Contact the Archives
One Mission, Many Locations
As the Sisters of Mercy serve across the Americas, so, too, are the archivists devoted to preserving their legacy. Given the vast body of service conducted by the sisters, collecting their history and managing records takes a team of dedicated archivists and historians.
Mercy Heritage Center
Mercy Heritage Center, the central repository for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, houses the historic records and artifacts of former Mercy regional communities (circa 1843 to 2008) and the Institute Office. For information about these collections contact Mercy Heritage Center staff:
Kathryn Oosterhuis, MLIS
Archivist/Director
720 Heritage Center Place
Belmont, NC 28012
Phone: 704-755-2085
koosterhuis@sistersofmercy.org
Betsy Johnson, CA
Assistant Archivist
720 Heritage Center Place
Belmont, NC 28012
Phone: 704-755-2090
Emily Reed-Jordan, MLIS, DAS
Digital and Audiovisual Records Archivist
720 Heritage Center Place
Belmont, NC 28012
Phone: 704-755-2086
ereed-jordan@sistersofmercy.org
We are open Monday through Friday (9AM to 5PM, 9AM to 4PM on Fridays). Please allow 7 to 10 business days for a response.
Learn more about the Mercy Heritage Center collections here. Learn how to access the archives here.
Need to search for a sister? Have a general archival research question?
Community Archives
At the community archives located across the United States and beyond, Mercy Archivists primarily collect and manage records and information dated roughly from the early 2000s to today.
Mid-Atlantic Community
In the Mid-Atlantic Community, almost 900 Sisters of Mercy, primarily throughout Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, commit their lives to God, and their resources to serving others. The administrative office of the Mid-Atlantic Community is located in Merion, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia, with satellite offices in Brooklyn, NY, Dallas, PA, Watchung, NJ, and Hartsdale, NY.
Maureen Skorupa Keyes, MLIS, CA
Institute Community Archivist
515 Montgomery Ave
Merion Station, PA 19066
Phone: 610-664-6650 x537
New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific West Community
Ministries of the Sisters of Mercy New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific West Community include education, health and housing, establishing Houses of Mercy in impoverished neighborhoods, social service and related ministries, meeting spiritual needs and contributing to the life of Catholic parishes, to make a difference in the lives of others. We are comprised of 382 sisters and 405 associates in Western New York, Western Pennsylvania, and the Philippines. Mercy Centers are located in Buffalo, NY; Erie, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; and Rochester, NY. The main administrative office is in Buffalo.
Monte G Kniffen, CA
Institute Community Archivist
7262 Mercy Road
Omaha, NE 68124
Phone: 402-393-8225
Northeast Community
In the Northeast Community, Sisters of Mercy serve in schools, hospitals, parishes, retreat centers, and in social ministries in Albany, NY; Connecticut; New Hampshire; Portland, ME Providence, RI; and Vermont. The central administrative office for the Northeast Community is located in Cumberland, RI.
Monte G Kniffen, CA
Institute Community Archivist
7262 Mercy Road
Omaha, NE 68124
Phone: 402-393-8225
South Central Community
The South Central Community spans broad geography, including 18 states, the U.S. Territory of Guam, and the nation of Jamaica. Within the continental United States, we extend into Maryland, Ohio and Missouri to the north; to Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana to the south; and to Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas to the west. The administration offices are located in Belmont, North Carolina—just outside Charlotte. The sisters are engaged in ministries of education, health care and social, pastoral and spiritual ministries.
Sr. Paula Diann Marlin, RSM
South Central Community Archivist
500 Sacred Heart Circle
Belmont, N.C. 28012-7621
Phone: 704-829-5156
West Midwest Community
The West Midwest Community is comprised of the former regional communities of Auburn and Burlingame, CA; Cedar Rapids, IA; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI: and Omaha, NE. The sisters, associates and companions live and serve in 14 states in central and western United States and in four countries.
Monte G Kniffen, CA
Institute Community Archivist
7262 Mercy Road
Omaha, NE 68124
Phone: 402-393-8225
CCASA Community
CCASA Community (Caribbean, Central and South America) is a bilingual Community. Sisters and Associates live in 8 countries: Argentina, Belize, Chile, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Panama and Peru. They serve in educational, health, pastoral and social service ministries, with a special emphasis on responding to the needs of women and children and combating violence in all its forms.
Antonieta Castilla
CCASA Community Archivist
Phone: +5411 4666 2761