In Marion County just a hundred years ago, the supposedly clear lines of delineation between church and state in public education were often blurred.

Nuns in Public Schools and the Garb Law

Up until the passing of the so called “Garb Law” in 1923 (garb being a somewhat flippant term for clothing), nuns in full habit regularly served as public school teachers in Marion County – especially in the more rural Catholic-majority communities of St. Louis, St. Paul, Sublimity, Shaw, and Mount Angel.[2]  The title Sister makes its way onto many pages of a ledger tracking teacher contracts made by Marion County school officials from 1910-1914 now housed at the Willamette Heritage Center.[3] The ledger also shows that each district’s school board had direct oversight of the hiring of teachers, which may explain some of the practice.[4] It was so prevalent in the state that it caught the eye of the legislature, at the time heavily influenced by the anti-Catholic Ku Klux Klan.[5]  In addition to passing a compulsory public education act targeting parochial schools (which would later be overturned in the U.S. Supreme Court),[6] the legislature passed a bill banning public school teachers from wearing any religious garments, effectively eliminating catholic nuns from eligibility.  The so called “Garb Law” went into effect May 24, 1923, causing a bit of a scramble by public schools employing nuns to either to finish their terms early or find substitutes.[7]  Marion County Schools Superintendent Mary L. Fulkerson toured the schools prior to implementation of the law to study its effects and noted: “it has been unanimously agreed that they [the nuns] will abide by the law.  By this, however, is meant that they will cease teaching in public schools after the garb law goes into effect, rather than remove their garb.  There is nothing, however, to prevent them from teaching in private schools.”[8]  In reference to the law, one paper suggested that the effect of removing religious influence in the schools by this law was probably not going to happen, because “it is thought more likely that the school boards will appoint Catholic teachers who are not nuns to take their places.”[9]

It is hard to tell how much that happened.  In Mount Angel, however, the community got creative and brought the nuns back to their school by converting the lower grades to a private school, an arrangement that persisted until 1967.[10]

As a side note, the garb law stayed on Oregon’s books for a long time, despite a 1986 Oregon Supreme Court challenge by a Sikh teacher in Eugene who had been fired for wearing a religious head covering. The law was eventually overturned in 2010. [11]

St. Mary’s Public School — Mount Angel

Collaboration between public schools and religious organizations extended beyond just personnel.  In 1920, the new public school building in Mount Angel was built by the Catholic Church.[12] St. Mary’s Public School was hailed as a model of efficiency and resourcefulness — combining community resources to create a state-of-the-art school facility.  “While the building belongs to the Catholic society in Mt. Angel, which was wholly responsible for its construction, it will be under the supervision of the county superintendent and is purely and wholly a district [public] school”[13] the Capital Journal newspaper reported just before its Thanksgiving opening in 1920.

The first principal of the school was Sister M. Agnes (Rose) Butsch.[14]  She was a Mount Angel local, having moved there at age 8 and taking her vows at age 16 in the local convent.[15]  Her 55 years of religious life were devoted in large part to teaching. [16]

The partnership between the church and the school district persisted into at least the 1980s, although by that point the relationship had been formalized as the district leasing the school building from the church.  The district hoped to eventually purchase the building, the church desired a joint ownership solution.[17]

The 1993 “Spring Break Quake” shook things up and destroyed the 1920 building. [18]  A 1995 bond effort rebuilt the school and secured the property ownership to the Mt. Angel School District.[19]  The rebuilding project also brought calls to rename the school, but after much debate the efforts did not meet with success. [20]  St. Mary’s Public School continues to operate as such today, a fully public school with a name rooted in its religious past.

Sources Cited

[1] St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. Mervosh, Sarah. “Oklahoma Approves First Religious Charter School in U.S.” New York Times 5 June 2023.

[2] See:  “Certificates Granted to Marion Teachers” Capital Journal 18 Jan 1917 pg 5; lists Sister Rose Vendervelden of Sublimity and Sister Mary Lucille of Woodburn;  Most Schools Soon to Open.” Oregon Statesman 12 Sept 1919 pg 6 (Newspapers.com); “St. Mary’s Parish 1880-1890 Mt Angel, Oregon” ST. Mary’s Parish, 1979 (WHC Collections 2021.029.0086) notes that in the 1880 Sister M. Placida Casey and M. Gregoria Amrhein became teachers at the Public School in Mount Angel; 100 Years of Education in Marion County Publication of the Marion County N.E.A. Centennial Committee, 1957. (https://www.willametteheritage.org/100-years-of-education/); Willamette Heritage Center Collections

