American Catholic Historical Society

08/24/2026

The ACHS is displaying a new exhibit at the society house featuring “Revolutionary Catholics.” The exhibit highlights Catholic contributions to the revolutionary struggle and the founding of a new nation, as well as the way that the revolutionary experience shaped the development of the Catholic Church in the United States.
https://amchs.org/new-exhibit-featuring-revolutionary-catholics/

08/20/2026

These are covers for Liturgy booklets for the 41st International Eucharistic Congress held in Philadelphia 50 years ago. The wood-cut prints were designed by Helen Siegl, a noted Philadelphia illustrator and printmaker. Siegl considered art-making to be a form of Christian service and made her prints available for reproduction in church publications. The prints are on display at the ACHS society house.

08/18/2026

Leadership spotlight: ACHS Board member James A. “Jim” Fitzsimmons is a respected nonprofit and faith-based leader with a long record of service to Catholic institutions dedicated to spiritual formation and historical preservation. Fitzsimmons served as President of the American Catholic Historical Society and has remained actively engaged with the Society through board service, including leadership roles such as Chair of the House Committee, contributing to the stewardship of its historic collections and facilities.

Read more about our volunteers: https://amchs.org/about-us/officers/

08/17/2026

Tom Rzeznik recently penned an article on CatholicPhilly in honor of the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Eucharistic Congress. The story features a series of special Masses offered for more than two dozen distinct “heritage groups” to celebrate the diversity of the Catholic Church in the United States. Read, “How the 1976 Eucharistic Congress Put Catholic Diversity on Display.”

Fifty years after the International Eucharistic Congress drew hundreds of thousands to Philadelphia, its heritage liturgies remain a notable example of the diversity and unity of the Catholic Church in the United States.

08/15/2026

Today is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrating the Blessed Virgin Mary being assumed, body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life. The image is a print reproduction of an oval-framed engraving of Titian's “The Assumption of the Virgin,” a 16th-century painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Titian, located in the Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in Venice.

08/13/2026

This image is a pencil-signed etching by Philadelphia artist Harry S. Moskovitz. His work appeared in advertising, and on covers of periodicals in the 1920s. In 1925 he designed the original advertisement for the Pep Boys: Manny, Moe, and Jack, who became iconic figures that continued to appear in print for over six decades. After WWII the artist mainly worked as a portraitist. His subjects were often famous Americans and politicians, including Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Harry S. Truman.

08/11/2026

To celebrate , CatholicPhilly.com featured a series of articles recognizing the enduring contributions of Catholics to our nation’s history. Three of the featured articles were written by ACHS board members, Thomas Rzeznik and Patrick Shank. Read more: https://amchs.org/articles-by-achs-board-members-featured-in-catholic-philly/

08/10/2026

The Summer 2026 edition of American Catholic Studies details “America at 250,” an exhibit developed at the Archives and Special Collections at The Catholic University of America. It draws upon the archives to showcase the important contributions that Catholics have made to the nation’s history from its founding to today.

Members of the society receive a free subscription to American Catholic Studies.
https://amchs.org/membership/

08/05/2026

On August 6, 1945, an American B-29 bomber dropped the first atom bomb used in war on Hiroshima, Japan. In the midst of vast devastation, one of the few structures left standing was a Catholic church. The structure was later identified as Our Lady of the Assumption Church, and surprisingly eight Jesuit missionaries who were in their rectory survived. Read the story in the National Catholic Register.

In the midst of the devastation, eight Jesuit missionaries who were in their rectory survived.

08/03/2026

The 41st International Eucharistic Congress took place 50 years ago from August 1 to August 8, 1976 in Philadelphia. It was one of the largest religious gatherings in United States history, coinciding with the nation's bicentennial year. Mother Teresa spoke at the event and participated in a candlelight procession on the Ben Franklin Parkway.