The History of Ursuline Academy of Dallas

Ursuline Beginnings

1534 - 1877

The spirit of welcome that can be felt at Ursuline Academy began in the heart of a woman named Angela Merici Around the age of 18, she formally consecrated her life to God. She became a Third Order Franciscan a layperson, living outside of a convent, connected to the Franciscan way of life and devoted to serving God and others And, so the Serviam spirit began!

In 1535 in Brescia, Angela and 28 other women founded the Company of St Ursula, named for a legendary saint loved in their day. The Company of St. Ursula was unique in the history of the Church — and in many ways, it was far ahead of its time. It was composed of women who had consecrated themselves to Christ, but did not take vows, live communally, or have a male head to oversee and direct them Their lives were a third option in a time when most women only had two marriage or the convent

In the 1590s, the Ursulines expanded from Italy to France, and along the way, they adopted a new, more defined mission —teaching. Their form of governance also changed, and in Paris in the 1600s, the French Ursulines were formalized as a true monastic order the Order of St. Ursula, known more simply as Ursulines

The first Ursulines to cross the Atlantic sailed from France to Canada in 1639 And, 88 years later, in 1727, another group of 12 nuns left France for the newly founded port city of New Orleans.

In 1841 during His stay with the Ursulines in New Orleans, Bishop Odin was so impressed that he invited them to come and found a new convent and girls’ school in Galveston Along with their educational talents, he hoped they could bring a touch of European culture to Texas’s rough-andtumble port city That year, 1841, was the year the city of Dallas was founded

Dallas originally entertained hopes of becoming a port city but the dream of making the Trinity River navigable from Galveston to Dallas never came to pass. It didn’t need to. When two railroads arrived between 1872 and 1873, Dallas suddenly became a bustling commercial crossroads And, in November of 1873, the Ursulines of Galveston were asked to send some of their sisters to establish a new community in Dallas

It was Mother St Joseph Holly who was the elected leader of the six pioneering nuns who left Galveston in January of 1874 to establish a new community in Dallas (population 3000!)

On February 2, 1874, only five days after arriving in Dallas, the Ursuline sisters opened school in a four-room house They had seven pupils

Later that year, in October of 1874, work began on a new two-story frame building on parish property at Masten and Ervay, facing Bryan Street The building was completed in February 1875 with 100 students ready to enroll

In 1877, recognizing the need for academic credentials and privileges, the Sisters applied to the Texas State Legislature for a charter, which was signed in March of that year. Along with a boost in authority, the charter also gave the school its name The Ursuline Academy of Dallas

In every imaginable way, the beginnings of Ursuline Academy were humble There was little money, a handful of students, and few initial contacts in Dallas, but its founders had great vision for the school, and most importantly, for the girls they served.

Setting Down Roots 1878

- 1949

In 1880, the two-story school and convent building on Masten and Ervay was overflowing with students. That June, the Sisters purchased Gaston Place, a 10-acre property outside the city’s eastern limits The Sisters named it St Joseph’s Farm and began keeping cows and raising vegetables on the land while they made

plans to build a new school there They enlisted a famed architect from Galveston, Nicholas Clayton, to design a beautiful, Gothic-style school and convent. Building commenced in February of 1882.

The new school building was finished in the spring of 1883 It faced Bryan Street and was bordered by Live Oak, Haskell, and St. Joseph streets. With a prominent belltower, ornate arches, decorative windows, and beautiful grounds, it reminded many of a French castle. It would become known as

When school began at Old U li i th f ll f 1883 ll 12 d h d i th building There was no u comfortable dormitorie heated, well-lit, and sup days!

