Collection context
Summary
- Extent:
- 10 Cubic Feet 4 boxes, 17 scrapbook binders
- Language:
- English .
Background
- Biographical / historical:
-
The Garden School was founded on September 4, 1946 by Sister Patricia Mary Lyons, O.P. (1939-2015) at the Dominican College of San Rafael in San Rafael, California. The Garden School, which served as a pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, resided at the present day location of Edgehill Mansion, the former estate of San Francisco shipping magnate William Babcock. Before Edgehill was used for the Garden School, it served as a residence hall for Dominican College. Sister Lyons served as the principal of the school and also taught kindergarten. Sister Lyons was accompanied by Sister Mary Ellen, O.P., who served as the teacher of the Garden School's pre-kindergarten classes. The Garden School's instructors aimed to teach young children certain religious practices, as well as basic skills in reading, math, computer science, music, and art. The school was held on the first floor of Edgehill Mansion. The Garden School also allowed students who were pursuing teaching degrees to work with the children, to gain more teaching experience. This primary school held various different events for the children, including field trips, birthday celebrations, Santa visits during Christmas, plays, spring fashion show fundraisers, and the famed May Procession. In 1986, the Garden School was relocated to a new, modern trailer building adjacent to Edgehill Mansion because the mansion was deemed structurally unsafe. The college could not afford earthquake insurance in the case of such a disaster. The Garden School closed in 2004. Although the Garden School no longer exists, many of its core values and traditions remain at the Saint Raphael School in Downtown San Rafael, California. The Garden School's memory also lives on at the Dominican College of San Rafael, now known as the Dominican University of California.
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
50 Acacia Ave.San Rafael, CA 94901, US
- Contact:
- (415) 458-3728