The Trials and Triumphs of the Founding of Trinity

Sister Julia McGroarty, SND (left photo) was 70 years old in 1897, the year of Trinity’s founding.  As the Superior of the Sisters of Notre Dame, she oversaw the work of Sr. Mary Euphrasia and the SNDs on the scene in Washington who were ardently pursuing their vision of a college for women on the order of the men’s colleges of that day.

Founding Trinity was an astonishing achievement.  A handwritten manuscript — “A Sketch of the Foundation” — recounts in considerable detail the hard work, progress, setbacks, opposition and ultimate triumphs of these visionary women, semi-cloistered nuns who had to navigate the byzantine pathways of 19th Century Church rules and politics, DC issues even back then, higher education on the cusp of the 20th Century, and their own lack of resources — professional experience, education, money — in order to give life to the idea of Trinity.

They moved with amazing speed in 1897.  Perhaps the fastest thing that ever happened at Trinity was its founding.  The manuscript starts on March 1, 1897 in Cincinnati where several of the sisters were gathered and each shared her vision for a Catholic college for women.

Galvanized by their unusual idea, they immediately set about the task of learning how to develop a college, where it should be located, how to conceptualize the buildings and grounds, the curriculum and faculty, and most importantly, the students.  They reached out to the leaders of then-new Catholic University, and the men were glad to lend their expertise because they realized the need for such a college for women — women were applying to Catholic University but suffered rejection because, in 1897 and on through the middle of the 20th century, Catholics viewed coeducation as almost sinful.  The SNDs and priests at Catholic University were scandalized when they learned that a large number of Catholic women were enrolled at what was then known as Columbian College — now George Washington University.

But not everyone at Catholic University was happy about the idea of Trinity.  Even as the SNDs went about surveying properties and planning the first building, certain right-wing priests at CUA spread a rumor that the sisters really intended Trinity to be a coeducational partner of Catholic U.  That rumor reached Pope Leo XIII who indicated he might withhold approval of the founding of Trinity.  But Sr. Julia and Sr. Mary Euphrasia were persistent, clever, and not easily dissuaded, even by a pope.  After weeks of correspondence between the sisters and Cardinal James Gibbons in Baltimore, and the papal nuncio Cardinal Martinelli, at last word came from the Vatican that the pope would not intervene.  Nuns won!

On August 20, 1897, just six months after that visionary conversation among the sisters in Cincinnati, the Founders secured articles of incorporation to confirm the establishment of Trinity College in Washington, D.C.

The SNDs surveyed a number of properties in the vicinity of Catholic University— in those days this part of Washington was considered to be countryside, with little development and many wide open spaces.  Eventually, they chose the parcel of land belonging to Glenwood Cemetery along a dirt road that would become Michigan Avenue.  The construction of Main Hall began in late 1899, and the first class arrived —- the Class of 1904 — on November 3, 1900.

(Top photo: circa 1904, Main Hall incomplete and Michigan Avenue starting to take shape;  Bottom photo:  circa 1903, view of the emerging Main Hall from the site of the construction of McMillan Reservoir — before the sand filters and aqueducts were built, before the concrete towers…)

As we celebrate Trinity’s 125th Anniversary, we will be continuing to highlight important historic dates.  In Fall 2024, we will observe two big dates:  the laying of the cornerstone of Main Hall in 1899.  Also, the 100th Anniversary of the opening of Notre Dame Chapel.  In 2025, we will close the anniversary era with a celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the first students and faculty arriving on campus and the start of classes.

In all of our celebrations, we remember our Founders, those courageous women whose bold idea continues to touch and transform lives well into the 21st Century.  As we enjoy our Founders Day picnic and festivities, let us pause to give thanks and a big “Hurrah!” for Sister Julia McGroarty, Sister Mary Euphrasia Taylor, and all of the SNDs since then whose passionate commitment to Trinity makes this amazing mission possible.

Happy Founders Day!