[3] WHC Collections 2008.066.0001

[4] WHC Collections 2008.066.0001

[5]Toy, Eckard. “Ku Klux Klan” Oregon Encyclopedia https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/ku_klux_klan/

[6] Oregon Compulsory Education Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Compulsory_Education_Act

[7] “Nuns will not discard garb.” Oregon Statesman 12 April 1923 pg 1 (Oregon Historic Newspapers) ; “Catholics to Finish Terms.” Oregon Statesman 13 April 1923 pg 3 (Oregon Historic Newspapers) 

[8] “Nuns will not discard garb.” Oregon Statesman 12 April 1923 pg 1 (Oregon Historic Newspapers) 

[9] “Catholics to Finish Terms.” Oregon Statesman 13 April 1923 pg 3 (Oregon Historic Newspapers) 

[10] “St. Mary’s Parish 1880-1890 Mt Angel, Oregon” ST. Mary’s Parish, 1979 (WHC Collections 2021.029.0086). pg 121: “Two years later the parish asked that the sisters return to teach the three primary grades as a Catholic school….In September 1925 Sisters M. Rosalia Tanzer, Catherine Faulhaber and Aloysia Seiler along with Misses Helen Keber and Barbara Pauli joined the staff of ST. Mary’s.  This arrangement, with modifications continued until 1967, when the Catholic elementary school was permanently closed.” “September 15 Set as Opening Date for Schools in Labish Center, Mt. Angel, Woodburn” Oregon Statesman6 Sept 1941 pg 3 (Newspapers.com) “St. Mary’s Public School, and the private graded course connected with the Mt. Angel Normal School begin on Monday…The first two grades are taught by the Benedictine Sisters, Sister Hilda and Sister Roberta teach first grade and Sister Catherine assigned to the second grade room.”

[11] Hammond, Betsy.  “Oregon Teachers may get Ok to wear religious clothing in class.” Oregonian. 24 Nov 2009  (Oregon Live); Walden, Michael “Lawmakers to revisit ban on religious garb for teachers.” Oregonian26 Nov 2009 (Oregonlive); Oregon House Votes Overwhelmingly to End Ban on Religious Garb in Classroom 11Feb 2010 BJCOnline https://bjconline.org/oregon-house-votes-overwhelmingly-to-end-ban-on-religious-garb-in-classroom/ 

[12] “St. Mary’s Parish 1880-1890 Mt Angel, Oregon” St. Mary’s Parish, 1979 (WHC Collections 2021.029.0086) pg 120: “In 1920, the ST. Mary’s School became public, combining with the existing public school.  The following year St. Mary’s new building opened with an enrollment of 320 pupils.”

[13] ‘New St. Mary’s School at Mt. Angel is Model of Efficient Planning” Capital Journal 30 Oct 1920 pg 10 (newsppaers.com) 

[14] “St. Mary’s Parish 1880-1890 Mt Angel, Oregon” ST. Mary’s Parish, 1979 (WHC Collections 2021.029.0086). pg 121

[15] Butsch family came to Mount Angel in 1878 per “Rites Held for Benedictine Nun” Capital Journal 21 May 1954 pg 15 (Newspapers.com.)  She was born in 1870 and took rights in 1886 in Mount Angel per: “Nun Buried at Rites Today.” Oregon Statesman 3 March 1942 pg 2 (Newspapers.com)

[16] Butsch family came to Mount Angel in 1878 per “Rites Held for Benedictine Nun” Capital Journal 21 May 1954 pg 15 (Newspapers.com.)  She was born in 1870 and took rights in 1886 in Mount Angel per: “Nun Buried at Rites Today.” Oregon Statesman 3 March 1942 pg 2 (Newspapers.com)

[17] “No change seen in talks over Mount Angel School” Statesman Journal 16 Oct 1981 pg 11 (Newspapers.com)

[18] Velazquez, Alma D. “Quake can’t shake name of St. Mary’s Public School” statesman Journal 11 Feb 1997 pg 15 (Newspapers.com);

[19] Marion County Deed records.  Marion County Deed Records show a deed being assigned to the property the school sits on now in 1996, suggesting full ownership after the reconstruction project. Marion County Assessors Office  — Deed Recorded to Mt. Angel School District 3/20/1996  https://mcasr.co.marion.or.us/PropertySummary.aspx?pid=515901&taxid=

