.
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 4: 15.1.4 Photographs
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Selma Our Lady of Lourdes
- Folder 2: Dauphin Island
- Folder 3: Southern Missions Miscellaneous
- Folder 4: France: Pontigny, Lizieux, St. Florentin, Chablis, Sens and Miscellaneous Portugal, Canada 1930's and 1940's
- Folder 5: Selma 1930's, 1940's, 1950's
- Folder 6: Hitchin, England St. Michaels Group Photo
- Folder 7: Pictures taken by Fr. Sheehey Found in Fr. Couture's Material
- Folder 8: Washington D.C. 19th Institute of Modern Archives Administration 1965
- Folder 9: Miscellaneous
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Burlington Miscellaneous
- Folder 2: Vermont Miscellaneous
- Folder 3: Randolph, VT
- Folder 4: Family Pictures From 1930's on
- Folder 5: 25th Anniversary
- Folder 6: St. Michael's Fairholt
- Folder 7: Swanton Students 1920's
- Folder 8: Swanton Priests and Students 1920's
- Folder 9: Swanton 1920's Church and School
- Folder 10: Swanton Panoramic View
- Folder 11: Photocopies from Swanton Gallery Church and Priests
- Folder 12: Old Picture of House, Mother and Child
- Folder 13: Pontigny 2 packages of small postcards
- Folder 14: Pontigny Franco-American College Postcards
- Folder 15: Pontigny Interior postcards
- Folder 16: Pontigny Exterior Postcards
- Folder 17: Pontigny Abbey Old pictures
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 
