Mother Catherine Spalding, a founding leader of the new religious community in the new Catholic diocese of Kentucky, used this writing desk, ca. 1840-1860.
Her peers so respected her that Sister Catherine was consistently reelected to six-year terms, despite giving Fr. David and Bishop Flaget “convincing reasons” why she should not retain leadership for life. Other Sisters collaborated with her Council, however, and numerous clergy and lay persons worked to establish the three main ministries that Kentuckians lacked.
The desk is displayed in Heritage Hall, O'Connell Hall, on the campus at Nazareth, Kentucky.