[20] Velazquez, Alma D. “Quake can’t shake name of St. Mary’s Public School” statesman Journal 11 Feb 1997 pg 15 (Newspapers.com);

Selected Sources Transcriptions:

NUNS AS PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS IN MARION COUNTY

“Certificates Granted to Marion Teachers” Capital Journal 18 Jan 1917 pg 5 (Newspapers.com)

The following teachers have successfully completed the examinations held recently In Marion County and are now entitled to teach in the State.  Forty six were successful in the trial for one year certificates, two were successful in the tests for five year certificates and two won special certificates…..
Sister Rose Vendervelden, Sublimity
Sister Mary Lucille, Woodburn

“Most Schools Soon to Open.”Oregon Statesman 12 Sept 1919 pg 6 (Newspapers.com)
District No. 7 – Sublimity – Teachers sister Mary Regina, Sister Rose Vanderwelden

“Nuns will not discard garb.” Oregon Statesman 12 April 1923 pg 1 (Oregon Historic Newspapers)
Catholic Teachers will comply with law by hastening terms thru.
Contrary to a report circulated in a local paper yesterday afternoon, nuns who are engaged in teaching public schools at the present time, will not remove garb when the law prohibiting the wearing of sectarian clothing in public schools goes into effect.  This information was gathered by County School Superintendent Mary L. Fulkerson who returned yesterday from a tour of inspection of county schools.

According to Mrs. Fulkerson who has made a study of conditions in schools where nuns are employed, it has bene unanimously agreed that they will abide by the law.  By this however, is meant that they will cease teaching in public schools after the garb law goes into effect, rather than remove their garb.  There is nothing, however, to prevent them from teaching in private schools.

It is thought that many of them will rush the term’s work through so that they will be able to dismiss school when the garb law goes into effect.  As most of the county schools will be out a short time later, such a procedure should not be found difficult.

In order to continue teaching in public schools after May 24, it would be necessary for nuns to discard their garb which it is said can be done only by special dispensation.

“Catholics to Finish Terms.” Oregon Statesman 13 April 1923 pg 3 (Oregon Historic Newspapers)
Substitutes to be appointed for Nuns when Anti-Garb Law goes in

In all probability Catholic teachers will be employed to take the place of nuns now teaching in a number of Marion County schools, according to information given out at the county school superintendent’s office yesterday.  Under the new law all nuns in present teaching in public schools must discard their garb by May 24.

In many instances if work cannot be completed for the year before May 24, it is thought that Catholic teachers will finish…the work.  All instructors are selected by the school board in the various districts and provisions may be made by them.

Largest Catholic communities are located at St. Louis, St. Paul, Sublimity, Shay, and Mount Angel.  There are seven Catholic teachers employed in the public schools in Mount Angel.

Although it is possible that private schools may be started in these vicinities and that nuns will teach them, it is though more likely that the school boards will appoint Catholic teachers who are not nuns to take their places.

100 Years of Education in Marion County Publication of the Marion County N.E.A. Centennial Committee, 1957. (https://www.willametteheritage.org/100-years-of-education/)

St. Louis School
The present St. Louis School Building was built in 1906.  The district will be on hundred years old in 1909, the old schoolhouse having been located across the road. ….Up to about fifty years ago, the teachers were Catholic Sisters.  A few of the Sisters who taught here were: Sister Lucille, Sister Aquinas, Sister Emily, and Sister Genevieve.  Here are some of the lay teachers: Miss Vincent, Mrs. Richard,s Mrs. Laduke and Mrs. Harrison.  Some of the teachers were paid less than fifty dollars a year.

St. Paul School
The first school was a small square building that sat across the highway from the school’s present location.  A few years later it was moved to where the gym is now located.  How long this building was used it is uncertain, but by 1896 another old hall was moved over from the Kirk residence, which is just west of our present location, and the first school building was used for a stable for cows and horses for a long period thereafter.

In 1912 the new building was built.  It is the building that we are now located in.  But wait—that is not the end of the story.

From 1912-1923 the school was taught by the Sisters from the Parochial School and other regular teachers.  In 1923 the Garb law was passed.  It then became a grade school and wo years of high school….

ST.MARY’S PUBLIC SCHOOL

‘New St. Mary’s School at Mt. Angel is Model of Efficient Planning” Capital Journal 30 Oct 1920 pg 10 (newspapers.com)

Mt. Angel, Oct 30 – With the completion of the new St. Mary’s public school building at Mt. Angel between now and Thanksgiving day, more than $150,000 will have been expended in its construction.  The school, with Sister Rose as principal, is made, in equipment, apparatus, teaching force and accommodations second to none in the Willamette Valley.  Although workmen are now engaged in adding the finishing touches, which will be completed in time for the dedication event on Thanksgiving day, some of the first rooms were finished during the first week in October and school has been in session for three weeks.

