‘Searching for Sisters’ is Catching On

Sunny Jane Morton’s Searching for Sisters: A Guide to Researching Catholic Nuns in the United States helps family historians uncover the stories of Catholic nuns and sisters whose lives are often missing from traditional family narratives. With guidance on religious orders, archives, terminology, records, and research strategies, this 144-page guide opens a path into a rich but often overlooked area of genealogy.

It is already earning praise from genealogists, librarians, archivists, and historians. Here’s a sampling:

“From the perspective of a professional genealogist, Searching for Sisters is a dream of a reference book–the kind of in-depth guide every genealogist wishes existed for every kind of record. Sunny skillfully lays out the value of researching nuns and sisters for genealogists and does so in an accessible way . . . . On the whole, women religious may not be our ancestors, but they are and were fascinating people in their own right. It is a helpful bonus that the records they left do often provide evidence about their relatives, which is golden information as well for family historians.  This moving book is sure to come in handy and is a valuable addition to any researcher’s shelf.” –Katy Bodenhorn, Professional Genealogist

“Childhood impressions often obscure the fuller truth. As adults, we are better positioned to ask: who were these women, really? What shaped them? What did they give up and what did they gain? . . . This is a practical, eye-opening guide that fills a genuine gap in genealogical research. Even if you think you don’t have a nun in your tree, you may find yourself reconsidering and looking a little harder.”—Lori Samuelson, Genealogy at Heart

“. . . Searching for Sisters provides great historical background to understand the women’s religious lives, and detailed instructions on how to find records that reveal their personal lives.”—Nancy Gilbride Casey, Denton Public Library

“Genealogists with Catholic relatives will find this book an important resource. It will expand their understanding of the range of available sources for researching family members. For example, the biography of a nun may include a birthplace that will open the pathway to a place of origin in Europe, thereby unlocking other family records. This book is an important source for Catholic researchers.”—John D. Beatty, Genealogy Gems, Allen County Public Library

“Searching for Sisters–As the number of vowed women religious in the United States declines, the archives of religious orders/congregations become even more valuable in uncovering their impact on education, healthcare and social services over the past two centuries. This guide will aid both the casual researcher and the scholar in accessing the information contained in the archives of religious orders.”–Sister Noreen Neary, SC, Director of Archives, Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth

“Searching for Sisters is an essential handbook for anyone with a Catholic nun in the family, as there are a multitude of resources and pathways available to learn many details of her religious life.”—Linda Stufflebean, Empty Branches on the Family Tree

“Overall, this book fills an important gap and will be especially beneficial to genealogists and historians working with New England families. While it is particularly valuable for those researching French-Canadian populations, it also applies to other ethnic groups with strong Catholic traditions, including Irish, Italian, and other communities. The strategies and resources presented make it a practical guide for uncovering the stories of women who entered religious life across various backgrounds.”– Bonnie Wade Mucia, AG^®, AGL^TM [email protected]

“With straightforward explanations of customs, terminology, and organizational structures, the book demystifies this distinctive way of life. For those unfamiliar with the life of vowed women religious, the world of the Sisters might seem like a “foreign country.” Sunny Jane Morton’s book offers a helpful orientation and will be immensely helpful in understanding the vocabulary and lived experience of the women who have chosen a unique and somewhat counter-cultural way of being in the world. “–Mary Navarre, OP,  Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids, Michigan

“As an archivist for women religious, I regularly meet researchers who assume a sister represents a dead end in their genealogy. This book proves the opposite. . . . What resonates most with my professional experience is her emphasis on the richness of women religious archives.  . . Time and again, I’ve seen these records become a gateway to deeper connections and unexpected discoveries. This guide doesn’t just teach research methods; it opens the door to the real joy of encountering a Catholic sister in one’s family history.–Casey Bowser, Archivist, Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill