The Sisters of Charity, the 1832 Cholera Epidemic in Philadelphia and Duffy’s Cut

Sisters of Charity, founded in 1809 by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, were the essential caregivers in the 1832 cholera epidemic in the City of Philadelphia and its environs. The epidemic claimed over 900 lives in the Delaware Valley from July through September, and most professional medical personnel were ineffective in treating the disease. In some well-documented cases, the care was unprofessional and destructive to morale. The sisters were called upon by the City Board of Health to provide the most professional level of care possible, and they responded enthusiastically and effectively. Their services on behalf of the sick and dying constituted the one positive aspect of the region's treatment plan. Sisters were also called upon to minister to the dying Irishmen of the Duffy's Cut tragedy in Chester County that August, and their involvement in the Duffy's Cut narrative is a crucial aspect of that story.