By the late 1890s Dallas had become the third largest city in Texas, with a population of more than 42,000 and many thriving industries. Ursuline Academy with its gorgeous Gothic structure was now right in the heart of town and continued to welcome girls and help them discover their own place in the world In keeping with the times, their education was specially focused on the arts — music and drama in particular — with the goal of teaching them to be cultured, capable women in society

“Old Ursuline ”

In January 1899, the community and school marked their 25th anniversary in Dallas After Mass, a large group of alumnae approached Mother Evangelist Holly to ask what they could give to the school as a permanent gift — appropriate for the Silver Jubilee. Her answer was something more dynamic and creative than they expected: she suggested they form an alumnae association, intended to preserve and strengthen their relationships with one another and with Ursuline itself. The former graduates took the suggestion seriously. They formally organized the Ursuline Alumnae and Old Pupils’ Association on February 2, 1899, twenty-five years to the day since Ursuline first opened its doors

The Roman Union, the Ursuline Alumnae Association, the Silver Jubilee all were variations on a single theme Insieme, which literally means “we are together” and is central to the work St Angela founded From the very beginning, Insieme can be seen woven throughout Ursuline Academy’s history — from the sisterhood among its students and alumnae to its network of support all over the world.

On August 16, 1914, a small ad for Ursuline Academy read, “Located in the most delightful section of the city; conveniently reached by three main lines of street cars, Ursuline Academy offers its students a thorough course of study facilitated by Libraries, Chemical Laboratory, Cabinet of Physics, Telescope, Typewriting, Languages Latin, French, German, and Spanish With such opportunities a young lady may fit herself for any station in life.” Not mentioned in the ad, but prominent in Ursuline’s curriculum at the time, were logic and philosophy. And Ursuline had a strong religious identity as well, teaching Bible classes, catechizing its Catholic students (who made up about 50 percent of the student body), and celebrating all-school Masses and Feast days

Also in 1914, World War I began Relatives were away at the front, shortages were an issue everywhere, and war stamps and bonds were used to fund scholarships and prizes In 1915, the school had 275 pupils — and 121 of them were boarders

The war came to an end in 1918, but it left an indelible mark on the world and on Ursuline Academy, whose students first began to view themselves as part of a wider world in need of their service The same wartime need for child care that swelled the boarding school beyond capacity also led the Ursuline Sisters to start a new endeavor in Dallas in 1918 they opened a kindergarten It was one of the first in Dallas and remained in operation until 1976

Between WWI and WWII, a spirit of service and hospitality had become a tradition at Ursuline Along with a strong sense of tradition and continuity was Ursuline’s ongoing commitment to the girls as individuals and, increasingly, as future leaders A 1935 newspaper article entitled observed, “The individuality of the student is respected and every effort is made to develop moral strength.” And an earlier article, in 1931, stressed the role of the students in school governance and also underscored the ongoing professional development undertaken by the faculty, who traveled to summer courses at various universities around the country Both of these elements — student leadership and professional development would be hallmarks of Ursuline to this day

From 1942 to 1945, the whole country was caught up in the war effort. And, because of shortages, school uniforms ceased to be required.

In September of 1942, the Sisters acquired 28 acres on Walnut Hill Lane, including a beautiful estate house, for $50,000 The money constituted a small fortune at the time, and they had to go into debt for it, but they believed in their vision for the school and as always, they were determined to do what was best for their students The purchase, though, was only the first step Actually moving everyone and everything to Walnut Hill would take years and entail many

steps, including the sale of Old Ursuline and then building on the new property. In the meantime, they could meet the most urgent need by using the estate home that already existed at Walnut Hill They remodeled the house, christened it Merici High School, and opened it for the high school grades in November 1942

The first Snowball dance took place in 1948 in the downstairs library in Merici High School, its banisters decorated with crinkled foil. As would become tradition, the Snowball queen and her court were chosen in the most egalitarian manner possible by distributing cupcakes, one of which hid a walnut and several of which contained pecans

Establishing Tradition: Ursuline Heritage 1950-1976

In September 1950, the the new Walnut Hill Lane construction was completed The old Merici High School provided classrooms for the grade school students The kindergarten, led by Sister Emmanuel Shea, was housed in a Quonset hut next to Merici. And, the high schoolers were the first at the new campus: they began school in the brand-new red brick building with its classrooms, an auditorium, a cafeteria, and a library

Today, it is hard to imagine how risky the relocation to Walnut Hill seemed The Sisters were widely criticized for moving their work so far outside of town; North Dallas was way out in the country. Even families who had been with the school for generations balked at the idea of driving their daughters so far every day. Once again, the Sisters would prove to be highly visionary. Eventually, North Dallas would become a hub for education – home to Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas, St Mark’s School of Texas, The Hockaday School, and more It took courage and foresight to see what the area would become, and once again, it was the Ursulines who pioneered

In the 1950s, graduation was a two-day affair. The first day, which was called Class Day, included the traditional white dresses and hats, with speeches, music, and celebration. The second day, they gathered in the Ursuline chapel and graduated in white cap and gown By the 1960s, it was a one-day celebration and included the many elements students know and love today Dressed in white, wearing white hats with their arms full of red roses, the graduates sang a class song and said goodbye to Ursuline with a final curtsy.

