Sister Antonia McHugh had experience at three educational levels: elementary, secondary, and college. She was among the first faculty appointed to Derham Hall / College of St. Catherine in 1905. From 1914-1917 she served as the first dean of the college; from 1917-1937 she served as the first president of the college. Her work brought national and international recognition of the scholastic curriculum and faculty at the college.
Cabinet photograph of three prominent Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in full habit. Sister Seraphine Ireland was the director of the St. Paul Province of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet from 1882-1921. She was responsible for the establishment of numerous schools and hospitals in urban and rural areas of Minnesota and North Dakota. Sister St. John Ireland was responsible for the establishment of Holy Angels Academy from 1877-1897. Sister Celestine Howard, a cousin of the Irelands, was supervisor of schools established by Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet; she later (1884) established St. Agatha's Conservatory of Art and Music. This unique school offered classes in various branches of art and music, as well as in dramatics. It closed in 1969. The Irelands were sisters of John Ireland, the first archbishop of St. Paul.
Sister St. John Fournier led the first four Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet to St. Paul in November 1851. They traveled up the Mississippi River on the Steamboat St. Paul from St. Louis, Missouri. About one week after their arrival the Sisters opened St. Joseph's Academy, a boarding and day school. In July 1853, the Sisters of St. Joseph opened St. Joseph's Hospital, Minnesota's first hospital.