Dorothy Mary Abts was born to Anton Abts and Christina Lang on September 23, 1908 in Randolph, Nebraska. She attended the College of St. Teresa in Winona, Minnesota, 1925-1929, where she obtained an A.B. in English and Latin. She lived in Washington, D.C. from 1929-1931, where she earned an M.A. degree in Sociology at The Catholic University of America (CUA) and a Diploma in Social Work at The National Catholic School of Social Service (NCSSS). At this time, the NCSSS was under the direction of the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW).
Dr. Mohler began her career in Baltimore, Maryland, where she worked as a social worker at the Harriet Lane Clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital, 1931-1932. She then took on the position of supervisor of the Catholic Charities of Omaha, Nebraska, 1932-1935. She returned to Nebraska in the summer of 1938 to serve as an Instructor in the Nebraska School of Social Work. In 1935, she returned to Washington to serve on the faculty of the National Catholic School of Social Service until 1944. She also served as an Instructor at CUA School of Social Work from 1938-1943, and the CUA School of Nursing from 1938-1943.
In 1945 she obtained a Ph.D. in Sociology from CUA, with Paul Hanly Furfey as her director, and Francis Connell, C.SS.R. and Dean Lucien Lauermann of NCSSS as her readers. She worked as a caseworker for the Foster Day Care and Counseling Association in Washington, 1945-1946, and then moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin where she worked as Assistant Director of the Diocesan Apostolate, 1946-1948. In 1948 she returned again to Washington where she worked as an Instructor at NCSSS (now part of CUA) in the 1948-1949 academic year. She taught as an Assistant Professor from 1949-1959 and then as Associate Professor from 1959-1979. She was married in 1949 to Bruce M. Mohler, longtime director of the Immigration Bureau (later a department) of the National Catholic Welfare Conference. The Mohlers had no children together, and her husband died in 1967.
In addition to her work at CUA, Dr. Mohler also worked as a supervisor in the Home Service Section of the American Red Cross in 1949 and as an Instructor at Trinity College, 1950-1952. She served as editor of the journal Social Thought, a joint production of NCSSS and Catholic Charities USA (formerly the National Conference of Catholic Charities), from 1976 to 1988. Dorothy Mohler continued to live in Washington, D.C. until she moved to a nursing home in Omaha, Nebraska in 1998. She died there of congestive heart failure on February 18, 2000.
Dorothy Mohler was a long-time advocate for the archival preservation of the records of American Catholic institutions. She was especially interested in preserving the documentary evidence for Catholic Social Welfare. To that end, she facilitated the donation of records from Catholic Charities USA and to the Archives at The Catholic University of America. Beginning in 1983, she began to make annual anonymous donations to the CUA Archives to support efforts to adequately house and organize these records. Finally, by terms of her will she left a substantial bequest that was used to create the Dorothy Mohler Memorial Endowment Fund that continues to support the work of the CUA Archives.
The Dorothy Abts Mohler Collection is divided into six series, the contents of which are summarized below. Series 1 is comprised of Personal Papers and Memorabilia from 1913-2000, and is housed in the first two boxes. These materials include her numerous awards, personal documents like her driver's license and resume, correspondence with her husband and family, sympathy letters when her husband died, thank you notes, scrapbooks, and newspaper clippings. Also included are materials related to her involvement with the College of St. Teresa in Minnesota over many decades as student and alumna.
Series 2, contained in box 3, is titled Correspondence and Subject Files, A-Z, 1941-1995. This box is made primarily of her general correspondence with various colleagues at CUA and elsewhere, as well as with organizations she was involved with such as the National Council of Catholic Women and the National Conference of Catholic Charities (later Catholic Charities USA). There is some overlap of personal items contained within the first series and NCSSS related material in third series.
Series 3, housed is boxes 4-11, concerns the National Catholic School of Social Service (NCSSS) Records from 1917-1988. This series contains general administration files of this academic school from its three iterations: its origins during the First World War as the National Service School for Women under the National Catholic War Council, its years as the NCSSS from 1921-1947 under the auspices of the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW), and finally, its years since 1947 as a major school of The Catholic University of America (CUA). Materials include correspondence, committee meeting minutes, conference files, curricula, and related material.
Series 4 is comprised of Financial and Legal Records from 1921-2000 and is contained in boxes 12-13. The Mohlers financial and legal files were maintained by their lawyer and former U.S. Congressman, John R. Foley. The materials include banking files from 1980-2000; wills from 1981-2000; property files from 1921-2000, and taxes records from 1990-1999.
