Rick Just
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Author
  • Speaker
  • Contact

Sister History

5/16/2019

Comments

 
​Sister M. Alfreda Elsensohn created a tiny little museum in an attic at St. Gertrude’s Academy in Cottonwood in 1931. It was a way to teach her students about history, geology, biology, and other subjects. The little museum grew bit by bit over the years until today—now in its own modern building—it has more than 70,000 items. 
 
The Historical Museum at St. Gertrude has a special collection of Nez Perce artifacts, an extensive geology exhibit, a medical collection, extensive displays on the Chinese in Idaho, and a pioneer life collection. There is an exhibit about the history of the Monastery of St. Gertrude, which you might expect. You would not expect the Rhoades Emmanuel Gallery, which features the lifetime collection of Winifred Rhoades, a renowned silent film organist whose interest include European and Asian artifacts. Yes, you’ll see Ming Dynasty vases right there on the Camas Prairie.
 
The museum is home to the collections of well-known Idaho County personalities Polly Bemis, Frances Wisner, and Sylvan “Buckskin Bill” Hart.
 
It is a collection that rivals any other in the state, and something that would have made Sister M. Alfreda Elsensohn famous on its own. But she wasn’t satisfied teaching only students. She became an important Idaho historian, writing books such as Pioneer Days in Idaho County, Idaho Chinese Lore, and Polly Bemis. With her writing and teaching, Sister M. Alfreda Elsensohn became one of Idaho’s most important historians.
 
#idaho #idahocounty #stgertrude #historicalmuseumatstgertrude #pollybemis
Picture
​Sister M. Alfreda Elsensohn autographing books in 1952. Photo courtesy of the Idaho State Historical Society’s physical collection. 
Speaking of Idaho history posts are copyright © 2020 by Rick Just. Sharing is encouraged. If you don’t find a button that lets you do that, find the post on Speaking of Idaho. If you’re missing my daily posts, select the RSS button, or select See it First under the Facebook Following tab.
Comments
    Like and follow Speaking of Idaho on Facebook and Twitter.

    Subscribe to the Speaking of Idaho newsletter

    * indicates required
    Email Format
    Picture
    The first book in the Speaking of Idaho series is out. Ask for it at your local Idaho bookstore, find it on Amazon, or, if you want a signed copy, click the button.
    Picture
    Rick's book about Fearless Farris is available on Amazon! Click the picture above to be taken to Amazon. If you'd like an autographed copy, click the button below.

    Author, Speaker

    Rick Just has been writing about Idaho history since 1989 when he wrote and recorded scripts for the Idaho Centennial Commission’s daily radio program, Idaho Snapshots. His latest book on Idaho history is Images of America, Idaho State Parks. Rick also writes a regular column for the Idaho Press.

    Rick does public presentations on Idaho's state park history and the history of the Morrisite war for the Idaho Humanities Council's Speakers Bureau.
    ​


    Check out Rick's history of Idaho State Parks.

    The audio link below is to Rick's Story Story Night set called "Someplace Not Firth"

    RSS Feed

Speaking of Idaho history posts are copyright © 2022 by Rick Just. Sharing is encouraged. If you’re missing my daily posts, select the RSS button, or select See it First under the Facebook Following tab.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you follow a link (generally to a book) from my page to an Amazon page, I get a tiny percentage of any purchase you may make.