Catholic nuns and sisters ran some of the U.S.’s earliest schools, orphanages, and hospitals; nursed on Civil War battlefields and during disease outbreaks; and served millions of Catholic immigrants and their families. Today, those nuns and sisters are mostly forgotten. Many changed their names and moved far from home, making it difficult for genealogists to recognize them in records. But those who can trace a woman into religious life may discover a rich trove of records about the sister and perhaps about her family. Sometimes records even survive for a religious order’s academy, hospital, or other ministry. Come see what you may be able to learn from the many archives of Catholic nuns and sisters from the author of the newly-published Searching for Sisters: Researching Catholic Nuns in the United States.
Discount code: nuns26 (valid at Familytreewebinars.com)
Valid through: February 17, 2026
In the webinar “Searching for Sisters: Researching Catholic Nuns in the United States,” genealogy educator Sunny Jane Morton explores a fascinating yet often overlooked demographic in family history. Catholic sisters and nuns played an outsized role in building the humanitarian and educational infrastructure of the United States, yet they are frequently lost to history due to name changes, a lack of direct descendants, and their unique migration patterns within religious orders. This presentation serves as an essential guide for researchers looking to bridge these gaps, offering specialized strategies to uncover the rich personal narratives and detailed records housed within private religious archives.
Unlocking “Hidden” Identities: Many sisters adopted religious names that obscured their birth identities; however, religious personnel files often contain “genealogical goldmines,” including social history forms that list parents’ maiden names, birthplaces, and even the naturalization details of family members.
The Power of Religious Archives: Unlike public records, the archives of religious institutes—often located at mother houses—frequently preserve intimate biographical commemorations, oral histories, and family artifacts like mass cards or letters that provide a rare glimpse into a woman’s daily life and personality.
Contextual Migration Patterns: While traditional genealogy follows family movements, researching “Women Religious” requires following the migration of the order itself, as sisters moved between various hospitals, schools, and orphanages operated by their specific institute.
For any researcher with Catholic branches on their tree, viewing the full webinar offers a deeper understanding of the terminology and record-retention policies unique to these religious communities. Exploring the full presentation reveals specific case studies that demonstrate how to transform a vague obituary mention into a comprehensive family profile. To further streamline the research process, genealogists are encouraged to consult the additional resources and detailed bibliographies included in the webinar syllabus, which provide the necessary tools to navigate these private repositories with confidence.
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Syllabus
Sunny did such a great job. It is easy to see how so many women can get lost as they enter religious service as a nun. I like being made more aware of how to look for them and the strategies that can help.
It is always fun to hear Sunny speak about her research!
Good and knowledgeable speaker .
I was unexpectedly very interested in this presentation. I don’t have many catholic families in my tree but the resources that Sunny described and the records that she discussed were great! i got some ideas on researching missionaries from other denominations. I also enjoyed having the cameras on and seeing Sunny and Marian.
Sunny’s webinar on Finding Catholic Sisters/Nuns was the best. I have a 6th Great Grand Aunt Hanora “Nano” Nagle who founded the Presentation Sisters. She is now Venerable and two steps from becoming St. Nano Nagle in the Catholic Church. I’m also looking to buying Sunny’ss book. I can’t wait to find the sisters who taught me at Notre Dame Academy, Roxbury, MA, St. Mark’s, Dorchester, MA, and Sacred Heart, Weymouth, MA.
Sunny’s presentation was well put together and case study helped to illustrate the variety of research strategies. I look forward to learning more in her book!
Sunny, you provided wonderful information on the topic. I have previously started research on 2 of the nuns. I’m excited to get your book. Thank you so much for taking your time to bring their stories back to life.
Clear presentation, good coverage of a complex subject.