Series 5 is houses in boxes 14-15 and is titled Publications and Printed Material, 1907-1998. Among the materials are Dr. Mohler's own writings, like book reviews, letters to the editor, and articles, as well as some of her handwritten or typed note cards. Also present are copies of publications related to her career as an academic, in addition to personal materials such as music lesson books.
Series 6 is comprised of photographs from 1912-1998, as well as some which are undated. These include personal portraits, photographs of family, friends, and professional colleagues. One photograph of note is a 1958 still of Dr. Mohler with Karl Alter, Archbishop of Cincinnati, Ohio. Some of the family photographs are in postcard format and date from early in the twentieth century. Many others depict student and faculty events at the College of Saint Teresa and Catholic University.
The Dorothy Abts Mohler Papers consist of six series:
National Catholic School of Social Service Records
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Received in multiple accessions from Dorothy Mohler and her estate, her lawyer, her family, and professional colleagues, 1994-2007, 2014.
Processing in 1994 and 2011 by William John Shepherd, with contributions by Eben Dennis in 2010 and Raymond Moore in 2012. EAD markup completed in 2011 by William John Shepherd and in 2012 by Raymond Moore. Minor revisions in 2014-2018 by Mr. Shepherd, assisted by Laurel Howard in 2018.
Personal material including awards, degrees, diplomas, driver's license, resumes, scrapbooks, news clippings, letters to and from her husband, sympathy letters, and thank you letters. Boxes 1-2
Certificate for being a founder of the President's Club
From the National Association of Social Workers
First place for best article on 1987 Papal visit to the United States
The Distinguished Service Award, Awards Banquet program, and newspaper clipping on banquet
Recognition for work as editor of "Social Thought"
Certificate to teach in the National Catholic School of Social Service at CUA.
Personal notes and photos from NCSSS colleagues
May 26th plaque of recognition
Plaque from alumni honoring Mohler for her contributions to Social Work
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Social Justice from the Alumni Association
Plate recognizing Mohler's work as a professor for NCSSS from 1935-1974
Newspaper clipping with Irish Ambassador and award from the Little Sisters of the Poor for service to the Shrine.
Alumni Award for Social Work, also three photos from ceremony
Alumni Award
Announcing marriage to Bruce Mohler
Includes CUA directories, clippings, and telegrams
Includes newspaper clippings
Includes telegrams and invitations to college events
Correspondence on yearly commencement
Mohler's personal yearbooks
Includes correspondence, passport, newspaper clippings, CUA ID Cards, personal articles, and materials on Mother Jones
Includes copies of the CUA Envoy newspaper, clippings about cats, and prayer cards from deceased relatives, including Bruce Mohler
Correspondence and greeting cards from the Abts family. Also, correspondence from Bruce Mohler and his personal estate in 1967.
Includes letters from CUA faculty, friends, and family
Invitations from Mohler's wedding and funeral cards from friends and family
Accession 14-41.
General correspondence with family, friends, colleagues, and organizations, with some overlap with the personal and National Catholic School of Social Service series. Box 3
Correspondence and Alumni news clippings from CUA
Mainly correspondence with CUA faculty
Mainly CUA correspondence
Correspondence with Joseph Nuesse
Correspondence and minutes from committee meetings
Correspondence and minutes from committee meetings
Correspondence and minutes from committee meetings
Correspondence and minutes from committee meetings
Correspondence
Centennial materials and booklet
Includes booklet from the Commission on American Citizenship
Includes correspondence from Charles Curran and Rev. Paul Furfey
Includes correspondence with the Kennedy Administration, invitations, and newspaper clippings
Includes correspondence with Jewish Social Welfare archives and Rector William McDonald
Academic correspondence
Correspondence from National Shrine and newspaper clippings
Correspondence
General correspondence
General administration files of NCSSS that includes correspondence, committee meeting minutes, conference files, curriculum, and related material. Boxes 4-11
Reports and correspondence
Arranged by academic year
Arranged by Academic Year
Minutes from the committee
Objectives of the School
Reports and correspondence
Reports and correspondence
Reports and correspondence
Full report on curriculum content
Reports and correspondence
From Curriculum Study Committee
Working papers and documents
Committees include curriculum study, and case work studies
Study conducted by NCSSS
Reports and correspondence
Reports and correspondence
full report
Within the NCSSS
Reports and correspondence
Reports and correspondence
Minutes and correspondence
Clinical Concentrations
Comprehensive Examinations and current work
