Saint Charles Seminary (Staten Island, NY) Records Addendum This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit January 07, 2017 Center for Migration Studies 27 Carmine Street New York, New York, 10014 (212) 337-3080 archives@cmsny.org
Table of Contents Summary Information... 3 Biographical/Historical note... 5 Scope and Contents note... 5 Arrangement note...6 Administrative Information...6 Related Materials... 7 Controlled Access Headings...8 Collection Inventory... 9...9 Series II: Photographs...35 Series III: Oversize... 36 - Page 2 -
Summary Information Repository Center for Migration Studies Title Saint Charles Seminary (Staten Island, NY) Records Addendum Date [inclusive] 1930-1988 Extent 11.0 Linear feet in 19 document boxes and one box of oversize materials. Location note CMS063A is housed at the Provincial House of the Saint Charles Province of the Society of Saint Charles-Scalabrinians, 27 Carmine Street, New York, New York 10014. Language English Language of Materials note Documents in CMS.063A are mostly in English, with some Italian and Latin. Abstract CMS.063A documents activities at Saint Charles Seminary on Staten Island, between the institution's founding in 1947 and the 1970s, when changes in seminary education led to its closing. The seminary was founded by the Saint Charles Province of the Society of Saint Charles- Scalabrinians, a congregation of male religious founded to minister to migrants in transit and in their new homes. Records pertaining to the seminarians are not available to researchers. The remaining records cover the management of the facilities and the more general aspects of seminary education. They may be of interest to researchers covering the history of the Catholic Church, especially in the Vatican II era, Italian-American history and culture, the development of migrant pastoral care in the third quarter of the twentieth century, the formation of candidates for the priesthood, and the Catholic community on Staten Island. - Page 3 -
Preferred Citation note Center for Migration Studies of New York; Saint Charles Seminary Records Addendum (CMS 063A); ;. - Page 4 -
Biographical/Historical note The Saint Charles Seminary began as the home that architect Ernest Flagg built for his bride, Margaret Bonner, on land her family owned on Todt Hill, the highest point on Staten Island. Flagg had the street name changed to Flagg Place, and his home at 209 (zip code 10304) was named Stone Court. Flagg died in 1947, and his widow sold the property to the Saint Charles Province of the Society of Saint Charles-Scalabrinians, a congregation of male religious founded in Italy in 1887. At that time, the congregation focused on the pastoral care of Italian immigrants and their descedents.the province was seeking to recruit and train Italian-American men to serve the offspring of immigrants who wished to maintain their ancestral religious culture. As the Scalabrinians had many institutions named for their patron saint, Charles Borromeo, they tended to referto this property as "Flagg Place." From 1947 to 1961 Flagg Place operated both a novitiate (entry-level) and a seminary (professional training) at Saint Charles Seminary. In 1961 the novitiate moved to a new facility at Cornwall, New York, leaving space at Flagg Place. In 1964, the province used the space to establish the Center for Migration Studies (CMS), a think tank devoted to collecting and disseminating data on contemporary human international migration via publications, conferences, and the maintenance of a library and archive. In 1967 the Flagg house became a New York City landmark and in 1983 the designation was expanded to include other buildings. The Scalabrinians dismantled Ernest Flagg's formal garden to create space for a wing of office and living space, and sold off property that has since been used to build single-family housing. Also, a copper beech tree on the estate's front lawn that gave one of the local streets its name died had and to be removed. However, the rest of the front lawn and the house itself remained as Flagg left them. The last seminarian left in the early 1970s, and the Scalabrinians used the property for CMS, a catering facility, and a congregation gathered from the surrounding area