As consuming as the move from Old Ursuline had been, it took little time for the Sisters’ plans for eventual expansion at Walnut Hill to become more urgent For years as the student body grew, facilities would expand to accommodate that growth Braniff Gymnasium, the first major addition, opened its doors in 1957 With the elementar space, a new building was opened for the gra Academy bought an adjacent private home five acres – which was renamed St Joseph’s later housed the Academy administrative of pool

Students’ hearts and minds also expanded in 1950s in many ways. Ursuline girls were inte higher math and the Space Program They pu lively social life, with events like prom, Snow student fashion shows, annual banquets and and intramurals twice a year. Spiritual life w emphasized too, with classes going on annu retreats to bond with each other and grow in relationship to God

In 1959, a new theme took center stage at Ursuline for the first time one that would become just as integral to the school in the years to come as the familiar strains of student leadership, community focus, and other long-standing values. This was the role played by technology. That year, Ursuline installed closed-circuit TVs in the classrooms, complete with cameras and multiple monitors This allowed teachers to teach several classes simultaneously they would be live in one room, outfitted as a “lecture studio,” while the lessons were broadcast directly to three others The students rotated so that everyone got a chance to be live in the studio with the teacher It was cutting-edge use of technology at the time, and Ursuline was one of the first schools in Texas to try it.

Beginning in the 1950s, older and younger students were paired in Big Sister/Little Sister roles, with older girls offering advice and mentorship as newcomers navigated the unknowns of a new school. Students remembered their love of the nuns who would teach all day and then stay up with the girls half the night for campfires and slumber parties, acting not only as teachers but also as Girl Scout leaders The same dedication was displayed in every decade by faculty members who chaperoned students on overnight retreats as they worked to make excellence a hallmark of the academic experience, providing them with love and support in and out of the classroom.

The decade of the 1960s was a tumultuous time in U S history Ursuline students practiced “duck and cover” drills, training to take shelter under desks or against a wall in the hallway with faces covered in case of nuclear attack The school also welcomed Cuban students whose families had fled the Cuban revolution — and boarded several whose families were still there

Most notably, the civil rights movement of the era struggled for justice and equality for African Americans in the United States Dedicated to activism, people rallied for social, legal, political and cultural changes to prohibit discrimination and end segregation In Texas, Ursuline and other Catholic schools welcomed Black students before the public schools had been integrated

In the early 1960s, the percentage of young American women who went to college was less than 7 percent. In this decade, Ursuline became very consciously and intentionally a college prep school, improving the curriculum and hiring a broader, more diversely experienced faculty Ursuline girls overwhelmingly went on to higher education and did well

The boarding school at the old Merici High School building closed in the 60’s After boarding ceased, the old estate house was initially used by Cistercian Preparatory School which opened there in 1962.

Throughout the late ’60s and early ’70s, the school continued to grow In 1974, a new convent and chapel were built, and the original Walnut Hill convent was converted into classrooms for the high school and given the name Brescia Hall. In 1971, a significant change came to the uniform: the old blue skirts were replaced by the iconic Ursuline plaid, designed by alumna and nationally noted fashion designer Hope Evans Verhalen ’48 The style was more modern and fun, and it forever changed what it meant to look like “an Ursuline girl.”

