Guide to the Alberta Huber Papers

Title: Alberta Huber Papers
Dates: 1939-2007
Quantity: 2.58 Linear feet (5 boxes plus 2 audiocassettes)

Language: English
Repository: Archives and Special Collections, St. Catherine University Library

Preferred Citation: [Item description or folder title], Alberta Huber Papers. St. Catherine University Archives and Special Collections, St. Paul, MN 55105.

Sister Alberta (Fides) Huber served as the seventh president of the College of St. Catherine (CSC) from 1964 to 1979.

Huber was born in Rock Island, Illinois on February 12, 1917. She joined the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1936 and earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of St. Catherine in 1939 while teaching at St. Anthony High School in Minneapolis. She joined the faculty at CSC in 1940, serving as chair of the English department from 1959 to 1963 and as Academic Dean from 1963 to 1964. In 1945 she earned a master’s degree in English from the University of Minnesota, followed by a doctorate in English from the University of Notre Dame in 1954.

During her tenure as president, Huber was charged with raising $2,000,000 to match a two-to-one Ford Foundation $1,000,000 grant for general support of the college, a process which had begun in 1963. By the deadline in 1966, St. Kate's had raised $2,600,000, part of which was used to fund the construction of the Mother Antonia McHugh Fine Arts Center, including O’Shaughnessy Auditorium. The construction of four new residence halls was also completed during this time in order to keep up with growing enrollment. By the end of Huber’s tenure as president, enrollment had increased from 1,300 to 2,100 students, making St. Kate's the second largest women’s college in the country.

During her time as president Huber served on the Board of Trustees of both Fontbonne College and St. Joseph’s Hospital. She also served on the boards of several civic organizations and committees, including local operas and orchestras, the Governor’s Task Force on Security of Adult Institutions, and the Minnesota Citizens’ Review Commission on the FBI.

After Huber’s presidency ended she served as grant coordinator for the college development office and then studied in Rome before resuming her teaching career.

Huber received many honors over the course of her life, including the rank of Chevalier de L’Ordre des Palmes Academiques from the French government in 1976, the first St. Thomas Aquinas Medallion from the College of St. Thomas in 1979, and an Outstanding Achievement Award from the University of Minnesota in 1981. She was also the first woman to serve as chaplain of the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1974.

Sister Alberta Huber died at Bethany Convent on October 13, 2007.

This collection contains correspondence, reports, publications, speeches, biographical materials, awards, photographs, cassette tapes, artifacts and other materials relating to the life and work of Sister Alberta Huber, the seventh President of the College of St. Catherine.

Materials from her time as president include correspondence as well as a few subject files, writings, and speeches. Materials from her professional life outside the presidency include subject files mostly relating to civic organizations, as well as correspondence, writings, and speeches. Personal materials include correspondence and a variety of biographical materials. The collection also contains photographs, artifacts, and audiotapes.

The collection is arranged in 5 series.

1. Series 1: Presidential Materials

1.1 — Correspondence

1.2 — Subject Files

1.3 — Writings and Talks

1. Series 2: Professional Materials

2.1 — Correspondence

2.2 — Subject Files

2.3 — Writings and Talks

1. Series 3: Personal Materials

3.1 — Correspondence

3.2 — Biographical Materials

1. Series 4: Photographs
2. Series 5: Artifacts

Publication Information

Archives and Special Collections May 2014
2004 Randolph Ave
St. Paul, MN, 55105
651.690.6553
archives@stkate.edu

Conditions Governing Access

Access may be restricted due to privacy or copyright; consult archives for details. Written permission from the Archivist is required prior to publication.

No technical restrictions.

Some materials, particularly news articles, are in fragile condition. Photographs may be faded, glued, bent, or flaking. Access may be restricted due to physical conditions or the archivist may provide copies for use.

Processing information

The collection was processed and the finding aid written by Teresa Tjepkes, MLIS graduate assistant, May 2014.

Corporate Name(s)

• President, Office of the.

Personal Name(s)

• Huber, Alberta, 1917-2007

Presidential Materials

2 1/2 boxes

Organization:
This series is arranged in 3 subseries.

1. 1.1: Correspondence
2. 1.2: Subject Files
3. 1.3: Writings and Talks

Presidential correspondence between Huber and the Occupational Therapy Department can be found in Box 556: Occupational Therapy.

Correspondence

Some presidential correspondence can also be found in the Professional Materials: Correspondence: League of Women Voters file.

Subject Files

Writings and Talks

Professional Materials

1 1/2 boxes

Organization:
This series is arranged in 3 subseries.

1. 2.1: Correspondence
2. 2.2: Subject Files
3. 2.3: Writings and Talks

Reports from Huber's time as Academic Dean (1963-1964) can be found in Box 693: Academic Deans. Student papers from an English seminar taught by Huber in 1988 can be found in Box 711: English Department.

Correspondence

Subject Files

Writing and Talks

Personal Materials

1/2 box

Organization:
This series is arranged in 2 subseries.

Correspondence

Biographical Materials

Photographs

1/4 box

Artifacts

1/4 box