Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus Residence
Project Name
Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus Residence
Location
1057 North Shore Avenue
Chicago, Illinois
Project Status
Residence is now privately owned
Project Date/s
Decoration date: 1935
The Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus is an international congregation of women in the Catholic Church, that was founded by Cornelia Connelly in 1846. The sisters work collaboratively with others in educational, spiritual, pastoral, social and health care ministries.
A letter from John Mallin to the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus (SHCJ) in January of 1935, specifies work to be done in their residence in the northern most Chicago area of Rogers Park. The work to be done included the dining room on the first floor, the living room on the second floor, and the library and study on the third floor. The work was to include decorating, paperhanging, and wood finishing, for the price of $110.
The SHCJ once taught at St. Ignatius School in Rogers Park, whose church Mallin decorated in the 1920s, so this may be how he knew the Sisters. The Sisters provided two undated photos of the North Shore residence, including the exterior and a photo of the parlor which Mallin may have decorated. The Sisters also lived at other residences in Rogers Park and elsewhere. The Sisters also located some information in their House Journal for St Ignatius in Chicago, when they lived at the North Shore address.
Their House Journal states:
“1935 Jan 14th. The decorations arrived today to decorate our refectory, community room and second floor dormitory. …
Jan. 23rd. The Cornelia Connelly members gave a party. They made about $36. Together with what they already have – about $80 will be given to pay for the decorating of our Refectory, Community Room and Dormitory.”
References
Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus. Our Mission. https://www.shcj.org/our-story/mission/
North Shore House, Chicago
The House Journal for St. Ignatius in Chicago, 1932 – 1942. The Annals Convent HCJ, 1057 North Shore Ave., Chicago, Ill. Jan. 1, 1932 – 1942, Pages 88 and 89
