The Archives
Preserving history where history was made.
The DeKoven Center Archives houses a wealth of historical material from its beginnings as Racine College to present day.
Throughout the years, our abundant and diverse history has been lovingly preserved and safeguarded by the many caretakers of the DeKoven Center. From the visionary administrators of Racine College, to the devoted Sisters of the Community of St. Mary, to the exceptional leadership of Fr. Travis DuPriest, former Executive Director of the DeKoven Foundation for Church Work, each custodian has contributed to recording the vast history of the site.
In 2014, Dr. John Magerus, a dedicated historian and supporter of the DeKoven Center's rich heritage, embarked on a mission to assemble these fragments of history scattered throughout our campus. With unwavering determination and meticulous attention to detail, Dr. Magerus embarked on a quest beyond the boundaries of our site, venturing to recover long-lost DeKoven historical documents, ultimately reuniting them with their rightful place within the DeKoven Center. Through his efforts, the foundation for The DeKoven Center Archives was solidified. The Archives preserves and nurtures four major collections, enabling us to continue our mission of preserving history where history was made.
Our Collections
The Racine College Collection
The Rev. James DeKoven Collection
The life and work of Rev. James DeKoven
Notebooks and writings by Rev. James DeKoven
Letters and correspondence
Sermons by and about Rev. James DeKoven
Publications on Rev. James DeKoven and the DeKoven family
Photographs
The history of Racine College and subsequent educational institutions
Charter & statutes
College registers
Board and faculty minutes
Letters and correspondence to and from faculty and students of Racine College
Textbooks, curriculum, and instruction materials
Publications by Racine College and Students
Publications on Racine College
Photographs
Lists of alumni
The Community of St. Mary Collection
The DeKoven Foundation Collection
The history and work of the Community of St. Mary: Western Province
Publications by and about the Community of St. Mary
Board and Chapter minutes, charters, statutes, and by-laws
Letters and correspondence
Documents and materials relating to the Community of St. Mary’s various missions throughout the United States, including the girls’ camp on the DeKoven Center campus
Information on the history of the Community of St. Mary
Photographs
The history and work of the DeKoven Foundation
Sesquicentennial and Centennial publications and albums
Board and faculty minutes
Publications by and about the DeKoven Center
Documents and materials relating to events hosted at the DeKoven Center
Letters and correspondence
Documents and materials relating to the Cove School, Spectrum Gallery, Racine Montessori School, and other tenants of the DeKoven Center site.
Photographs
The Sisters of the Holy Nativity Collection
The history and work of the Sisters of the Holy Nativity
More collection information coming soon
Interested in learning more about DeKoven’s History? Contact Rory Graves, Archives Collection Manager (rgraves@dekovencenter.org) to discover ways you can learn more or be involved in making history happen.
Contact the Archives
