River Forest in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Mother Samuel Coughlin, O.P.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 15, 2025
1. Mother Samuel Coughlin, O.P. Marker
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1918.
Location. 41° 54.115′ N, 87° 48.896′ W. Marker is in River Forest, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Lathrop Avenue north of Division Street. The plaque is the right of the northwest entrance into Trinity High School. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7574 Division Street, River Forest IL 60305, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, O.P. (a few steps from this marker); Coach Conrad "Connie" J. Aumann (approx. 0.3 miles away); Alumni Bell Tower (approx. 0.4 miles away); Addison Hall (approx. 0.4 miles away); River Forest Women's Club (approx. 0.6 miles away); Anne T. Smedinghoff Memorial Garden (approx. 0.6 miles away); River Forest Firsts (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lindberg Park (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in River Forest.
Regarding Mother Samuel Coughlin, O.P.. Ellen Coughlin was born in Fairbault, Minnesota, in
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 15, 2025
2. Mother Samuel Coughlin, O.P.
During that time, in 1918, the sisters opened Rosary House, an all-girls high school in River Forest; that school became Trinity High School in 1926 when it moved into this building. Mother Samuel was also instrumental in relocating St. Clara College from Sinsinawa to River Forest, where it reopened as Rosary College in 1922. That school, today called Dominican University, is a ½-mile west of Trinity. Overall, the Sinsinawa sisters established 63 new schools and missions under Mother Samuel's leadership.
She
Courtesy of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, circa 1945
3. Mother Samuel Coughlin (1868-1959)
She served as Mother General of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa from 1909 until 1949. The sisters opened Rosary House (later Trinity High School) in 1918.
Also see . . . Encyclopedia.com: Mother Mary Samuel Coughlin. (Submitted on August 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 15, 2025
4. Trinity High School
The left side of the entrance is the plaque and statue for Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, founder of the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters. On the right is the statue and plaque for Mother Samuel Coughlin, who founded Trinity High School.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 27, 2025
5. Trinity High School
Two markers dedicated to the school's founders are at the entryway on Lathrop.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 135 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on August 22, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on August 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 5. submitted on August 28, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
