Providence in the West: A Timeline, 1856-1902

March 25, 1843	Mother Emilie Gamelin founds the Sisters of Providence religious community in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
December 1, 1852 - February 1, 1853	The first Sisters of Providence come to the American west from Montreal, but their mission is cut short by lack of preparation and support. On their way home to Quebec, they stop in Valparaiso, Chile, and remain to serve orphans and others in need.
December 8, 1856	Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart and four Sisters of Providence arrive in Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, from Montreal. They open their small home to orphans and the elderly.
April 15, 1857	Providence Academy, first permanent school in the Pacific Northwest, opens in Vancouver as a day school, boarding school, and orphanage.
June 7, 1858	The sisters open St. Joseph Hospital, Vancouver, the first permanent hospital in the Northwest (now Southwest Washington Medical Center).
January 28, 1859	Incorporation of the Sisters of Charity of the House of Providence in the Territory of Washington, the parent corporation of the sisters' current ministries and one of the oldest existing corporations in the region.
March 19, 1859	Bylaws on the new corporation are established, and the care of the corporation entrusted to St. Joseph as "spiritual president."
1861-1867	Sisters hold territorial contract for care of the mentally ill, establishing a separate hospital in Vancouver.
September 23, 1863	Sisters extend their ministry beyond Vancouver, opening St. Joseph School in Steilacoom, then an "up and coming" town on Puget Sound.
February 18, 1864	St. Vincent Academy founded in Walla Walla, taking the Providence ministry into the interior of the Washington Territory.
October 17, 1864	Sister Mary of the Infant Jesus and three sisters travel to St. Ignatius, Montana, to teach the native children. From St. Ignatius, the Providence ministry expands throughout western Montana and northern Idaho.
August 11, 1868	Providence of Our Lady of Seven Dolors School, on the Tulalip Reservation, is the sisters' first school for Native Americans in Washington.
April 19, 1873	St. Patrick Hospital, Missoula, is opened -- now holds the distinction of being the sisters' oldest foundation in the west.
July 19, 1875	St. Vincent Hospital, Portland, becomes the first permanent hospital in Oregon (now Providence St. Vincent Medical Center).
May 3, 1877	The foundation for Providence Hospital, Seattle, is laid when three sisters arrive to open the King County Poor Farm.
January 27, 1880	St. Mary Hospital, Walla Walla, opens.
August 5, 1884	The sisters' ministries in the Northwest are officially placed under the patronage of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
April 30, 1886	Mother Joseph establishes Sacred Heart Hospital, Spokane (now Sacred Heart Medical Center).
July 6, 1886	St. Mary Hospital, New Westminster, BC, is the sisters' first hospital in western Canada.
June 18, 1887	St. Peter Hospital, Olympia, is founded on what is now the campus of the Washington State Capitol.
March 29, 1891	The Sisters of Providence establish seven administrative provinces, with three in the west: Sacred Heart Province, based in Vancouver; St. Ignatius Province, based in Missoula; and St. Vincent de Paul Province, based in Portland.
August 2, 1891	St. Elizabeth Hospital -- now Providence Yakima Medical Center -- founded.
September 23, 1892	Columbus Hospital -- now known as Benefis Healthcare -- opens in Great Falls, Montana.
April 17, 1893	St. Ignatius Hospital -- now Whitman Community Hospital -- established in Colfax, Washington.
February 19, 1900	The centennial of Mother Emilie Gamelin's birth is celebrated throughout Canada and the western United States.
September 12, 1900	The Sisters of Providence Constitutions are approved by the Vatican, opening the way for new ministries in service to people in need.
January 19, 1902	Mother Joseph, age 79, dies at Providence Academy, Vancouver.
May 24, 1902	The sisters' ministry expands to California with the opening of Providence Hospital, Oakland (now part of Sutter Health System).
June 20, 1902	The sisters' ministry is extended to Alaska with the opening of Holy Cross Hospital, Nome.
Summary	Although some of their early missions had closed, in 1902, the sisters operated 17 hospitals and 8 schools in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, California, and Alaska, with several additional missions in western Canada.