that met in the former seminary chapel. In 2005, Provincial Superior Joseph M. Fugolo, c.s., moved the province headquarters to the site, and CMS moved to the former provincial house at 27 Carmine Street, New York, New York, 10014. That arrangement proved temporary; in 2009 Provincial Superior Matthew Didone, c.s., moved the provincial house back to Carmine Street and the Center for Migration Studies to new facilities at 307 E. 60th Street. At that point, the contents of Flagg Place, including furniture that remained in the house after its sale to the Scalabrinians, were sold or moved, and the building became vacant. Scope and Contents note CMS.063A supplments CMS.063 and documents activities at Saint Charles Seminary on Staten Island. The seminary was founded to educate young men who felt called not only to the priesthood, but to membership in the Scalabrinians, a congregation of male religious that had been founded in 1887 - Page 5 -
to minister to migrants in transit and in their new homes. Being founded in Italy, the congregation's members started working among Italian immigrants. By the time the seminary was founded, the congregation was recruting the sons of immigrants to continue this ministry to new generations. However, at the same time, migration patterns and the Catholic Church were both changing, and Scalabrinian seminary education changed in response. The last seminarians left Saint Charles by the early 1970s. About that time, some materials from the seminary, mostly photographs and publications, were transferred to the Center for Migration Studies and processed for the archives. This deposit contains the educational records of Saint Charles' students and also material related to their professional lives; this material is closed to researchers. However, the deposit also contains material relevant to the overall educational mission of Saint Charles Seminary, such as catalogs, course syllabi, and yearooks. It documents some of the activities of the groups of men and women laity who formed to support Saint Charles Seminary and who remained active years after the seminary closed and the ministry to this group of laity became one of the place's main functions. It also contains information relevant to the management of the physical facilities. This information is significant because the building in which the seminary was located, and the land around it, are landmarked by New York City. Arrangement note CMS.063A is arranged into three Series: Series II: Photographs Series III: Oversize Administrative Information Publication Information Center for Migration Studies Conditions Governing Access note - Page 6 -
Records pertaining to the seminarians are not available to researchers. The remaining records, pertaining to the management of the facility and to seminary education more generally, are open to researchers by appointment. Conditions Governing Use note Copyright is owned by the Center for Migration Studies. Permission to publish materials must be requested before use. Immediate Source of Acquisition note CMS.063A was deposited in 2005 at the Center for Migration Studies by Joseph M. Fugolo, c.s., then Provincial Superior of the Province of Saint Charles, Society of Saint Charles-Scalabrinians. Processing Information note Archivist Nick Falco processed CMS.063, the initial deposit of the Saint Charles Seminary Records, in the mid 1980s. In 2005, Father Joseph Fugolo made a second deposit. In 2010, Mary Brown processed that second deposit as part of a larger project to transfer the CMS archives from their founding home on Staten Island to their new location in Manhattan. Related Materials Related Archival Materials note 063, the original deposit of the Saint Charles Seminary records. 064 and 064A, Immaculate Conception Novitiate (Cornwall, NY) Records and and addendum, documenting activities at the novitiate, the starting level of training for the priesthood and for membership in the Scalabrinians. 074, Scalabrinian Miscellany, publications by members of the Scalabrinian community or about the community and its members. 078C, Saint Charles Provincial, Society of Saint Charles-Scalabrinians Records and addendums. Series FC documents activities at the successors to Saint Charles Seminary. Series IE documents activities at 209 Flagg Place, after the seminary left that site. 079, Saint Joachim, New York City Records. Saint Joachim was founded in 1887 to minister to Italian immigrants. In 1957, the city announced that the parish would be closed, the street on which it was located would be demapped, and the buildings for blocks around would be demolished to make way for Chatham Gardens, an apartment complex. The Scalabrinians and parishioners protested, especially - Page 7 -