Arrangements have been made whereby Sister Rose, for some time at the head of the Mr. Angel Academy, will assume the principalship of the public school for an indefinite term of years.

When the building was first planned the estimated cost was $135,000, but improvements have been added since the plans and specifications were drawn and when finished the cost will exceed $155,000, according to the statement of the men who have had much of the finance work in charge.  Much credit is due the architect who planned the construction of the new building, and also the contractors who have directed the work.

Besides the class and recitation rooms, the building includes an auditorium with a seating capacity of approximately 100 people, and this contains a stage and equipment for motion pictures.  In the class and recitation rooms the boys and girls each occupy separate departments and each department is provided with a play room and gymnasium.  Connected with the institution is a large library department on the second floor.

There is also a large dining room and swinging doors have been provided in such a manner that the dining room can be made to accommodate a vast assemblage when necessary.

From the basement to the ceiling of the upper rooms every feature has been perfect.  The building is sufficient to accommodate more students and pupils than Mt. Angel will probably ever produce in this generation.  It is absolutely fireproof and comfortable by reason of a perfect heating and ventilation system.

While the building belongs to the Catholic society in Mt. Angel, which was wholly responsible for its construction, it will be under the supervision of the county superintendent and is purely and wholly a district school.  It is planned to include a high school course later.  With the college and the academy situated in Mt. Angel, however, this is not required.

The society has sought and obtained every possible means to guard against the destructive work of fire.  A comprehensive water system is in operation, large out swinging doors with automatic self locks are hung at every exit and fire extinguishers will be installed in different parts of the building, besides these it has been constructed as near fire proof as it was possible to build it.

The necessary work accomplished, then comes the feature of appropriate dedication, which will take place November 25^th.  Following the dedication the ladies of the church will conduct a bazaar up to and including November 27^th, concluding with a grand entertainment in the new auditorium on the night of Saturday, November 27.  The ultimate desire of the ladies sewing circle is to make this undertaking the greatest even in the history of Mt. Angel.

Fernald Teaching Method is studied.  Oregon Statesman 13 July 1933 pg 7 (newspapers.com)

Mt. Angel.  A group of teachers consisting of Sister M. Gregory, Sister M. Bernadette, Sister . Catherine, Sister M. Andrea, Miss Helen Keber and Miss Theresa Dehler, all students of Mt. Angel Normal summer school, attended the clinic school under Dr. Debusk , at the University of Oregon at Eugene Tuesday.

The school is directly under Dr. Grace Fernald of the University of Southern California, who teaches classes of children of all grades who have been found incapable of learning by the regular method.  Dr. Fernald has devised a method of her own to teach these children, which has proven successful.  She is at present writing a book explaining the system.

The sisters wish to make use of Dr. Fernald’s method in their mission school and Miss Dehler and Miss Keber, teachers of St. Mary’s public school of Mt. Angel are studying the system so that is can be used…in their school…

Dielhs Celebrate 50^th wedded year. Oregon Statesman 28 Feb 1934 pg 8 (Newspapers.com)

The CWA school project, endorsing improvements on the school ground of St. Mary’s public school has been accepted by the federal board and work was begun Monday. Just what improvements the project will include and how much will be allotted has not been definitely stated.

“September 15 Set as Opening Date for Schools in Labish Center, Mt. Angel, Woodburn” Oregon Statesman6 Sept 1941 pg 3 (Newspapers.com)

Mary’s public school, and the private graded course connected with the Mt. Angel Normal school will begin on Monday….

At St. Mary’s the teachers, with one exception, will be the same as last year…..

The first two grades are taught by the Benedictine Sisters, Sister Hilda and Sister Roberta teaching the first grade and Sister Catherine assigned to the second grade room.

“School Fund Hearing Set.” Capital Journal 25 March 1967 pg 7 (Newspapers.com)

…Another factor in the boost is the addition of four more teachers because the district is taking over the second grade from the parochial school and a higher student enrollment

St. Mary’s Parish 1880-1980 Mt. Angel, Oregon.  Oregon, Salem: Panther Printing Co., 1979. WHC Collections 2021.029.0086

Mt. Angel School district No. 91 was not organized until June 5, 1883.  The first school was a one-room sbuilding located west of the present corner of Taylor and Main Streets.  Delia Bowers and Fannie Parish were the first teachers.  Then, in the spring of 1885, Sister M. Placida Casey was assigned to teach; in 1886 she was joined by Sister M. Gregoria Amrhein.  These two sisters taught until 1893…other lay teachers listed.

