Near North Side in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Catholic Charities St. Vincent Center

Photographed by Sean Flynn

1. The Catholic Charities St. Vincent Center Marker

Inscription.

The Catholic Charities St. Vincent Center. . , The St. Vincent Center has played a prominent and unique role in the life-affirming, charitable history of the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. , In 1881, the St. Vincent Hospital and Infant Asylum, popularly known as St. Vincent's Orphanage, was founded by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. The first infant was admitted on August 2, and the first foundling was brought in by the police department on September 9. In 1887, the Daughters of Charity erected a four-story house for the care of 250 children., Energized by the commitment and devotion of these dedicated religious women, St. Vincent's Orphanage provided 91 years of selfless service and care to many thousands of poor or unwed mothers and their infants and children; orphaned, abandoned and neglected children; and foster and adoptive families., Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago was founded in 1917 to serve the poor. An accredited social service agency, it annually assists more than one million persons in need of food, clothing, shelter and professional social services at more than 150 sites in Cook and Lake Counties. Since 1972, the present St. Vincent building has served as the center of the charitable work of Catholic Charities., The work of St. Vincent's Orphanage stands as a proud and cherished memory. The good that was done here lives today in the lives of the adoptees, foster children, birth mothers and adoptive parents; and in the hearts of every doctor, nurse, volunteer, maternity and social worker, priest chaplain and Daughter of Charity who served here. This remarkable history will never be forgotten in the annals of the Archdiocese of Chicago., Today, the spirit of St. Vincent lives on in the compassionate and professional work of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago., This Plaque is dedicated in honor of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul for their 150 years of ministry within the Archdiocese of Chicago. , "The Charity of Christ Crucified Urges Us" , , Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. Archbishop of Chicago , Rev. Monsignor Michael M. Boland, President, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago

The St. Vincent Center has played a prominent and unique role in the life-affirming, charitable history of the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago.

In 1881, the St. Vincent Hospital and Infant Asylum, popularly known as St. Vincent's Orphanage, was founded by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. The first infant was admitted on August 2, and the first foundling was brought in by the police department on September 9. In 1887, the Daughters of Charity erected a four-story house for the care of 250 children.

Energized by the commitment and devotion of these dedicated religious women, St. Vincent's Orphanage provided 91 years of selfless service and care to many thousands of poor or unwed mothers and their infants and children; orphaned, abandoned and neglected children; and foster and adoptive families.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago was founded in 1917 to serve the poor. An accredited social service agency, it annually assists more than one million persons in need of food, clothing, shelter and professional social services at more than 150 sites in Cook and Lake Counties. Since 1972,

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the present St. Vincent building has served as the center of the charitable work of Catholic Charities.

The work of St. Vincent's Orphanage stands as a proud and cherished memory. The good that was done here lives today in the lives of the adoptees, foster children, birth mothers and adoptive parents; and in the hearts of every doctor, nurse, volunteer, maternity and social worker, priest chaplain and Daughter of Charity who served here. This remarkable history will never be forgotten in the annals of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Today, the spirit of St. Vincent lives on in the compassionate and professional work of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

This Plaque is dedicated in honor of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul for their 150 years of ministry within the Archdiocese of Chicago.
"The Charity of Christ Crucified Urges Us"

Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. Archbishop of Chicago
Rev. Monsignor Michael M. Boland, President, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago

Erected 2011 by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in

Photographed by Sean Flynn, December 22, 2023

2. The Catholic Charities St. Vincent Center Marker

The marker is on the left side, near the street corner. The building entrance is behind the pillars on the right.

these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Religion & Religious Structures • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is August 2, 1881.

Location. 41° 53.73′ N, 87° 37.95′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in the Near North Side. It is at the intersection of North La Salle Drive and West Superior Street, on the right when traveling north on North La Salle Drive. The marker is at the northwest corner of the Catholic Charities Building, facing La Salle Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 721 North La Salle Drive, Chicago IL 60654, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 15 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bush Temple of Music (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); (Former) Cosmopolitan State Bank

St. Vincent Center foundation stone image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 6, 2024

3. St. Vincent Center foundation stone

(about 600 feet away); Arts of Life (about 600 feet away); Victor F. Lawson House YMCA (approx. 0.2 miles away); Former Chicago Historical Society Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Assumption School (approx. ¼ mile away); Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (approx. ¼ mile away); Washington Square Park (approx. ¼ mile away); Headquarters of the Chicago and Northeast Illinois District Council of Carpenters (approx. ¼ mile away); Daniel Chester French (approx. 0.3 miles away); Ransom R. Cable House (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Washington Square Park (approx. 0.3 miles away); Abraham Lincoln (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hotel St. Benedict Flats (approx. 0.3 miles away); Ellis Chesbrough (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Regarding The Catholic Charities St. Vincent Center. This site served for 91 years as the home of what was popularly known as St. Vincent Orphanage until its closing in 1972, at which point Catholic Charities of Chicago moved in. According to an inscription on the corner of the building just below this sign, the building was rebuilt in 1927.

Also see . . .
1. History of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

St. Vincent's Infant Asylum and Maternity Hospital, original building image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of the University of Illinois, circa 1893

4. St. Vincent's Infant Asylum and Maternity Hospital, original building

This 1893 view, from the book, Chicago, the marvelous city of the West, shows the original orphanage building; the entrance at the corner is the approximate location of the historical marker on the current building.

(Submitted on August 31, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul: Our Story. From the order's official international website (Submitted on September 27, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Cardinal George statue and marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, December 22, 2023

5. Cardinal George statue and marker

Francis George was the first native of Chicago to serve as head of the city's archdiocese, leading from 1997 until 2014. This statue honored his 50th anniversary as a priest.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 22, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 3,829 times since then and 388 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 22, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on April 8, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4, 5. submitted on December 23, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.