Providence Archives, Seattle

05/01/2026

Even though it’s the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, we had May Crowning today at St. Joseph Residence!

Two Sisters of Providence with birthdays participated: Sister Chloe Keitges (crowning the statue), and Sister Yvonne Leblanc.

04/16/2026

Today we celebrate the birthday of our beloved Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart, foundress of the Sisters of Providence mission in the West, who was born on April 16, 1823.

This is also Mother Joseph Day in the state of Washington - thanks to a group of intrepid sixth-grade students who, in 1999, petitioned the state legislature to declare this day a state holiday in Mother Joseph's honor. The bill to do so passed unanimously.

"Providence will provide" (Mother Joseph, January 1860)

Learn more about Mother Joseph's life and legacy on Providence Archives: https://www.providence.org/about/providence-archives/history-online/mother-joseph-of-the-sacred-heart

03/25/2026

Today is the Feast of the Annunciation, and the anniversary of the founding of the Sisters of Providence religious community in Montreal (1843)!

This is an image of the Annunciation depicted in stained glass at the old Providence Hospital chapel on Cherry Hill in Seattle. The window was a gift of the hospital's nursing school alumnae, in honor of the jubilee of Mother Vincent Ferrier, SP in 1925.

11/11/2025

In honor of Veterans Day, a scrapbook page from affiliate student nurses of Providence Hospital, Seattle working at the Walla Walla Veterans Hospital, 1955.

Situated on the grounds of Fort Walla Walla, the Veterans Hospital was originally designated as a tuberculosis facility in 1922 and later became a medical and surgical hospital in 1959. Student nurses from Seattle spent six weeks here learning about various treatments available to tuberculosis patients.

10/10/2025

According to the St. Thomas Home, Great Falls, Montana chronicles, the Boy’s Fife and Drum Corps of St. Thomas Home (Image -117_A6_45) was very privileged in having been chosen as one of the units to greet and entertain President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Fort Peck Dam (Montana) dedication, October 10, 1937.

This trip was arranged for the boys through the courtesy of the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce. The band continued for a few years but due to lack of time and directors it was discontinued. However, the band was revived 20 years later by Mr. Del Thurber from the American Legion in Great Falls. At that time, the members consisted of nine snare drums, one bass drum, and nineteen fife players. The band program continued for a few years longer. Unfortunately, we do not have record of when the program was actually discontinued.

10/07/2025

Check out our new Fall issue of Past Forward! In this issue, read about:

•Staff changes / Meet Brian Drischell and Arabella Matthews
•A grand old flag
•Drama in Yakima!

https://www.providence.org/about/providence-archives/past-forward-newsletter

10/02/2025

October is Archives Month!

What is an Archive?
An archive is an accumulation of historical records or materials, in any medium, or the physical facility in which they are located.

The word archive was first attested in English in the early 17th century, and the word archivist in the mid-18th century, although in these periods both terms were usually used only in reference to foreign institutions and personnel. Not until the late 19th century did they begin to be used widely in domestic contexts.

The practice of keeping official documents is very old. Archaeologists have discovered archives of hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of clay tablets dating back to the third and second millennia BC in sites like Ebla, Mari, Amarna, Hattusas, Ugarit, and Pylos. These discoveries have been fundamental to learning about ancient alphabets, languages, literature, and politics.

What is Providence Archives?
Providence Archives collects, organizes, preserves, and provides limited access to records of enduring and historical value relating to the Sisters of Providence religious community in the American West, and Providence St. Joseph Health.

Institutional and corporate records, manuscripts, photographs, audiovisual materials, and artifacts document ministries in education, health care, and social services. Collections date from 1856 to the present.

Check out Providence Archives:
https://providence4.sharepoint.com/sites/providence_archives

And the Digital Collection:
https://providencearchives.contentdm.oclc.org/

Send a message to learn more

04/22/2024

Check out our Spring issue of Past Forward! In this issue, read about:

• Our new staff member, Visual Resources Archivist Grant Mandarino

• Jessica Long’s experience participating on the Heritage Emergency and Response Training (HEART) program in Washington, D.C

• The Legacy Room at the Mother Joseph Province office in Renton, Washington

Past Forward is published three times each year. To subscribe, email [email protected] and specify if you would like a hard copy mailed to you or PDF.

12/12/2023

From the LinkedIn page of the Providence Mission Leadership Institute, Sister Barbara Schamber, SP, shares a story of the Sisters of Providence that began our tradition of caring for the Providence family of organizations.

Sister Barbara Schamber, SP, shares a story of the Sisters of Providence that began our tradition of caring for the Providence family of organizations. As we…

11/17/2023

To help celebrate the Feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, a patron saint of the Sisters of Providence, here is a partial image of the grand colored glass depicting St. Elizabeth in the chapel of the former Providence Heights College of Sister Formation, Issaquah, Washington. The windows were made by Gabriel Loire and are about 33 feet high!

Image #189.G3.041