Women Religious Archives Collaborative

So The Stories Can Be Told

So the stories of hundreds of women religious will be told well into the future, the Women’s Religious Archives Collaborative has launched the So the Stories Can Be Told campaign to support the building and sustainability of a Heritage Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Set to open in 2026, the Center will be the nation’s first independent repository for Catholic sisters’ archival collections. It will offer dynamic public programming, exhibitions, meeting space, and be an important place for research and remembrance.

As the number of sisters in the United States decline, congregations need collaborative solutions to ensure their history is not lost and that their examples of service and faith are passed onto future generations. WRAC expects to meet the needs of more than 75 congregations today, giving them agency over telling their stories—honoring the past while inspiring others to dream, and serve in response to the needs of their time.

Download a WRAC Heritage Center case for support or Donate to help preserve and celebrate the contributions of women religious, which have been impactful.

There are three priorities for creating the WRAC Heritage Center:

A dedicated exhibit space will showcase the rich history and legacy of Catholic sisters from across the country.

STUDY

Researchers will have in one place access to an invaluable collection of archives across different congregations with different histories and missions that tell an important story of faith and service.

SECURE

Congregations of Catholic sisters must find a permanent solution for safeguarding their archives as they grow smaller or lose their capacity to care for their historical legacy.

Make a Campaign Gift Today

We are grateful for all who have contributed and pledged funds. Member congregations have been particularly generous in supporting our campaign, and we are now asking others to join the sisters in contributing to the $24 million capital goal to build this Heritage Center and the $15 million endowment goal to help sustain it into the future. With your help, the stories will be told through research, programming, and education.

To discuss making a contribution or to learn about recognition opportunities, contact Sr. Susan Durkin at [email protected] or 216.287.5176.

Campaign Progress

Capital Campaign Funds

Please consider making a gift to help us reach our goal and begin building this incredible heritage center in Spring of 2025.

Goal: $24 Million

Total raised to date: $18 Million

Endowment Funds

WRAC is raising funds for an endowment over the next five years to support its operations into the future.

Goal: $15 Million

Total raised to date: $450,000

Heritage Center Plans and Renderings

WRAC is partnering with Bostwick Design Partnership and Regency Construction to design and build a 30,000 square-foot Heritage Center in Cleveland’s Central neighborhood, an area where sisters have served since 1865 and strategically located close to many colleges, universities, museums, and libraries.

The Center will include:

16,000 square-foot temperature-controlled, fire-suppressing archival vault to store collections
Equipment and space for processing, conserving and digitizing archival materials
Exhibit space sharing the story of women religious throughout the United States
Research, study, and meeting spaces
Multi-purpose space for public programming and events
Catering/serving kitchen to host events and meeting