officially became an independent congregation in 1929, but the history of the Sisters of St. Dominic began in 1206 in Prouilhe, France. It was there that SAINT DOMINIC invited women to be part of his work, to pray, to support THE HOLY PREACHING and to educate in the way of truth all who came to them. Monasteries of Dominican nuns spread throughout Europe and Asia.

TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO ALL PEOPLES, courageous women made their way from Germany to New York and eventually to New Jersey and Ohio. In 1853 Mother Benedicta Bauer, prioress of Holy Cross Convent in Ratisbon, sent four Dominican nuns as missionaries to America, the first of several groups from Germany to found American Dominican congregations. Arriving in New York City, the first sisters finally settled in Brooklyn. In 1881 another community branched off from this Brooklyn group becoming an independent congregation, now located in Caldwell, New Jersey. These New Jersey Dominicans responded to the needs in the West, staffing schools throughout Northeastern Ohio. In 1887 they came to Ravenna, Ohio, to found Immaculate Conception School. In 1893 they were invited to St. Bernard parish in Akron, and in 1905 they founded Sacred Heart Academy in downtown Akron.

The Caldwell Dominicans purchased Elm Court, the Arthur Marks estate on West Market Street to be used as a provincial house and novitiate. Because of the difficulty of sustaining two novitiates in the same congregation, arrangements were made to separate the Akron foundation. On March 9, 1929, sixty-seven sisters officially transferred from Caldwell to Akron and a new congregation began. Sister Beda Schmid became the first Mother General (pictured on the left).

Schools were eventually established on the 33-acre property. These included a pre-school, middle school and high school for girls, and for over 20 years a special education school. The work of the congregation also expanded as Dominicans from Akron traveled throughout the United States and Central America; opening new schools, teaching at universities, entering the foreign mission field, launching social service projects, counseling, writing, and preaching.

Dominicans in Akron have joined with other Dominican congregations to collaborate in the work of preaching. These efforts have included their membership in the Dominican Alliance and especially with the Dominican Cluster of American congregations considering a new canonical union. This union will join Akron to six other congregations for the purpose of strengthening their efforts to extend the preaching mission and to join Dominican women religious with new bonds of friendship and ministry.