The beginning of the parochial school is uncertain, but it is probable that it was started in 1893, which would account for the sisters no longer teaching in the public school.  Sister M. Urusla Hodes wrote in her thesis: History of Mt. angel Oregon, 1848-1942 that ST. Mary’s Parochial School was one of the six served by the Benedictine sisters in 1897.  The first church was designed to double as a school.

In the Spring of 1900 Prior Adelhelm , the pastor, urged construction of a new parochial school. The school was built on the northeast corner of Elm and College streets, immediately east of the present St. Mary’s School.  It opened in February 1901.  By 1912 the attendance was 200 children…

As the school building had become small by 1919, committee was formed with Fr. Dominic Waedenschwyler, Wm. Annen, John…..At the suggestion of Archbishop Christie they planned to have ten rooms and a hall.  The school was built across the street from the 1912 church.  The committee decided that $75,000 should be the basis for assessment.

In 1920, the ST. Mary’s School became public, combining with the existing public school.  The following year ST. Mary’s new building opened with an enrollment of 320 pupils.  Teachers in the new school were Sisters M. Anges Butsch, principal…

In 1922 enrolment increased to 340 pupils.  This was a period of intensive anti-Catholic feeling through Oregon which resulted in the passing of an initiative petition in 1922 requiring all pupils to attend public schools.  On appeal to the US Supreme Court, however, the law was declared unconstitutional.  The lawyer who headed the appeal wis John P. Kavanaugh, who was one of the first pupils of Sister M. Rose O’Brien in St. Scholastica’s academy in Gervais in 183

A follow up attempt to close Catholic schools resulted in the Garb Bill, passed by the Oregon Legislature in February 1923.  The bill prohibited wearing of religious garb in the public schools.  As a result, in May 1923 seven sisters resigned from St. Mary’s teaching staff, and seven students from the Benedictine Sisters’ Normal School substituted in order to finish the last two weeks of school.

Two years later the parish asked that the sisters return to teach the three primary grades as a Catholic School.  Each sister was to be paid $30 a month.  In September 1925, sisters M. Rosalia Tanzer, Catherine Faulhaber and Aloysia Seiler along with Misses ….joined the staff of ST. Mary’s.  This arrangement, with modifications continued until 1967, when the Catholic elementary school was permanently closed.

“No change seen in talks over Mount Angel School” Statesman Journal 16 Oct 1981 pg 11 (Newspapers.com)

No headway was made this week in continued negotiations between St. Mary’s Catholic church and the Mount Angel School Board over ST. Mary’s public school.

The school board has a six year lease on the elementary school that will end in 1985.  Although the board would like to purchase the building, the church says it would consider such a proposal only under joint ownership.

According to Superintendent Al Gregory, the district’s attorney advises against such partnership.

In April 1981, the district proposed a 15-year lease to the year 2000, paying $10,000 a year from July 1985 to 1990 and increasing it $5,000 from July 1990 to June 1995 and again from July 1995 to June 2000.

The district would be responsible for “all improvements to comply with state standard and create a good education environment,” according to the agreement.

Board president Virgil Peters expressed concern over uncertain population projects and the effect on school planning.

Dr. Peters said that the board rejects population figures accepted by the city that indicate the population will double in 20 years.

Some idea of future population is necessary before the board knows if the school will be large enough to meet district needs or if addition are needed.

Initially, the school board decided Monday night that a citizen’s advisory group should be formed to give “the grass roots” opinion.  But, the board later decided to bring in a third party to do a community survey instead of forming a citizen advisory group.

“Special Meeting.” Oregon Statesman 14 Nov 1981 pg 9 (newspapers.com)

Superintendent Al Gregory has called a special meeting of the school board for 3 pm Monday at the JFK High School library.

The school board will decide which questions it wants answered…..

The firm has been hired by the school district to conduct a survey of 300 citizens to determine whether St. Mary’s public school should continue to be leased from St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

The other option is to build a new building to house the elementary grades.

Written and researched by Kylie Pine September 2023.  Portions of this content were provided to the Statesman Journal newspaper for an article.  All are reproduced here for reference.