By the mid-1970s parochial schools had largely filled the need for Catholic education for younger students, and the high school was once again straining for space. So, in 1975, the decision was made to close the grade school at the end of the school year — 102 years after it began

Growth & Innovation: The Innovation Age 1980-1999

In 1980, seeing the need to strengthen alumnae relations, a proposal was submitted to the Sisters to establish an Alumnae Office as part of the Academy. Interested alums would have access to new avenues of involvement, and the arrangement ensured that the goals of the association and the school would always be aligned

Ursuline hired its first Alumnae Director, and, with a small and enthusiastic team of volunteers, the new Alumnae Office was in full operation First steps included the transfer of personal information from 3000 index cards into a computer program and to work closely with the Alumnae Board to foster new programs, publications, and events that would inspire alums to get involved

That fall Ursuline also opened a Development Office to focus on fundraising, and the need was immediate. The Academy was still growing and facing new challenges and opportunities. The first major undertaking was the Renaissance Campaign, launched in 1981 The campaign set out to raise $6 5 million to improve the Ursuline campus by far the most ambitious financial goal the school had ever undertaken

The two new offices complemented each other well. Friendraising and fundraising went hand-inhand, with all assured that their contributions were welcome in any form.

In the 1980’s Ursuline experienced its greatest transformation since the campus was first built on Walnut Hill in 1950 Haggar Center was completed in 1984, providing students with a new arts complex, a student center, and dining hall the latter replacing their former “cafeteria,” which had essentially been a line of vending machines and a couple of microwaves for heating food.

The first five personal computers arrived at Ursuline in 1981, and the school began offering computer science as an elective Three years later, computer science needed space of its own as more and more students chose this course, learning basic programming and working with software on floppy disks. These were the early days of personal computing, and Ursuline was on the leading edge!

In 1983 during Homecoming, a new courtyard was opened and dedicated to Sister Emmanuel Shea and to all the Ursuline Sisters for their years of loving care to the Ursuline students of Dallas. Two years later, in 1985, the Beatrice M. Haggerty Library opened, providing students with a wealth of resources and a quiet place to study A staff publication described the library and its advanced technological features: “Its resources are truly remarkable With over 25,000 volumes on the shelves and thousands of resources available through CD-ROM towers and modem hookups, the library spans the global universe.”

The changes at Ursuline in the 1980s were not all m been taking place, caused by deeper changes within the church and culture The Sisters, once the visible heart and soul of Ursuline Academy, were fewer in number. More and more, teaching and leadership roles at the Academy were filled by laypeople. In 1986, for the first time, a layperson took the position of school principal.

In 1989, a new president took the helm at Ursuline: Sister Margaret Ann Moser, O S U , an Ursuline alumna (Class of 1956) who would soon become an Academy legend (When she retired in 2012, she was the longest-serving administrator in Ursuline Dallas history.) Under Sister Margaret Ann’s leadership, the 1990s saw Ursuline spread its wings and achieve distinction in many areas. New programs were created. The annual Mardi Gras Gala was held for the first time in 1991 to raise funds for student scholarships, and the school opened a campus bookstore, Bear Necessities

The students, meanwhile, distinguished themselves on multiple levels In 1992 they won the highest award from the National Council of English Teachers for Ursuline’s literary magazine, Esse They founded the Honor Council in 1995, creating an honor code to foster a culture of integrity and peer accountability among students And the Ambassador program enabled a select group chosen each year to represent Ursuline to alumnae, prospective students, and the wider community, while developing their gifts as young leaders.

The athletic program also expanded with success in the 1990s. The Jane Neuhoff Athletic Center opened in 1996, providing state-of-the-art facilities for Ursuline sports and physical education.

Serviam, meaning “I will serve,” is at the heart of what it means to be an Ursuline girl, and in the decade between 1988 and 1998, Ursuline was recognized by The Meadows Foundation for outstanding community service no fewer than five times

In the ’90s, computer use was still evolving. At Ursuline, more and more departments were incorporating the use of computers, putting a lot of strain on the school’s computer labs of which there were only two The need for more computer access was both a challenge and an opportunity for Ursuline, and the technology department went to work brainstorming a solution In 1994, a $1 million technology grant from the Gates Foundation made it possible for the school to explore new possibilities. One solution, of course, would be to introduce desktop computers for students in all classrooms. No one really liked that idea, though, because desktops took up so much space Fortunately, at that time, Microsoft invited a team from Ursuline to visit Australia, where schools that were innovating with technology were located Just over a week later in November of 1995, a small Ursuline team found themselves on the other side of the world, along with colleagues from 11 other American schools They visited a series of classrooms that had fully implemented the use of a promising new technology laptop computers.

