San Francisco County
Biographies
ACADEMY OF
THE SACRED HEART
The Order of the Religious—of the Sacred Heart, the Mother House of which is in Rome, Italy, was founded in France in 1800 A. D. and was approved by the Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat was the foundress, while Mother Philippine Duchesne came to America in 1818 and established the order in St. Louis, Missouri, and afterwards in New Orleans, Louisiana. From these points, the order grew and spread to the larger cities of the country. Mother Duchesne was a notable character. Like the padres of early California, she aided the Indians, and in countless other ways helped to advance civilization on the frontier.
In the year 1887 members of the order came to San Francisco, and opened an Academy in a small place on Bush street while awaiting the construction of their home on Franklin and Ellis. During the disastrous fire of 1906 many of the surrounding houses were consumed; but the Sacred Heart Academy was not touched by the flames. Following the fire the order rented a house on Washington street, and in 1910 acquired the present home at 2700 Jackson street, an attractive structure formerly known as the Gallatin mansion, and considered one of the finest in San Francisco.
The curriculum of the Academy of the Sacred Heart includes all of the grade and high school courses, and the institution is accredited to Stanford University and to the University of California. There are now (1931) one hundred and forty students, all of whom are trained according to the character-building principles of the best Catholic schools. There are sixteen teachers, and Reverend Mother Blythe is the superior. She was formerly the superior of the Sacred Heart Academy in Menlo Park, California. This is a boarding school, beautifully situated in a park with attractive landscape surrounding, and it is one of the show-places of San Mateo county. Reverend Mother McLaughlin is superior.
Plans are now under way for the immediate erection of a new educational institution for the Order of the Sacred Heart, “The San Francisco College for Women.” It will be situated on the summit of Lone mountain, a most picturesque and, in every way, a most advantageous location; and it will be a construction of the finest modern type. The superior of the new college is reverend Mother Guerin.
Many of the successful women of the city of San Francisco carry into life lasting impressions of their experiences in the Sacred Heart Academy, and their careers have been in consequence potent and far-reaching influences for right living. This institution is worthy of the enduring affection in which its alumnae have always held it, and it is the pride of the city of San Francisco.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Byington, Lewis Francis, “History of
San Francisco 3 Vols”, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1931. Vol. 2 Pages 166-167.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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