benicia Arsenal and Barracks, Mare Island Naval Shipyard, and the Port of Chicago - there is a significant amount of
local and international news related to the military, World War II, and its immediate aftermath. Though it is composed mostly
of secondary source newspaper clippings, the scrapbook provides a glimpse into the life of the students and sisters at the
time, the cultural weight of WWII, and life in Benicia and its surroundings.
Dominican sisters California
Dominican Sisters of San Rafael
Saint Catherine’s Academy (Benicia, Calif.)
Albums (Books)