Daughters of Isabella Collection, Box 66, Folder 'Daughters of Isabella Convention Minutes 1917'

Among the activities of Catholic women in the First World War--nursing and socializing with wounded soldiers, as in the above photo, ca. 1918.

The involvment of the Daughters of Isabella in World War One coincided with a schism within the Order itself, born in part of rapid growth of the organization and the attendant influx of many Catholic women into the middle class, especially those of Irish descent (a group that dominated the Daughters).  The rift eventually resulted in the exodus of a group of Daughters from Utica, New York leaving the order and founding the Catholic Daughters of America in 1921 (the name Catholic Daughters of the Americas would be adopted in 1954, as the group expanded globally).  This document of ca 1918 reflects both the involvement of the Daughters in war activities, such as fundraising and sewing items for needy war victims and the rifts within the organization.  After reading the address, answer the following questions:           

• How was World War I affecting American life? Explain your answer.
• How does the mention of 'Catholic soldiers' instead of just 'soldiers' show that the Daughters of Isabella had a unique definition of patriotism?
• Explain how the Regent uses the terms sincerity, neglect, and ingratitude?  Why would she bring these up?  What might it be telling us about the internal politics of the Order?