From left: Janet Welsh, OP, Diane Poplawski, OP, and Mary Therese Johnson, OP depositing some of the Las Archives at the McGreal Center and presenting Janet with a Las Casas briefcase. Photos courtesy of Las Casas.

Las Casas
McGreal Center welcomes Las Casas archives

By Diane Poplawski, OP

The Las Casas: Dominicans in Ministry with Native Americans, Inc. Board has chosen to collaborate with the McGreal Center for Dominican Historical Studies to archive the history of Las Casas. The McGreal Center provides a unique opportunity to professionally archive the ministry of Dominicans serving in Native American ministry and make this history available to the Dominican Family as well as Dominican University students.

During this past year, Las Casas Board members Mary Therese Johnson, OP and Diane Poplawski, OP have been collaborating with Janet Welsh, OP (Sinsinawa) to transfer the Las Casas archives to the McGreal Center for Dominican Historical Studies. Sister Janet is director of the McGreal Center, which is located on the campus of Dominican University, River Forest, Illinois.

Dominican University graduate student Chad Comello reviewing Las Casas archives.

Archivist Rebecca Damptz, Chad Comello (graduate student from the School of Library Information and Science), and Sister Janet have warmly welcomed us and the Las Casas collection. Over the years the Las Casas archives have been in New York, Oklahoma, Illinois, Wisconsin and have finally come home to the McGreal Center.

The Mission of the McGreal Center is to provide access to materials for scholars and students researching the history of the Dominican Family. Las Casas is grateful to the staff of the McGreal Center and we welcome the ways we are able to continue to collaborate with and support the mission of the McGreal Center. During this next year Las Casas will continue to update and transfer the most recent archival materials. This is no small task and we appreciate the encouragement and support of the McGreal Center staff and the marvelous opportunity to make the Las Casas archives available to others.