Madeleine Sue Seid-Martin papers, 1988 --1998

Collection context

Creator:
Seid-Martin, Madeleine Sue, 1938-1998
Abstract:
Madeleine Sue Seid-Martin was a music liturgist, worship director, composer, and lay leader, and taught at the University of Notre Dame and at the University of St. Thomas School of Divinity in St. Paul, Minnesota. The collection contains manuscript music, notes, publications, correspondence, papers related to the 1993 Reimagining Event, lecture notes and drafts, works by others, and clippings from magazines and newspapers.
Extent:
0.5 linear feet (0.5 linear feet; 1 box)
Language:
English .
Scope and content:

This collection contains manuscript music, notes, publications, and correspondence related to the liturgical and reform work of Madeleine Sue Seid-Martin. One section of the collection includes papers related to the 1993 Reimagining Event. Also included are personal and professional correspondence, lecture notes and drafts, works by others, and clippings from magazines and newspapers.

Biographical / historical:

Madeleine Martin, music liturgist, teacher, and lay church leader was born March 11, 1938. After graduation Sue Seid-Martin taught at the Eastman School of Music. Later as a Catholic laywoman, she taught Liturgical music at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana and took part in an organ performance during the dedication of a new organ there in 1978. Following her position at Notre Dame, she became instructor of ritual studies at the University of St. Thomas School of Divinity in St. Paul, Minnesota. From 1982-1991, Seid-Martin served as Music Director to St Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St. Paul. June 1998 found her teaching at the United Theological Seminary in New Brighton, Minnesota. Seid-Martin played a large role in designing the liturgy of the historically significant "ReImagining Event" in November 1993. She worked tirelessly to bring about liturgical and ecclesial reform in the Catholic Church, lobbying eloquently through public speeches and her teaching, and conference work for the ordination of women and for substantive innovations in music and worship. In her own words, she was trying to create the space "where we are truly free to be ourselves." In another context, she spoke of the wisdom of women to be found in overlooked scriptures and traditions and her collected "Sophia stuff" files reflect this. Promoting church music during the post Vatican II years, she was accustomed to being on the cutting edge of church worship expression. Her friends and colleagues said that she was always clear that she was a Catholic and a Christian. On August 15, 1998, at age 60, Sue Seid-Martin died in Minneapolis.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

The following boxes are located offsite: Box 1. Please note that requests for use of boxes held in offsite storage must be made three business days in advance.

Terms of access:

Some material in this collection may be protected by copyright and other rights. Information concerning copyright, fair use, and reproduction requests can be consulted at Columbia's Copyright Advisory Office.

Preferred citation:

Item description, AWTS: Madeleine Sue Seid Martin papers, 1988-1998, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Location of this collection:
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Contact:
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