Amazingly, when school started in the fall of 1996, Ursuline’s new laptop program was coming together Two years later, a wireless network was installed, giving students and teachers better connectivity and access to information As one of just six “laptop schools” in the U S , Ursuline became a founding member of the Anytime, Anywhere Learning Network

And, in the 90’s, in the fall of 1997, a global sister-school program began with Ursuline and the Huaxia Girls’ School in Beijing. It gave students from both countries an opportunity to explore a new culture, and it laid the groundwork for Ursuline’s global focus in years to come.

Leaders in a Global Society 2000-2024

In 2001, the Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union put out a call for Ursuline schools around the world to become peacemakers Six years later, they issued another call — this time to “go beyond your borders ” At the same time, the National Association of Independent Schools, which Ursuline joined in 2005, stressed global leadership and sustainability at its annual conference, calling on constituents to educate students in a “global schoolhouse ”

In response, Ursuline added a new line to the school’s mission statement “educating young women for leadership in a global society ”

From the start, Ursuline’s global program was a pioneering venture unlike anything other schools were doing By the 2020s, Ursuline had established formal partnerships with 11 sister schools worldwide

In 2004, Ursuline stepped up its commitment to STEM education with the Facing the Future Capital Campaign to fund The French Family Science, Math, and Technology Center, a new stateof-the-art facility to transform the STEM classes, moving classes out of too-cramped spaces and enabling the school to offer more courses in these critical fields Totaling 70,000 square feet, the center’s educational space provides Ursuline girls with 10 science labs, nine math classrooms and a math lab, three computer science classrooms, and a KIVA-type assembly area Most of all, it serves as a physical representation of a long Ursuline tradition empowering young women to excel in any area they desire.

In 2014, Ursuline saw another victory for its girls the installation, at long last, of an athletic field at the corner of Inwood Road and Walnut Hill Lane The field had been delayed for more than a decade It provided an immediate home for the school’s soccer and lacrosse teams and the students at long last had a field of their own

Dubbed the “Strategic Roadmap,” the new plan was about preparing Ursuline Academy for the opportunities and obstacles that lay ahead More than anything, it was shaped by the realization that everything the school did needed to be studentcentered, with an emphasis not only on educating girls academically but on promoting their total well-being. The Roadmap was finalized in 2016. It informed a new campus master plan, the most ambitious ever conceived at the school.

The campus plan was designed by a 24-person committee that included constituents from all parts of the Ursuline community, including five students who were not shy about expressing what was needed They commented on everything from traffic flow to lighting, and they especially stressed the advantage of quiet spaces and rooms designed for collaboration places where they could study, meet, and tackle things in their own way. It was the first time in Ursuline’s history that students had ever been so directly involved in designing their own learning spaces, and their input was invaluable

A feasibility study followed The study resulted in the creation of The Campaign for Ursuline: Act, Move, Believe, a comprehensive campaign with unprecedented fundraising goals for programs and operations, endowments, and capital improvements renovations and additions to the existing buildings and, most of all, the construction of East Campus The campaign launched in 2018, with the goal of raising $85 million — to transform the campus, and to anchor everything at Ursuline for the good of its girls.

With plans underway to improve Ursuline’s physical spaces, its virtual spaces would be elevated as well Since the mid-1990s when Ursuline adopted its 1:1 laptop program, the school had invested significantly in technology. Microsoft shared resources and research into creative, effective ways to use technology in teaching, and Ursuline put it all together to support student learning needs.

