Ursuline Academy

The history of Ursuline Academy, Wilmington, began in 1893 with the
relocation of the Ursuline sisters from Bedford Park in New York City.
The sisters came to Wilmington at the request of Bishop Alfred A.
Curtis to occupy a convent and boarding school that had been
previously occupied by the Visitation nuns on the corner of Delaware
Avenue and Harrison Street.

The school began with five nuns, 39 day pupils, and two boarders. The
curriculum was typical of Ursuline education worldwide: language,
literature, art, and music, with a strong emphasis on culture and
urbanity developed by religion and a deep appreciation of the family
spirit. The sisters opened a kindergarten in 1895 and added a boys’
department the following year (in those early days, Ursuline took boys
through the eighth grade).

Under the inspired leadership of Mother Olympias Gleeson (superior
1909 - 1918 and 1921 - 1927), the school flourished. Recognizing the
school’s need for additional space, John J. Raskob purchased the Grant
estate (facing Delaware Avenue) and gifted it to the Ursuline sisters.
With the addition of Kennett Lodge, renovations began, and the sisters
and their students moved into their new convent and school in 1924.
After the purchase of the Downward estate, an adjacent property
bordering on Franklin Street, further renovations were completed in
1927 and 300 students proudly entered the school’s doors that September.

The Ursuline school thrived over the years and, under the leadership
of Mother Immaculata Maguire, the Junior school was constructed in
1955 to provide for the demands of a student body that now numbered
more than 500. The Montessori program was added in 1964, and the
Laffey-McHugh gymnasium was added in 1980. In 1986, the property at
1103 North Franklin Street was purchased to house the administrative
offices and was named the “Gerardine House” in memory of Gerardine
Laffey Connolly ‘28, an untiring advocate of private Catholic
education in Wilmington.

In 1975, a Board of Trustees was formed to assume responsibility for
the daily operations of the school, under the chairmanship of Taylor
W. Hanavan. At that time, the convent and school became separate
corporations. The convent corporation retained the name “Ursuline
Academy, Inc.,” and the school corporation is known as “Ursuline
Academy of Wilmington, Delaware, Inc.” For the first time in its
history, lay principals were appointed to head the schools. A further
reorganization of the school took place in 1988 when the Board of
Trustees created the position of President of the Academy; Angela M.
Boyle, class of 1953, was the first to hold this position. Today,
Cathie Field Lloyd, class of 1970, holds that position.

The Alumnae Association of Ursuline Academy was formed in 1911, and
Miss Mary Russell, class of 1895, was its first president. Today,
Susan Bair Purcell, class of 1975, holds that position. Ursuline
Academy’s distinguished alumnae now number more than 3,500 women.

In an atmosphere that promotes a love of learning, Ursuline students
work collaboratively to explore all curricular areas - science, math,
reading, language arts, foreign language, social studies, and
theology. These core subjects are supplemented at all levels with
music, studio art, dance, and physical education. Ursuline works to
develop leaders, whether it be on the state championship basketball or
volleyball court, in service to others, or in academic competitions,
and we take great pride in knowing how well our students carry on that
leadership role once they graduate from our Academy.