Ladies of Charity of the United States of America (LCUSA) records

Biographical / Historical

The Ladies of Charity have been established in the United States since December 8, 1857 with the founding of the Guardian Angel Settlement Association in St. Louis, Missouri. Although other Ladies of Charity associations formed elsewhere in the country, it was not until their centennial in 1957 that a national organization was conceptualized. At the annual meeting for all Ladies of Charity associations held in St. Louis, a unanimous vote was cast for the formation of a national organization. The purpose of a national organization was threefold: to serve as a bond between the associations of the Ladies of Charity in the United States and the International Headquarters in Paris, France; to promote unity among the associations in the exercise of charity according to the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul through personal service to the poor; and to encourage the activities of the existing associations and to assist in the organization of new ones. It was also decided that the Service Center at the Guardian Angel Settlement would process all supply orders. The Association of the Ladies of Charity of the United States (ALCUS) came into being at the first national meeting held in New York, September 1960, in conjunction with the Golden Jubilee Convention of the National Conference of Catholic Charities (NCCC). The governing body of ALCUS consisted of an Episcopal Chairman and Spiritual Director (both positions filled by Vincentian priests), and 20 Ladies of Charity represented by a president, five vice presidents from five geographical regions, a secretary, a treasurer, and twelve directors. Since then, the Ladies of Charity have been organized along the national, regional, and local association levels. Some organizations are further divided depending on their local demographics such as the Chicago association's circles which focus on different parts of the city. In 1972, the Service Center moved to the Vincentian Foreign Mission Society in St. Louis and a Daughter of Charity was added to the Board of Directors in the position of Sister Moderator. In 1977, the Daughters of Charity provided space for the ALCUS service center within Marillac Seminary, the West Central Provincial House in St. Louis. The national office moved once again in 1996 to the headquarters office of the Midwest Province of the Congregation of the Mission located in Earth City, Missouri.