Sister Louise Grundish, S.C., archivist for the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Archives in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, is the 2018 recipient of the Sister M. Claude Lane, O.P., Memorial Award given by the Society of American Archivists (SAA) in conjunction with the Society of Southwest Archivists. The award honors an archivist who has made a significant contribution to the field of religious archives.
A longtime nurse, Grundish entered the field of archives at the age of 71 because of her love of history, genealogy, and respect for the historical impact of the Sisters of Charity. In 2004, she began her first two years as an intern and assistant archivist for the archives. A natural storyteller and historian, she assumed full-time archivist responsibilities in 2006 and still works daily preserving the heritage and missions of her congregation. During her tenure, she has created several small exhibits and was a major participant in the Slippery Rock History Project: Sisters in Health Care in Western Pennsylvania, an exhibit later donated to the Senator John Heinz History Center in 2010.
Grundish has served as president of the Archivists of Congregations of Women Religious (ACWR) and volunteered as the editor of the ACWR newsletter. She’s an active member of SAA, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference, the US Catholic Historical Society, the Catholic Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, and the Westmoreland County Historical Society. In addition, she was influential in forming the Charity Federation Archives, providing leadership for one year as its liaison.
One supporter wrote, “I can't think of a person who is more collegial, supportive, and dedicated not only to religious archives, but also to other archivists.”