Sister Susan Coler, BVM, 2003
Item
Susan Coler, N.D. (Mundelein College Photograph Collection)
Interview Audio Side A
Interview Audio Side B
Interview Transcript
Title
Sister Susan Coler, BVM, 2003
Summary
Sister Susan Coler, an administrator and teacher at Mundelein and attorney, discusses her associations with Catholic justice organizations and her work as a Catholic social reformer throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Sister Susan discusses the work of several Catholic organizations such as the Council of Catholic Women (CCW) and the National Catholic Conference (NCCIJ) within the context of “War on Poverty” federal programs. Sister Susan also mentions her working relationships with Father Jack Egan and Father Jack MacNamara.
Date Created
2003
Biography
Sister Susan Coler was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was an academic advisor, teacher, and member of the administration of Mundelein College. While teaching at Mundelein, Sister Susan was a student in the graduate program of the Weekend College. After her work at Mundelein, Sister Susan became an attorney and worked as a law clerk for a federal judge in St. Paul.
Time Log
Sister Susan Coler, BVM
Interview, January 2, 2003
Chicago, IL
Time Log
Side A
0-5 minutes
After the passage of civil rights legislation and beginning with President Johnson’s “war on poverty,” the Council of Catholic Women saw that there was a place for women’s organizations in the “war on poverty.” Drafted a proposal saying that the women’s organizations with local affiliates could serve as a recruiting and screening agency for the women’s job corps. It was funded and the organizations at the national level had a paid staff position which Coler fulfilled. It had outreach all over the country. The Council of Catholic Women made a dent on poverty through these programs.
Sally Kaneen had the national chairmanship. Dorothy Holden of Columbus Ohio was influential and persistent in the work of the Columbus Women’s Job Corps, particularly with children.
5-10 minutes
Lucy Nevelson of Lincoln, Nebraska worked with court systems that advocated for children. The job corps provided support for children. The women involved with the Corps continued with the work after the program’s closing.
Coler describes her efforts with hospitality in Washington D.C. in 1962 when she worked for the Job Corps program.
10-15 minutes
Had multiple gatherings in her studio apartment where she hosted people from office and from other organizations.
15-20 minutes
Had several people who were visiting Washington D.C., perhaps once a week or two. Repeated this type of entertaining at Notre Dame.
20-25 minutes
Moved back to Chicago from 1966-1970. Served on the “Health Taskforce” for the National Council of Catholic Women. Some sisters in Chicago were working in education and in hospitals. Coler visited the Catholic Hospital Association in St. Louis.
25-30 minutes
Discusses the organization of the Diocese Offices of Community Relations. Jack Macnamara offered to head up a national organization to gather all of these local offices.
Side B
0-5 minutes
Father Jack Egan used to be in Washington when Sister Coler was there. Ran into him at John A. Ryan Forums, St. Benet’s, and at Mundelein College.
John A. Ryan Forum was a gathering place where you would meet everyone. There were always 400-500 people there.
5-10 minutes
Worked for the National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice (NCCIJ) and started servicing priests in the old convert-making association that worked in the black community. The NCCIJ met in Evanston and changed their focus from conversion to more general social services. Father Jack Egan wanted to piggyback on this work and let others in on this work so that they could get a seat on the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization.Formed a new Catholic organization: The Catholic Committee for Community Organization.
10-15 minutes
The Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization tried to set up an interreligious vehicle that would receive and disburse funds for community organizations and provide a follow which included a process of evaluation for those organizations. Wanted to provide one place that different organizations could come to. These efforts took place in 1966.
15-20 minutes
Father Egan answered all of his mail and gave all of his money away. Worked for Jack McNamara, the Jesuit scholastic. Reflects on her experiences at NCCIJ on the day that fires started out in Lawndale. The fires could be seen from the windows of the NCCIJ.
