Letter 11: Nano Nagle writing to Teresa Mulally, Dublin on 29 September 1778

Manuscript letter written by Nano Nagle on 29 September 1778, to Teresa Mulally, Dublin. In the letter, Nagle outlines her plans to found a congregation that would provide education for poor girls. She refers to the Constitutions of the Sisters of Charitable Instruction, in Paris (also known as the Dames de St Maur), and indicates that she is trying to find Constitutions appropriate to her own proposed congregation. At this point, it was important to Nano Nagle that her new congregation would not be bound by solemn vows; she did not want them to be enclosed, rather they should be able to work among the people, and teach at schools outside the convent enclosure. This would prove challenging, and was considered to highly controversial at that time. The letter is known as Letter 11.