The American College ("Collegium Americanum") of St. Maurice at Münster. Professionalization and Disciplining in the Formation of Priests for the USA at the Dawn of the "Kulturkampf", 1864-1874

Basic data for this project

Description

The American College ("Collegium Americanum", 1864-1874) of St. Maurice at Münster in Westphalia served to train priests for the Catholic missions in the United States of America. This research project aims to explore and analyze the largely unknown history of this short-lived education institution in consideration of latest research in the history of religions and education. In terms of methods and methodology, the project follows concepts and approaches of cultural and social history with special regard to mentalities. It addresses the question of in how far the formation at the American College aimed at promoting the priestly professionalization of seminarians or rather served to strengthen ultramontane discipline, particularly in view the beginning "Kulturkampf" in the Catholic provinces of Prussia.