20-25 minutes
Many people were in turmoil. The NCCIJ worked in Jack McNamara’s apartment and moved to a storefront on Pulaski. National involvement became too abstract and so Coler moved on to working more specifically with the Lawndale efforts under Jack MacNamara. Describes the people who worked in the Pulaski office:
25-30 minutes
Four African American workers who were paid staff in CBL. The staff included Charlie Baker Clyde Ross, Henrietta Banks, and Ruth Wells. They worked with buyers and individual groups buying and selling real estate. MacNamara and Jill Putnick would research the history of the building and the costs and set up case studies relaying what was happening currently with the property. They would put pressure on to get contracts renegotiated so that people, most especially black buyers, would be treated fairly. It was a terrible injustice that they were trying to correct.
Interview, January 2, 2003
Chicago, IL
Time Log
Side A
0-5 minutes
After the passage of civil rights legislation and beginning with President Johnson’s “war on poverty,” the Council of Catholic Women saw that there was a place for women’s organizations in the “war on poverty.” Drafted a proposal saying that the women’s organizations with local affiliates could serve as a recruiting and screening agency for the women’s job corps. It was funded and the organizations at the national level had a paid staff position which Coler fulfilled. It had outreach all over the country. The Council of Catholic Women made a dent on poverty through these programs.
Sally Kaneen had the national chairmanship. Dorothy Holden of Columbus Ohio was influential and persistent in the work of the Columbus Women’s Job Corps, particularly with children.
5-10 minutes
Lucy Nevelson of Lincoln, Nebraska worked with court systems that advocated for children. The job corps provided support for children. The women involved with the Corps continued with the work after the program’s closing.
Coler describes her efforts with hospitality in Washington D.C. in 1962 when she worked for the Job Corps program.
10-15 minutes
Had multiple gatherings in her studio apartment where she hosted people from office and from other organizations.
15-20 minutes
Had several people who were visiting Washington D.C., perhaps once a week or two. Repeated this type of entertaining at Notre Dame.
20-25 minutes
Moved back to Chicago from 1966-1970. Served on the “Health Taskforce” for the National Council of Catholic Women. Some sisters in Chicago were working in education and in hospitals. Coler visited the Catholic Hospital Association in St. Louis.
25-30 minutes
Discusses the organization of the Diocese Offices of Community Relations. Jack Macnamara offered to head up a national organization to gather all of these local offices.
Side B
0-5 minutes
Father Jack Egan used to be in Washington when Sister Coler was there. Ran into him at John A. Ryan Forums, St. Benet’s, and at Mundelein College.
John A. Ryan Forum was a gathering place where you would meet everyone. There were always 400-500 people there.
5-10 minutes
Worked for the National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice (NCCIJ) and started servicing priests in the old convert-making association that worked in the black community. The NCCIJ met in Evanston and changed their focus from conversion to more general social services. Father Jack Egan wanted to piggyback on this work and let others in on this work so that they could get a seat on the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization.Formed a new Catholic organization: The Catholic Committee for Community Organization.
10-15 minutes
The Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization tried to set up an interreligious vehicle that would receive and disburse funds for community organizations and provide a follow which included a process of evaluation for those organizations. Wanted to provide one place that different organizations could come to. These efforts took place in 1966.
15-20 minutes
Father Egan answered all of his mail and gave all of his money away. Worked for Jack McNamara, the Jesuit scholastic. Reflects on her experiences at NCCIJ on the day that fires started out in Lawndale. The fires could be seen from the windows of the NCCIJ.
20-25 minutes
Many people were in turmoil. The NCCIJ worked in Jack McNamara’s apartment and moved to a storefront on Pulaski. National involvement became too abstract and so Coler moved on to working more specifically with the Lawndale efforts under Jack MacNamara. Describes the people who worked in the Pulaski office:
25-30 minutes
Four African American workers who were paid staff in CBL. The staff included Charlie Baker Clyde Ross, Henrietta Banks, and Ruth Wells. They worked with buyers and individual groups buying and selling real estate. MacNamara and Jill Putnick would research the history of the building and the costs and set up case studies relaying what was happening currently with the property. They would put pressure on to get contracts renegotiated so that people, most especially black buyers, would be treated fairly. It was a terrible injustice that they were trying to correct.
