529. The Ursuline Correspondence

<div>529.&nbsp; Stephen and Bruce <a href="http://archive.org/download/529-ursuline-correspondence/529--Ursuline_Correspondence.mp3" target="_blank">give</a> their <a href="https://louisiana-anthology.org/texts/farjon/farjon--letter--resources.html" target="_blank">presentation</a> over the Ursuline Correspondence. In the summer of 1804, the Mother Superior or the Ursuline Convent, Therese de St. Xavier Farjon, wrote a petition signed by all the nuns in the convent to President Jefferson, asking his assurance that their property be protected by the Unites States government, so that they could continue their mission of educating girls in New Orleans.<a name='more'></a> Gov. Claiborne sent a cover letter supporting their request, which Jefferson granted in his reply. This correspondence gives us an important insight into the transition of Louisiana from having a state-sponsored church under the French and Spanish to a United States territory with separation of church and state. The Catholic church had been the sole one to be allowed to operate legally in the colony. It had not only the blessing of the government, but was also funded by the government. Jefferson had written to the Danbury Baptist Association that he believed the first amendment established "a wall of separation between Church &amp; State." In his letter to the Ursulines, Jefferson does not mention the wall, but he does promise that the government will protect their property and their mission. But they would have to learn to survive without government funding and to co-exist with all the other religious institutions the government was protecting.<ol type="a"> <li>This week in Louisiana history. June 30, 1870. <i>Robert E. Lee</i> and <i>the Natchez</i> began their famous riverboat race </li> <li>This week in New Orleans history. Writer Shirley Ann Grau was born on July 8, 1929 in New Orleans.<br /> </li> <li>This week in Louisiana. <br /> Grand Isle Music Fest<br />