The following documents can tell us more about Rebecca Reed and the controversies surrounding her text:
For a background of the Ursuline Convent Riots, the Anti-Catholic sentiments held by the Protestants in the early eighteen hundreds, and Rebecca Reed's connection to it all, go to the following online text American Protestantism and Its Captivities, Chapter Seven:
The photograph above, taken from Nancy Schultz's introduction of Veil of Fear, is an illustration of a nun fleeing a convent, and it represents the fear and controversy expressed in the escaped convent narratives. Rebecca Reed's story was just one of many tales that aimed to expose the purported corruption of the Catholic convents, and it was part of an ongoing literary battle between the Protestants and the Catholics in the early eighteenth century.
The image above, a digitalized version of a document in the American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives, is an unknown nun's description of Reed's acceptance into the convent and her departure six months later. This is a digitalized version of the first page, but all four pages can be viewed on the following webpage:
This document is just one of many that contribute to the argument between the Protestants and the Catholics. This document appears to be defending the convent against any deceptive tactics or ill-treatment towards Rebecca Reed during her six months at the Ursuline Convent.
This wood engraving (above), which depicts the ruins after the Ursuline Convent Riot,
is found in the collection of the Charlestown (Massachusetts) Historical Society, USA.
A sketch of the ruins can be found here: Sketch of Ursuline Convent Ruins 1842
This picture of the Ursuline Convent in flames (above) is courtesy of the Northeastern University Press.
Both of the above documents illustrate a point that is mentioned in the introduction to Reed's Six Months in a Convent. Many Catholics blamed Reed for the rioters' actions, pointing to her book as motivation for the hateful act. Reed wrote her book as a response to angry writers who blamed her for the destruction of the convent.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE RIOT:
The following radio interview from 99.9FM WBUR.ORG reveals some interesting details regarding the riot:
The above article expresses worry that "another girl" has gone missing from the convent. This became a common worry as Protestant parents began to hear stories of corruption regarding the convent. Parents worried about their daughters, especially since the convent was not open for the public's perusal. The bottom of the article shows that the concern of this young women was unnecessary, as the mother cleared up the confusion. This article represents the rumors and fear towards convents and Catholicism held by the public in the early eighteen hundreds.
The above article also expresses the concern that Protestant parents have towards the secrecy of the convent. This article further illustrates the fear associated with convents and Catholicism.
Other articles regarding Rebecca Reed, the Ursuline Convent Riot, and the tension between the Protestant and Catholic religions can be found in the digital archives of the Catholic University of America:
I love your contextual documents, especially the variety of mediums - artwork, radio interview, newspaper clippings and the digital archive dedicated to the history of the Ursuline Convent. It's great that so many sources have survived.
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