Category Archives: American Catholic History

Tom and Noelle Crowe finds the hidden gems and compelling stories of Catholic Americans who have contributed to their nation by virtue of their faith over the past three centuries.

Fred Allen

Fred Allen was a hugely influential and beloved comic actor in the golden age of radio whose characters, tropes, and sketches have been ... Read more

The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Margaret Brown did so much in her life--helping the poor, building churches, establishing a juvenile justice system, women's suffrage, even ... Read more

Fr. Pierre-Jean de Smet, SJ

The Jesuit missionary Fr. de Smet met, befriended, and evangelized nearly every native tribe west of the Mississippi in the mid-19th century ... Read more

Blessed Michael McGivney and the Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus are the largest Catholic fraternal and charitable organization in the world, and as Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us, we ... Read more

Mother Mary Magdalene Bentivoglio

Mother Mary Bentivoglio's story is yet another of overcoming obstacles and persevering in faith. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us how this Poor ... Read more

The History of St. Patrick’s Day

As great as St. Patrick is and important to Ireland, as Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us, the celebration of St. Patrick's Day didn't become the ... Read more

Father Ferdinand Farmer

When Jesuit Father Ferdinand Farmer came to the US colonies before the Revolution, they were bitterly divided by religious intolerance. Tom and ... Read more

Bishop Simon Bruté

The French-born Bishop Simon Bruté, first bishop of Vincennes, Indiana, was a famed intellectual and missionary. He was even associated with ... Read more

George Washington, Catholic?

Ever since he died, there has been speculation that George Washington converted to Catholicism on his deathbed. Tom and Noëlle Crowe look at ... Read more

Mary Edmonia Lewis

Mary Edmonia Lewis was a black Catholic woman who became a great sculptor. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tells us that in order to overcome prejudice ... Read more

Servant of God Cora Evans

Cora Evans was a Mormon homemaker in the early to mid-20th century who lost her faith soon after her wedding. But Tom and Noëlle Crowe reveal ... Read more

Mary Lou Williams

Mary Lou Williams was one of the great jazz musicians of the 20th century. As Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us, when she'd had enough of the ... Read more

Carnival and Mardi Gras in the United States

The period between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday is known in some Catholic places as Carnival, a time to celebrate before the penitential season ... Read more

The Philadelphia Nativist Riots of 1844

In Philadelphia in 1844, tensions between Catholics and Protestants over religious indoctrination in public schools boiled over into violence. ... Read more

Carl Schmitt

Carl Schmitt was a great American artist and thinker of the 20th century. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us that his Catholic faith informed his ... Read more

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first Catholic saint born in America and Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us how this early 19th century former ... Read more

Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente was one of the greatest baseball players of his time before his tragic death. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us that it was his ... Read more

Regina Laudis Abbey & Mother Benedict

The story of the founding of Regina Laudis Abbey in Connecticut is worthy of a movie--and it was made into one. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell the ... Read more

Blessed Advent, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year from StarQuest

StarQuest (SQPN) wishes you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We are grateful for all your support in 2020 whether by listening to our ... Read more

Harry Warren

Harry who? Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell the story of one of the most prolific and successful American songwriters, Harry Warren, a man of deep ... Read more