Attire of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Philadelphia

The original Sisters of Saint Joseph in Le Puy, France in the 17th century wore black woolen material, “like simple, respectable widows,” with a band of white linen on the forehead and a headdress of black taffeta. This basic design – with the inclusion of a white guimpe – continued until the Sisters arrived in Philadelphia in 1847. Over the next century and a half, the habit changed numerous times until finally in 1984 the habit became optional.

Image used with permission from Brother Mickey McGrath