Collection Summary
Marquette University. Department of Special Collections and University
Archives.
Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler
Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler papers
1916-1918, 1924,
1941-2002
6.4 cubic feet (21 boxes).
Papers of an outspoken advocate for
the rights of women in society and the Catholic church, who was instrumental in
founding the National Coalition of American Nuns and the Institute of Women Today
(directing the latter from 1974 until 2000, after eight years on the staff of the
National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice). Traxler also championed the
State of Israel and the cause of Jews seeking to emigrate from the Soviet Union.
MET
English
Biography of Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler
Margaret Ellen Traxler was born in 1925 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Raised in nearby
Henderson, Minnesota, Traxler joined the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1941. She
completed a bachelor's degree in English from St. Catherine's College and later
received a master's degree from Notre Dame University. For 17 years Sr. Traxler
taught in high schools and colleges, before dovoting herself to advocacy on behalf
of the rights of women in society and the Catholic Church. Settling in Chicago, Sr.
Traxler helped to found the National Coalition of American Nuns, the Institute of
Women Today, Sister House, Maria's Shelter, and Casa Notre Dame. She was also
co-founder of the Interreligious Conference on Soviet Jewry. In 1964 Sr. Traxler
became head of the education department of the National Catholic Council for
Interracial Justice and later served as the organization's executive director from
1969-1973.
An outspoken advocate for womens' rights, Sr. Traxler joined 23 other nuns in signing
a controversial 1984 New York Times advertisement
questioning the Catholic Church's position on abortion. The "Vatican 24" were
threatened with dismissal from their congregations if they did not retract their
support for the statement.
Sr. Traxler died in 2002, two years after suffering a debilitating stroke that ended
her public work. She was buried in Mankato, Minnesota, in the cemetery at the
motherhouse of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
Included are correspondence, subject files, press clippings, and publications. There
is extensive correspondence resulting from Sr. Traxler's decision to join 23 other
nuns in signing an ad in the New York Times on the
diversity of Catholic teaching on abortion. Notable correspondents include Ritamary
Bradley, Mary Margaret Johanning, and Jessica Powers
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged into the following series. Each series in turn is
arranged either alphabetically or chronologically.
- 1. Private Correspondence, 1953-1995, undated
- 1.1 Private Correspondence, by Correspondent, 1958-1994, undated
- 2. Writings by Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler, 1950-1996, undated
- 3. Honors, 1970-1995, undated
- 4. Speaking Engagements, 1963-1996, undated
- 5. Subject Files, 1965-1994, undated
- 6. Family Papers, 1916-1918, 1924, 1941-1994, undated
- 7. Writings about Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler, 1941-2002
Restrictions on Access
There are no restrictions on access to this collection.
Restrictions on Use
The archives staff will assist researchers in determining if copyright restrictions
apply, although responsibility for copyright and obtaining necessary permissions
rests with the researcher.
Related Materials
The archives also holds the records of three organizations with which Sr. Traxler was
afilliated: Institute of Women Today, National Catholic Conference for Interracial
Justice, and National Coalition of American Nuns.
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in MARQCAT, the online
public access catalog of the Marquette University Libraries. Researchers
desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the
catalog using these headings.
Persons:
Bradley, Ritamary, 1916-
Johanning, Mary Margaret, 1936-
Powers, Jessica
Traxler, Margaret--Archives
Organizations:
National Interreligious Task Force on
Soviet Jewry (U.S.)
School Sisters of Notre
Dame
Subjects:
Abortion--Religious Aspects--Catholic
Church
Church and social problems--Catholic
Church
Feminism--Religious Aspects--Catholic
Church
Freedom of Religion--Soviet Union
Monastic and religious life of
women--United States
Monasticism and religious orders for
women--United States
Nuns--United States
Women in the Catholic Church--United
States
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Series Number, Box Number, Folder Number (if applicable).
Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler Papers, 1916-1918, 1924, 1941-2002. Dept. of Special
Collections and University Archives. Marquette University.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler, 1973. Additions received, 1973- .
Accruals
No further accruals expected for this collection.
Series 1: Private Correspondence,
1953-1995, undated.
0.8 cubic feet.
1
1953-1975
2
1976-1986
3
1987-1995, undated
Series 1.1: Private Correspondence, by Correspondent,
1958-1994, undated.
0.5 cubic feet.
1
1
Bradley, Sr. Ritamary,
1980-1993
1
2
Gillen, Sr. Ann,
1969-1977, undated
1
3
Goldboss, Ruth,
1972-1990, undated
1
4
LeVan, Rose Gordon,
1982-1993
1
5
May, Sr. Ruth Marie,
1971-1991, undated
2
1-2
Powers, Jessica (Sr. Miriam),
1958-1988, undated
2
3
Thompson, Margaret Susan,
1983-1994, undated
Series 2: Writings by Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler,
1950-1992, undated.
0.3 cubic feet.
Articles
1
1
Education and Literature
1950-1969
1
2
Women,
1958-1990
1
3
Women in Prison,
1977-1988
1
4
Women Religious,
1965-ca. 1971
Book edited by Sr. Traxler
1
5
Split-Level Lives: American Nuns Speak
on Race. Techny, IL: Divine Word Publications, 1967.
