Sister Miriam Lenore Joseph Rauh '20, CSC

Author of Trivium, a textbook developed for her interdisciplinary course on literature, logic, and rhetoric

Her Story

Sister Miriam Joseph served as Chair of the English Department from 1947-1969 and was the author of Trivium, a textbook developed for her interdisciplinary course on literature, logic, and rhetoric. President Hickey described her "as perhaps the most distinguished scholar to be identified with the College in this century." She wrote a text  combining into one contemporary course the three arts of the trivium, by means of their interrelationship. Faculty opinion was divided on the questions of integrating the three subjects and of the way in which the term rhetoric was interpreted. Despite some turmoil (and supposed protests), the course was taught with both its values and limitations from 1935-1959. Alumnae still say that whatever else they have forgotten of their education, they will never forget the trivium.