Index
Susan Coler 2003 Index
KEY
SC 2003=Susan Coler 2003 Interview
INDEX
Baker, Charlie, SC 2003 Side B 25-30
Banks, Henrietta, SC 2003 Side B 25-30
Catholic Committee for Community Organization, SC 2003 Side B 5-10
Catholic Hospital Association, SC 2003 Side A 20-25
Civil Rights legislation, SC 2003 Side A 0-5
Columbus, Ohio, SC 2003 Side A 0-5
Council of Catholic Women, SC 2003 Side A 0-5
Diocese Offices of Community Relations, SC 2003 Side A 25-30
Egan, Father Jack, SC 2003 Side B 0-5, SC 2003 Side B 15-20
Health Task Force, SC 2003 Side A 20-25
Holden, Dorothy, SC 2003 Side A 0-5
Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization, SC 2003 Side B 5-10
John A. Ryan Forums, SC 2003 Side B 0-5
Johnson, President Lyndon B., SC 2003 Side A 0-5
Kaneen, Sally, SC 2003 Side A 0-5
Lawndale Fires, SC 2003 Side B 15-20
MacNamara, Jack, SC 2003 Side A 25-30, SC 2003 Side B 20-25, SC 2003 Side B 25-30
National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice (NCCIJ), SC 2003 Side B 15-20, SC 2003 Side B 5-10
National Council of Catholic Women, SC 2003 Side A 20-25
Nevelson, Lucy, SC 2003 Side A 5-10
Notre Dame, SC 2003 Side A 15-20
Putnick, Jill, SC 2003 Side B 25-30
Ross, Clyde, SC 2003 Side B 25-30
St. Benets, SC 2003 Side B 0-5
The Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization, SC 2003 Side B 10-15
War on Poverty, SC 2003 Side A 0-5
Washington D.C., SC 2003 Side A 5-10
Wells, Ruth, SC 2003 Side B 25-30
Women’s Job Corps, SC 2003 Side A 0-5, SC 2003 Side A 5-10
KEY
SC 2003=Susan Coler 2003 Interview
INDEX
Baker, Charlie, SC 2003 Side B 25-30
Banks, Henrietta, SC 2003 Side B 25-30
Catholic Committee for Community Organization, SC 2003 Side B 5-10
Catholic Hospital Association, SC 2003 Side A 20-25
Civil Rights legislation, SC 2003 Side A 0-5
Columbus, Ohio, SC 2003 Side A 0-5
Council of Catholic Women, SC 2003 Side A 0-5
Diocese Offices of Community Relations, SC 2003 Side A 25-30
Egan, Father Jack, SC 2003 Side B 0-5, SC 2003 Side B 15-20
Health Task Force, SC 2003 Side A 20-25
Holden, Dorothy, SC 2003 Side A 0-5
Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization, SC 2003 Side B 5-10
John A. Ryan Forums, SC 2003 Side B 0-5
Johnson, President Lyndon B., SC 2003 Side A 0-5
Kaneen, Sally, SC 2003 Side A 0-5
Lawndale Fires, SC 2003 Side B 15-20
MacNamara, Jack, SC 2003 Side A 25-30, SC 2003 Side B 20-25, SC 2003 Side B 25-30
National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice (NCCIJ), SC 2003 Side B 15-20, SC 2003 Side B 5-10
National Council of Catholic Women, SC 2003 Side A 20-25
Nevelson, Lucy, SC 2003 Side A 5-10
Notre Dame, SC 2003 Side A 15-20
Putnick, Jill, SC 2003 Side B 25-30
Ross, Clyde, SC 2003 Side B 25-30
St. Benets, SC 2003 Side B 0-5
The Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization, SC 2003 Side B 10-15
War on Poverty, SC 2003 Side A 0-5
Washington D.C., SC 2003 Side A 5-10
Wells, Ruth, SC 2003 Side B 25-30
Women’s Job Corps, SC 2003 Side A 0-5, SC 2003 Side A 5-10
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