CDA No. 1332’s organizational Records, 1951-2009, and undated, include mostly membership records, meeting minutes, related reports, and historical documentation. The history folder and the Historical Book, scrapbook materials, include the by-laws and constitution, and documents the organization’s history. The second volume of meeting minutes, reports, 1962-1975, suffers from some scotch tape acid stains. The collection is organized alphabetically and chronologically.
Organizational HIstory:
Catholic Daughters of America (CDA) is a national Catholic women’s organization begun by the Knights of Columbus of Utica, New York, 1903. Seventeen members of Court Sacred Heart No. 1332, of Mount Pleasant, Michigan, were initiated on November 21, 1951. They and twelve others, initiated in Bay City, Michigan, in March 1952, were the charter members of the court. Twenty-five members were needed then for a charter to be granted to a court (local chapter). The first leader of CDA No. 1332 was Anna Regina “Jean” McEvoy.
Notable projects of the CDA No. 1332 included construction of the shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The CDA No. 1332 also served for many years as sponsor and financial supporter of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine classes for student members of Sacred Heart parish. Through the decades, CDA No. 1332 members served many dinners, held bake sales, rummage sales, supported missions, stuffed Christmas stockings, made hospital gowns, and many other projects. Warm and lasting friendship was precious to the members.
By 2014 Court Sacred Heart No. 1332 was greatly reduced in size but still functioning due to declining membership. (This information is from the collection.)
