I am trying to research a catholic nun in my family history. I have her birth in L.A. in 1891. Her residence with her family in 1900 and 1910. I found her in 1920 in San Francisco, using her "nun" name, teaching school. After that She disappears. What are the clues for searching for religious people. I have tried searching CADI using her birth name, her parents name, and her sister name, in different cominations. But to no luck. Are there any "rules" for searching for this type of person? Eileen Herlihy Giles Show Low, AZ

Hi Eileen, - Look at the (hand written pages, not a transcription) census where you found her, finally, and read along the left margin- you will probably find the name of the school or convent (you may have to look on a couple of pages before and after the page where you found your relative (nun). . This will put you one step closer to finding out about her. Most all of these convents have Mother Houses, where they have the records of all their nuns, I've gotten lots of info and pictures on my Nun family members from the archivist at the Dominican Mother House in San Rafael. Also if she died in San Francisco, there is a BIG CHANCE that she is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, CA, (San Mateo County). My experience with the "nuns", they are recorded in cemetery records using their secular last name - I'd give Holy Cross a phone call or a letter to inquire... if they have her there... If, by change, she was transferred out of California to a different school/convent, operated by the same order of nuns, and died in her new state, she would not be listed on the CADI (California Death Index), This would not insure that she was NOT buried back in California, though..! - This site will give you all the information you need about Holy Cross including phone and address - as well as a section on Genealogy research... http://www.holycrosscemeteries.com/contact/directions.htm - Also you, very likely, will find something about her here - Google "Find-a-Grave" and follow your nose... Could be you find her here under her secular last name or by her "nun name". This work is done by volunteers, and I believe they submit their information as they find it on the stones (grave markers) and I suspect this engraving would be using the "Nun Name" - but I could be wrong about this... HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT MEAN..!! THAT THE Cemetery records would not have the Secular name in favor of her nun name in their written records, in their office... - Good luck..!! Ruth ____________________ Ruth (Grady) Skewis [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Eileen Herlihy Sent: Friday, February 24, 2012 12:39PM To: [email protected] Subject: [NORCAL] Nuns I am trying to research a catholic nun in my family history. I have her birth in L.A. in 1891. Her residence with her family in 1900 and 1910. I found her in 1920 in San Francisco, using her "nun" name, teaching school. After that She disappears. What are the clues for searching for religious people. I have tried searching CADI using her birth name, her parents name, and her sister name, in different cominations. But to no luck. Are there any "rules" for searching for this type of person? Eileen Herlihy Giles Show Low, AZ ----------------------------------------- NORCAL ARCHIVES: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/ Enter NORCAL. Browse by month. Or click the "Search all archives" link to search by keyword. ----------------------------------------- To post a message to the NORCAL mailing list, send an email to [email protected] ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Eileen: If you have her order (should be associated with the school she was at), then you can find where their archives are. Nuns took their vows and stayed with that order their entire life. Most of the orders are still in existence and if you google the order, you should see where the home order is. Once you get that, check to see if they have a website or email address. If not, write to them and explain you are doing genealogy and just want her dates. Most of the ones I have researched have been wonderful in getting back and sharing that information. Some have sent their entire list of dates, such as when they took their novice vows, how long they served, when they took their full vows, and then their death date. Most will send the nun's former name and where she is buried. I hope this helps. Karen Rodgers ----- Original Message ----- I am trying to research a catholic nun in my family history. I have her birth in L.A. in 1891. Her residence with her family in 1900 and 1910. I found her in 1920 in San Francisco, using her "nun" name, teaching school. After that She disappears. What are the clues for searching for religious people. I have tried searching CADI using her birth name, her parents name, and her sister name, in different cominations. But to no luck. Are there any "rules" for searching for this type of person? Eileen Herlihy Giles Show Low, AZ ----------------------------------------- NORCAL ARCHIVES: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/ Enter NORCAL. Browse by month. Or click the "Search all archives" link to search by keyword. ----------------------------------------- To post a message to the NORCAL mailing list, send an email to [email protected] ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message