1
6
New Works of New Nuns.St. Louis:
B. Herder, 1968.
1
7
Book Reviews,
1965-1981
1
8
Letters to the Editor and Commentaries,
1965-1992
1
9
Manuscripts,
1951-1989, undated
Series 3: Honors,
1970-1995, undated.
0.2 cubic feet.
1
1
Teresa Avila Award, College of St. Teresa (Winona, MN), 16 May
1970
1
2
Interfaith Award, Chicago Chapter of the American Jewish
Committee, 8 June 1972
1
3
Honorary Degree, Bishop College (Dallas, TX), 7 May 1973
1
4
Mary Rhodes Award for Service, Sisters of Loretto, 3 August 1983
1
5
Gladys G. Shute Award, Oakton Community College (Des Plaines,
IL), 26 October 1986
1
6
Honorary Degree, Augustana College (Rock Island, IL), 31 May 1987
1
7
Other Honors,
1974-1995, undated
Series 4: Speaking Engagements,
1963-1996, undated.
1.2 cubic feet.
1
1963-1973
2
1974-1979 (including audiocassette recordings of talks on
1975 April 9, October 12, and November 15
3
1980-1996, undated
4
Undated Manuscripts for Talks
Series 5: Subject Files,
1965-1994, undated.
2.4 cubic feet.
Abortion
1
1-2
General Correspondence,
1971-1989
1
3
Hyde Amendment,
1977-1978
1
4-6
New York Times Ad, 1984-April
1985
2
New York Times Ad, May
1985-1990, undated
3
1
Bangladesh,
1971
3
2
Bread for the World,
1974
3
3
Byrne, Jane, Re-Election Campaign,
1982-1984
3
4
Catholic Peace Fellowship,
1971-1974
3
5
Central Intelligence Agency Investigation (Rockefeller
Commission),
1975
3
6
Chicago Catholic Women,
1977-1989
3
7
Church Women United,
1969-1985
3
8
College of St. Teresa,
1970-1976
3
9
Equal Rights Amendment,
1970-1980
3
10-12
Fellowship of Reconciliation,
1971-1980
4
1
Fellowship of Reconciliation, Wounded Knee Task Force,
1973-1974
4
2
Israel,
1972-1991, undated
4
3
Jewish-Christian Relations,
1973-1984
4
4
Language about God Task Force (United Presbyterian Church),
1975-1979
4
5
Mary's Pence,
1987-1990
4
6
McCarthy, Eugene, Presidential Campaign,
1968
4
7
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (for Sr. Traxler), undated
4
8
National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice,
1973-1990
Drawer C-1
Oral History Memoirs (4 audiocassettes),
1973
Peace
5
1
Citizens Conference on Ending the War in Indochina (3-11
March 1971),
1970-1971
5
2
General Correspondence,
1972-1988
5
3-4
Set the Date Now: An Interreligious Campaign to End the War,
1970-1971
5
5
Vietnam War, General Correspondence,
1970-1974
5
6-7
"Women's Role in Peace Education" Conference (14-20 May
1972),
1972
6
1
Philippines,
1973-1975
6
2
Photographs,
1965-1989, undated
6
3
Proposals to Funding Agencies,
1969-1979
1986
6
4-5
School Sisters of Notre Dame,
1968-1990
6
6
Sister Formation Conference,
1972
1981-1986
7
1-4
Soviet Jewry,
1971-1987
7
5
Third World Sabbatical,
1972-1974
8
1
United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, Vancouver,
British Columbia, 31 May-11 June 1976
8
2
Walters, Sr. Annette,
1976-1979
Women
8
3-4
General Correspondence,
1969-1994
8
5
Women Religious,
1968-1988
8
6
World Conference of the United Nations Decade for Women,
Equality, Development and Peace, Copenhagen, Denmark, 14-20 July
1980
8
7
World Council of Churches Fifth General Assembly, Nairobi,
Kenya, 23 November-10 December 1975 (Sr. Traxler declined invitation
to serve as adviser on women's affairs because of discrimination
against women in Catholic Church)
8
8
World Council of Churches Consultation of Church Women
Executives, Geneva, Switzerland, 17-22 January 1977 (Sr. Traxler
served as consultant on women's affairs)
Series 6: Family Papers,
1916-1918,
1924,
1941-1994, undated.
0.3 cubic feet.
1
1
Birth Certificate,
1924
1
2
Family Correspondence,
1942-1994, undated
1
3
Genealogical Records,
1969,
1980,
1991, undated
1
4
Photos,
1941-1961, undated
1
5
Press Clippings,
1956-1991, undated
1
6-7
Traxler, John Felix, Letters to Marie Fitzgerald,
1916-1918
Series 7: Writings about Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler,
1941-2002.
0.2 cubic feet.
1
1
Press Clippings,
1941-2002
1
2
McClory, Robert. "The Church, Abortion, and Sister Margaret
Traxler." Chicago 34 (December 1985); 199,
230-232, 247-252.
1
3
"The Anger of Sister Margaret Traxler." De
Tijd, 28 March 1987, pp. 28-33
1
4
Unsworth, Tim. "Margaret Traxler, S.S.N.D.: 'We want to be a
Part, not Apart.'" In Catholics on the Edge
(New York: Crossroad, 1995), pp. 101-111.