From our Archives: CSJ Boston Sisters During 1918 Flu Epidemic

Current events, like the appearance of COVID-19, can send us looking for the activities of the sisters during the Influenza Epidemic of 1918. Many have heard stories of Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston during that time. One of the pictures from our archives even became a part of “Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America,” an exhibit created for the 50^th anniversary of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and displayed at the Smithsonian Museum which also became a one-hour documentary. This film relates the vital role Catholic women religious have played and the impact they have had in shaping the nation’s social, cultural and spiritual landscapes.

In 2018, the 100^th Anniversary of the 1918 flu, our CSJ Boston Archives created a PowerPoint video documenting our sisters service to the dear neighbor during this epidemic which can be viewed here.

CSJ Boston Sisters During 1918 Flu Epidemic

Flu Slide Show

If you would like to explore more about the 1918 Flu Epidemic, here are a couple of resources: 

Spanish Flu and Coronavirus: What’s the Difference?
This article was written by the grandniece of Sarah Barrett, one of our CSJ Associates. 

Influenza 1918 — A 2018 PBS Special