.
By Elizabeth B. Scott
Collection Overview
Title: SSE Manuscripts. Rev. Joseph Couture, SSE Collection, 1937-1987
ID: SSE 15/SSE 15.1/
Primary Creator: Couture, Joseph (1906-1993)
Extent: 9.0 Linear Feet
Arrangement: The material is arranged into series: Vermont Clergy; SSE history; Personal; Photographs.
Scope and Contents of the Materials
This collection includes a number of the histories written by Fr. Couture, as well as research materials for the works. Diaries, correspondence, sermons, and other writings are also included. The material is arranged into series.
Collection Historical Note
Father Joseph Couture was born in Burlington, VT on June 15, 1906. He attended high school at Saint Anne’s Academy in Swanton, VT and entered the SSE novitiate in 1927. He attended Saint Michael’s College, graduating in 1930. After his ordination to the priesthood in 1934, he became an instructor at St. Edmund’s Juniorate in Swanton. He went to Pontigny, France in 1936, where he served as novice master until 1941. He also worked in a number of parishes during his years in France. At the outbreak of World War II, he returned to the US and began teaching at the new SSE seminary in Randolph. He also worked for a time at Saint Michael’s. From 1947-1956 Fr. Couture served in the Edmundite Southern Missions. Between 1956-66, he worked at Saint Michael’s College, where he had briefly worked in 1946-47. He returned to the Southern Missions in 1966 and he remained there until his death in 1993.
Fr. Couture was an avid amateur historian. He spent a great deal of time working on histories of both the Edmundites (In Vermont and other locations) He also wrote biographies of Catholic Clergy in Vermont and produced a number of parish histories for SSE parishes. His body of work is extensive and includes much information not found elsewhere.
Biographical Note
Father Joseph Couture was born in Burlington, VT on June 15, 1906. He attended high school at Saint Anne’s Academy in Swanton, VT and entered the SSE novitiate in 1927. He attended Saint Michael’s College, graduating in 1930. After his ordination to the priesthood in 1934, he became an instructor at St. Edmund’s Juniorate in Swanton. He went to Pontigny, France in 1936, where he served as novice master until 1941. He also worked in a number of parishes during his years in France. At the outbreak of World War II, he returned to the US and began teaching at the new SSE seminary in Randolph. He also worked for a time at Saint Michael’s. From 1947-1956 Fr. Couture served in the Edmundite Southern Missions. Between 1956-66, he worked at Saint Michael’s College, where he had briefly worked in 1946-47. He returned to the Southern Missions in 1966 and he remained there until his death in 1993.
Administrative Information
Repository:
Saint Michael's College Archives & Special Collections
Related Materials:
SSE 6.8 Local Administration. Southern Missions
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: 15.1.1 Vermont Clergy],
[
Series 2: 15.1.2 SSE History],
[Series 3: 15.1.3 Personal],
[
Series 4: 15.1.4 Photographs],
[
All]
- Series 3: 15.1.3 Personal
- Box 9
- Folder 1: Personal Correspondence 1980-1986
- Folder 2: Personal Correspondence 1970-1979
- Folder 3: Personal Correspondence 1960-1968
- Folder 4: Personal Correspondence Re: Clergy Biography
- Folder 5: Personal Correspondence 1930
- Folder 6: Personal Diaries 1941
- Folder 7: Personal Diaries 1946
- Folder 8: Personal Diaries 9/46-47
- Folder 9: Personal Diaries 3/47-8/47
- Folder 10: Personal Diaries 9/47-12/47
- Folder 11: Personal Diaries 12/47-3/48
- Folder 12: Personal Diaries 3/48-8/48
- Folder 13: Personal Diaries 8/48-1/49
- Folder 14: Personal Diaries 1/49 to 6/49
- Folder 15: Personal Diaries 6/49 to 11/49
- Folder 16: Personal Diaries 11/49-4/50
- Folder 17: Personal Diaries 9/50-4/51
- Folder 18: Personal Diaries 4/51-9/51
- Folder 19: Personal Diaries 4/51-1/52
- Folder 20: Personal Diaries 1/52-6/52
- Box 10
- Folder 1: Personal Financial Reports 1980's
- Folder 2: Personal Genealogy Research Material (correspondence included)
- Folder 3: Personal Sermons and Homilies Advent, Christmas Season 1989-1992
- Folder 4: Personal Miscellaneous Documents found with correspondence
- Folder 5: Personal Miscellaneous writings Alex....
- Folder 6: Personal Miscellaneous writings Catholic Action
- Folder 7: Personal Miscellaneous writings Experiences in France
- Folder 8: Personal Miscellaneous writings Separate schools....
- Folder 9: Personal Miscellaneous writings Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Folder 10: Personal Miscellaneous notes
- Folder 11: Personal Notebooks Liure VI
- Folder 12: Personal Notebook 1
- Folder 13: Personal Notebeook 2
- Folder 14: Personal Notebook 3
- Folder 15: Personal Notebook 4
- Folder 16: Personal Notebook 5
- Box 11
- Folder 1: Personal Notebook 6
- Folder 2: Personal Novitiate Conferences I
- Folder 3: Personal Novitate Conferences II
- Folder 4: Personal Papers, Cards
- Folder 5: Personal Sermons and Homilies Commencement Address
- Folder 6: Personal Sermons, Homilies Book 13
- Folder 7: Personal Sermons, Homilies Book 14
- Folder 8: Personal Sermons and Homilies Miscellaneous Homily Helps
- Folder 9: Personal Sermons and Homilies Ordinary Time 1990-1992
- Box 12
- Folder 1: Personal Sermons and Homilies Christmas Novena
- Folder 2: Personal Sermons and Homilies Feast Days
- Folder 3: Personal Sermons and Homilies Lent and Easter Season 1990-1992
- Box 13
- Folder 1: Personal Scrapbooks
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: 15.1.1 Vermont Clergy],
[
Series 2: 15.1.2 SSE History],
[Series 3: 15.1.3 Personal],
[
Series 4: 15.1.4 Photographs],
[
All]
SSE Manuscripts 