because the parish was where Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, later the first U.S. citizen to be recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church, entered her American ministry. The building was demolished in 1959. Controlled Access Headings Corporate Name(s) Saint Charles Seminary (Staten Island, N. Y.). Scalabrinians. Subject(s) Catholic theological seminaries Italian Americans x Religion - Page 8 -
Collection Inventory Anniversaries. Congregation s 80th. 1967 1 1 Anniversaries. Seminary s 25th. 1974 1 2 Annual Scholarly Performance Report. 1964-1964 1 3 The Beacon. 1965-1966 - Page 9 -
1 4 Scope and Contents note The Beacon was the newsletter of the congregation worshipping at Saint Charles. Board of Trustees. 1955-1966 1 5 Building. Chapel Alterations. 1965-1971 1 6 Building. Chapel Memorial Fund. 1967-1971 1 7 Building. Chronological. 1948-1988 - Page 10 -
1 8 Scope and Contents note See Photographs Series for photographs taken from this folder. Also, the folder contains an autographed letter from Margaret Flagg, the widow who sold the estate to the province, and then spent at least some of her time in one of the smaller residences on the property. Building. Convent. undated 1 9 Building. Fall-out Shelter. 1961-1963 1 10 Building. New Wing. 1957-1958 1 11 Building. Outdoor Shrine. 1960-1961 - Page 11 -
2 12 Scope and Contents note See Photographs Series for photographs taken from this folder. Also, the folder documents an outdoor altar surmounted by a crucifixion scene with Saint John the Evangelists, the Blessed Mother and a mourning angel. The shrine is no longer extent. Building. Scalabrini Hall. 1948-1953 2 13 Scope and Contents note Scalabrini Halll was a former stable at the opposite end of the property from the main house. It no longer exists. Building. Signs. undated 2 14 Canonical Visitation. 1953-1968 - Page 12 -
2 15 Catalog. 1958-1959 2 16 Catalog. 1959-1960 2 17 Catalog. 1960-1961 2 18 Catalog. 1961-1962 2 19 - Page 13 -
Catalog. 1962-1963 2 20 Catalog. 1963-1964 2 21 Catalog. 1964-1965 2 22 Catalog. 1965-1966 2 23 Catalog. 1967-1968 - Page 14 -
2 24 Chancery. 1957-1967 3 25 Charter. 1949-1968 3 26 Contact program. 1974-1977 3 27 Correspondence. 1930-1959 3 28 - Page 15 -
Correspondence. 1960-1964 3 29 Correspondence. 1965 3 30 Correspondence. 1966 4 31 Correspondence. 1967 January-July 4 32 Correspondence. 1967 August-December - Page 16 -
4 33 Correspondence. 1968 4 34 Correspondence. 1969 4 35 Correspondence. 1970 5 36 Correspondence. 1971 5 37 - Page 17 -
Correspondence. 1972 5 38 Correspondence. undated 5 39 Correspondence with novitiate. 1958-1963 5 40 Correspondence with prelates. 1954-1964 5 41 Correspondence with provincial superior. 1957-1965 - Page 18 -
5 42 Correspondence with provincial superior. 1966-1973 6 43-50 Correspondence with rectors. 1957-1967 6 51 Correspondence with superior general. 1954-1966 7 52 Examinations. Copies of tests. 1961-1968 7 53 - Page 19 -
Examinations. Schedules. 1963-1968 7 54 Faculties. 1953-1966 7 55 Scope and Contents note 55 contains letters from the chancery of the Archdiocese of New York authorizing clergy to act as priests in the Archdiocese of New York, where the seminary was located. Fire Department. 1955-1968 7 56 Drawer Forms. undated Drawer - Page 20 -
7 57 Fundraising. 1965-1966 7 58 Guarantees and permits. 1949-1967 7 59 High School. Correspondence. 1966-1973 7 60 High School. Gradebook. 1966-1971 7 61 International Migration Digest. 1964 - Page 21 -
8 64 Scope and Contents note 60 contains a photocopy of the granting of copyright to the title. Investitures. 1945-1977 8 63 Liturgy. 1956-1968 8 64 Meetings. Faculty. 1961-1967 8 65 Meetings. Inter-Seminary. 1960-1964 - Page 22 -
