The Vincentiana Collection of the Archives and Special Collections Department of DePaul University has acquired a carte-de-visite of Jean-Baptiste Etienne (1801-1874) the 14th superior general of the Congregation of the Mission and the Company of the Daughters of Charity. The image shows an elderly Etienne. It is estimated to have bee taken c. 1870 when Monsieur Etienne celebrated the 50th anniversary of his entrance into the Congregation. Cartes-de-visite were tremendously popular in mid to late 19th century France, and photography studios sprung up throughout Paris and the rest of France.

The photographer August Coudret had his studio on the boulevard Saint-Jacques. He began his professional work in 1867, thus supporting the dating of this photograph as c. 1870.

The Vincentiana Collection in Archives and Special Collections at DePaul University’s Richardson Library has recently acquired an early-19th century decorative transferware plate depicting Saint Vincent de Paul rescuing foundlings in the snow-covered streets. This types of decorative plates were very popular in bourgeois households. This plate is numbered “6” in a series entitled “Morale en action.” The idiosyncratic spelling of Vincent de Paule dates it from the first third of the 19th century. The Vincentiana collection has a number of these plates in its collection.

The Vincentiana Collections of the Archives and Special Collections Department of DePaul University’s Richardson Library has recently acquired four very rare pre-revolutionary (18th century) hand-colored images depicting Daughters of Charity.  These images are small (approx. 2 by 3 inches).  The style of the sisters’ habits, the printing font, and type of paper all suggest this dating.

The Vincentiana Collection of DePaul University’s Archives and Special Collections has recently acquired two late 19th century pious images of Daughters of Charity serving in the China missions. These were issued by the Oeuvre de Sainte Enfance a Paris-based charity (founded in 1843) supporting the foreign missions especially for the rescue and baptism of children.

The Daughters were major recipients of the support of this organization.

The Vincentiana Collections at DePaul University’s Archives and Special Collections has recently purchased an early 19th century embroidered portrait of Vincent de Paul. The face of the saint is drawn while the rest of the details of his portrait are done with silk embroidery. This piece will be part of the upcoming (January 2017) exhibition in DePaul’s Art Museum entitled: “The Many Faces of Vincent de Paul: Expressions of French Romanticism.”

The Vincentiana Research Collection at the John T. Richardson Library of Chicago has purchased a rare copy of the 1737 bull of  Clement XII canonizing Vincent de Paul.  As is customary for papal documents it is known by its first two words in this case: “Superna Jerusalem”