Avila Digital Archives – Documents

Avila’s Story in Archival Documents

This page is home to digitized materials that illuminate Avila’s rich history, ranging from personal letters and interviews to historical accounts, campus publications, and other primary source documents. These resources are grouped into four collections that celebrate different facets of our identity: Our Heritage, Academic Excellence, Service to the Dear Neighbor, and Worth and Dignity of Each Person. A brief history of Avila Buildings is also available on this page. For inquiries about metadata or usage rights, please email msarchives@avila.edu.

Documents

Our Heritage

1. St. Theresa’s Academy in Kansas City, Missouri. A Sketch by Sister Evelyn O’Neill
2. One Hundred Years – History as I Saw It
3. Oral history interview with Sr. Olive Louise Dallavis
4. Scope: Avila College article – “The Day Avila College Became Coed”
5. Avila Examiner article – “Sisters Common Sight on Campus”
6. Accent on Avila College article – “Champion Steer: Avila Bonanza”
7. The Talon article: “More Than a Simple Name Change”

Academic Excellence

1. List of sisters as faculty (1916-1963)
2. Truman Lecture Series – speaker list (1971-2002)
3. Letter from Harry S. Truman to Sister Olive Louise Dallavis giving permission for lecture series at Avila
4. The Talon article – “Avila’s Award-Winning Poet”
5. Missouri’s schools of nursing and their supporting institutions (1888-1957)

Service to the Dear Neighbor

• Scope: Avila College article – “Focus: Contemporary Social Ills”
• The Talon article – “Symposium Ignites Storm of Emotions”

Worth and Dignity of Each Person

1. Exhibit program – “A Blessing to One Another”
2. Coretta Scott King poses with Sr. Olive Louise and several students

A Brief History of Campus Buildings

1. Introduction, Orscheln Chapel, and Foyle Hall (1963-1992)
2. Blasco Hall (1962-1985 and 1992)
3. O’Reilly Hall (1963-1992)
4. Carondelet Hall, Hodes Education Center, and Marian Center (1964-1992)
5. Ridgway Hall, Art Center, and Dallavis Center (1970-1992)
6. Hooley-Bundschu Library, Whitfield Center, and Thornhill Gallery (1977-1992)
7. Borserine Nurse Education Center, Goppert Theatre, Mabee Fieldhouse, and the Zarda Family Athletic Complex (1973-1992)