In 2017, Ursuline was named a Showcase School, a designation the Academy has attained every year since. The only Showcase School in Texas, Ursuline was one of 40 in the United States and just under 350 worldwide, at that time

In 2020, the Global Pandemic arrived in Dallas, and the city was in “lockdown ” But, Ursuline had prepared just in time In what seemed like a miracle, the school did not lose a single day of teaching — the switch to remote learning was seamless, just as it had been designed to be And it was later learned that, when Ursuline’s partners at Microsoft heard that schools were shutting down across the nation, their first response was to say, “Ursuline’s got this ”

In the spring of 2020, the students had not yet been able to come back to campus for classes The graduating class included 209 young women To make it possible for them to graduate with the beauty and presence of other years, the school erected 17-foot-high risers on the front lawn, so the entire class could be together — filling every other row and seated six feet apart The ceremony was beautiful as always — and especially meaningful It highlighted what has always been so important and special about Ursuline — community. As the valedictorian that year put it in her speech, “we form part of a legacy rooted in solidarity ” Perhaps that had never been so clearly seen as it was in the pandemic years

In November of 2021, Ursuline Academy was voted one of the Top 100 Places to Work in Dallas, based on a nomination from a teacher who felt incredibly well equipped and prepared for the pandemic because of the school’s comprehensive training. But training in the use of technology is only one small piece of Ursuline’s overall commitment to its teachers. The Strategic Roadmap highlighted this imperative — recruiting, retaining, and rewarding excellent and mission-focused teachers

On Ursuline’s Strategic Roadmap, the fourth imperative was “Our Setting.” Among other points, it laid out a vision “to renovate or build so that the buildings become the third teacher after parents and classroom teachers ”

To realize this vision, the first task was to renovate Haggar Center Students would get a beautifully expanded and redesigned dining hall and new places to study Everyone would benefit from a brand new sports center with practice gym and weight room, as well as a new chapel for worship created in a beautifully renovated space A new East campus would include a beautiful, state-of-the-art 1,000-seat theater, replacing The Ursuline Center for the Performing Arts. Along with providing a place for school-wide liturgical gatherings, the theater would give a new home to one of Ursuline’s oldest loves — the performing arts Dedicated classrooms for drama and music would finish off the space, and a broadcast studio would offer students experience with all aspects of broadcast media The main East Campus building would also feature visual arts classrooms, along with new homes for English, social studies, and journalism Engineering students would have access to new fabrication labs. Classrooms would integrate technology and flexible layouts with moveable furniture so they could be reconfigured as needed. Best of all, the building would feature innovative learning spaces designed to help students experience unprecedented levels of agency in their own learning From sound-resistant “pods” and huddle rooms for independent study, teacher conferences, and collaboration everything about East Campus would be inspiring, hands-on, and student-centered

All of that was the vision Bringing it to pass was another journey With the architectural designs finalized, a date was set for a public groundbreaking ceremony The event would be used to introduce the wider Ursuline community to the exciting plans and launch the public phase of The Campaign for Ursuline But that, of course, was when the pandemic interrupted The public groundbreaking could not go forward, and the question had to be asked should building itself, and even fundraising, be halted for the time being?

Ultimately, Ursuline chose to go forward on both counts The pandemic was a jarring setback for the whole world — but more than ever, it was important to communicate that Ursuline would continue — Dallas’s oldest school would do what it had always done: care for its students, look to the future, and hold together the threads of tradition and change.

Three years after the first donations were received, the renovated Haggar Center and new East Campus building opened their doors to welcome students in the fall of 2021 Students moved into the new spaces and thrived there Ursuline had continued to move forward despite every challenge, and the rewards were more than worth it

Over 500 years ago, Angela Merici wrote, “If, according to times and circumstances, the need arises to make new rules or do something differently, do it prudently and with good advice ” And she always reminded her followers of the heart of their work: “Consider the respect you owe your daughters, for the more you respect them the more you will love them, and the more you love them the greater care you will have for them.” A quarter of the way into the 21st century, Ursuline’s ethos of care for students continues to permeate everything it does.

Ursuline has evolved in line with best practices in pedagogy, technology, and support for every area of student life Recent years have seen an especially rapid pace of change at the Academy, which, now at 150 years, remains the oldest continually operating school in Dallas

Over 150 years, much has changed at Ursuline. Today’s student body numbers nearly 900. Long gone are the days when a single graduate might grace the stage for commencement; now more than 200 young women in white dresses and hats say their final farewell every spring The city of Dallas is still growing, and with it, Ursuline In many ways, the school has gained national recognition But it has never left its roots In the spirit of St Angela, Ursuline Academy of Dallas is still about developing each individual who enters to her full potential in the spirit and presence of Jesus Christ, toward the lifelong expression of Serviam.