8 66 Meetings. Other. 1965-1968 8 67 Scope and Contents note Other meetings include those with seminarians, sisters and vocation directors, and about liturgy. Meetings. Seminary. 1967-1970 8 68 Scope and Contents note Seminary meetings were for the entire seminary faculty. Meetings. Seminary Council. 1967-1968 8 69 - Page 23 -
Scope and Contents note Seminary Council meetings replaced meetings with the entire seminary faculty. Meetings. Student Council. 1965-1967 8 70 Minor Seminary. 1953-1968 8 71 Newsletters. 1968-1977 8 72 Ordinations. Book. 1958-1971 9 73 - Page 24 -
Ordinations. Correspondence. 1950-1963 9 74 Ordinations. Correspondence. 1964-1975 9 75 Drawer Ordinations. Invitations. 1960-1968 9 76 Profession of vows. Correspondence. 1953-1978 9 77 Profession of vows. First. 1947-1957 - Page 25 -
10 78 Profession of vows. Second, third, perpetual. 1949-1972 10 79 Psychology Reports. 1962-1966 10 80 Real Estate. Ahlborn. 1952 10 81 Real Estate. Conger. 1970-1971 10 82 - Page 26 -
Radio Program. 1957-1958 10 83 Scope and Contents note 83 contains scripts of radio programs on the 1958 closing of Saint Joachim s in New York City. Retreats. 1945-1965 10 84 Saint Francis Seminary, Staten Island, New York. undated 10 85 Saint Joseph s Seminary, Dunwoodie, Yonkers, New York. 1964-1977 10 86 - Page 27 -
Saint Peter s, Staten Island, New York. 1969-1972 11 87 Scalabrini Day. 1972, 1979 11 88 Schedules. 1954-1970 Bin 11 89 Selective Service. 1959-1967 11 90 Drawer Seminaries. 1964, undated - Page 28 -
11 91 Scope and Contents note 91 contains reports on aspects of seminary management. Sisters. 1953-1974 11 92 Scope and Contents note 92 contains materials on the Sisters of Saint Charles, who worked at the seminary, and also on area convents for which the fathers said Mass or heard confessions. Students. A-Be. undated 11 93-102 Students. Bi-Co. undated - Page 29 -
12 103-125 Students. Cu-Ge. undated 13 126-156 Students. Gi-Meg. undated 14 157-180 Students. Mem-P. undated Drawer 15 181-205 Students. R-Z. undated 16 206-236 Suits. 1979-1981 - Page 30 -
17 237 Drawer Summer Work for Seminarians. 1966-1968 17 238 Supervisory Lesson Plans. 1964-1965 17 239 Drawer Scope and Contents note 239 contains professors lesson plans, with comments by Lawrence Sabatini, c.s. Syllabi. 1962-1964 17 240 Thank you notes. 1953-1964 - Page 31 -
17 241 Thank you notes. 1965 17 242 Drawer Thank you notes. 1966 17 243 Thank you notes. 1967 244 Thank you notes. 1968 245 Scope and Contents note 245 contains an August 21, 1968, description of a traffic accident that killed one of the Sisters of Saint Charles working at the seminary and injured three other sisters and two priests. Thank you notes. 1969, undated - Page 32 -
Bin 17 246 Transcripts. 1949-1960 18 247 State University of New York. 1958-1965 18 248 Yearbook. Windmill. Two copies 1950 18 249 Scope and Contents note Saint Charles Seminary initially named its yearbook The Windmill after the building of that type on the property. A storm destroyed that windmill in 1950. Thereafter, the seminary named the yearbook for two items of significance to priests, The Book and Chalice. Yearbook. Book and Chalice 1960 - Page 33 -
18 250 Yearbook. Book and Chalice. 1964 18 251 Yearbook. Book and Chalice. 1965 18 252 Yearbook. Book and Chalice. Copy one. 1966 19 253 Drawer Yearbook. Book and Chalice. Copy two. 1966 19 254 - Page 34 -
Series II: Photographs Yearbook. Book and Chalice. 1967 19 255 Yearbook. Book and Chalice. 1968 19 256 Yearbook. Book and Chalice. 1969 19 257 Drawer Yearbook. Book and Chalice. 1971 19 258 Series II: Photographs - Page 35 -
Series III: Oversize 8x10 black-and-white glossy of Saint Charles Seminary. circa 1948 Photoprint 19 1 Object 8x10 black-and-white glossy of swimming pool. circa 1948 Photoprint folder Photograph 19 2 8x10 black-and-white glossy aerial photograph of Saint Charles Seminary. Architecture sketch by Ben Stephenson for John Guarino, Architect, 2 Lexington Street, East Boston, Massachusetts. Two copies circa 1957 Photoprint 19 3 Photograph Series III: Oversize Saint Charles Seminary Department of Theology Transcripts of Record. 1958-1965 Object - Page 36 -
Series III: Oversize Books 20 1 Saint Charles Seminary College Records. 1958-1965 Books 20 2 Object - Page 37 -