Current Work
Current Work
Reports and correspondence
Minutes and explanation of the summer program
Includes correspondence with Dr. Fred Berl of NCSSS
Also report on current curriculum planning
correspondence
Correspondence and full report outlining changes
correspondence and lecture notes
Not full copies, overviews of NCSSS dissertations
Dissertations and Committees
Overview of the teaching program
Correspondence and reports from the program
Guest Lectures, with notes
Full essay on history and correspondence
Notes for manuscript and note cards with bibliographic information
Xerox Copies
articles and essays
articles and essays
Includes Supreme Court Decisions, as well as newspaper clippings
Includes readings and class section lists
Student papers
Notes on reading
Exhibits and Xerox materials
Curriculum materials
Proceedings from September 25-28
Handwritten, typed, and with newspaper clippings
Class lecture notes and examination copies
Correspondence
Class lecture notes
Personal notes
Class lecture notes from Trinity College that Mohler taught
Also includes field work notes
Personal and lecture notes
Includes pamphlets and bibliography
Lecture notes
Curriculum Materials
Personal notes
Personal notes
Personal notes
Newspaper articles
Newspaper articles and essays
Essay on Islamic Charity
Research correspondence
Field instruction included
Personal notes
Includes newspaper clippings
Early research conducted by Mohler
Doctoral research, handwritten , from a journal
Course materials
Crossover courses from NCSSS
Lecture notes
With notes from Mohler
History of Social Welfare Masters course
Lecture notes and assignments
Moral Development Lecture
From classes Mohler taught
Research and results explanation
Personal notes
Graduate research project
Includes Mohler's Dissertation and ones she guided
Social Work class notes, handwritten
Personal notes
Personal notes
Includes writing samples
Includes writing samples
Correspondence from Lilly Endowment Foundation and Dorothy A. Mohler Memorial Fund
Research notes and correspondence
Correspondence
Grant applications
Mohler's files from CUA
Mohler's files from CUA
Personal correspondence and research on her work
Includes NCSSS lectures, and a file on the student unrest with NCSSS in 1969-70
Includes Mohler's personal notebook from 1936-37
Financial and legal files relating to banking, wills, property, and taxes. Boxes 12-13
Checking account and other personal finances
Checking account and other personal finances
From Riggs National Bank and from Foley and Foley Law Office
Property finances, and 1997 sale of her home
Property owned by Bruce Mohler
Property originally belonged to Bruce Mohler
Includes legal contracts
Taxes on Bruce Mohler's estate
Taxes on Bruce Mohler's estate
Including correspondence
Legal advice concerning income taxes
Includes accounting notes
Investment correspondence and figures
Will and final testament, with amendments, for trust fund and a living will
Includes correspondence on Bruce Mohler's will
Legal records concerning personal trust fund
Legal records concerning personal trust fund
Revisions to personal will
Records on personal investment fund
Dr. Mohler's articles, book reviews, dissertation, letters to the editor, and some of her handwritten or typed note cards. Additionally, there are articles and books by others relating to her personal and professional interests. Boxes 14-15
All typed note cards
All typed note cards
Typed and handwritten note cards
Correspondence included, article titled "Pioneering Women at CUA"
Including a copy of "Family Digest" and correspondence with Margaret Haughery
Includes Johann Strauss and Medieval Music
Two copies
Edited by Hamilton I. McCubbin, Barbara B. Dahl, and Edna J. Hunter
Written by Brian Tierney
Written by John B. Sheerin
Mohler wrote two book reviews
Mohler's Dissertation
Written by Josephine C. Brown
Written by E. Catherine Dunn
Given to Mohler by the Apostolate Delegate
Written by Walter Pater
Written by Lidia Hernandez de Vittorioso
Academic journal
Written by William J. Kerby
A collection of the best piano sheet music
All from the NCSSS
Draft
Handwritten and typed
All on social work
Article draft
Report from Milford Conference
A Study of the Methods of Analyzing and Recording Social Case Work
Written by Lula Jean Elliott
Written by Annette Garrett
October edition
Two copies of this edition
Written by Rev. Walter McGuinn, S.J.
Two copies of March-December edition
Written By Jeffrey R. Brackett
Written by Charlotte Towle for the American Association of Social Workers
Two copies of the January edition, three articles on labor issues
Complete proceedings from New Orleans
Written by J. Bowlby for the World Health Organization
Written by Amelia Sears and Florence Nesbitt for the Chicago Council of Social Agencies
A copy of Dorothy Mohler's dissertation
Written by Loretto R. Lawler about the history of the NCSSS from 1918-1947
Photographs including personal portraits as well as photographs of family, friends, and professional colleagues. Box 15
A collection of personal photos taken on vacation in Nebraska, Bruce Mohler's obituary, and a photo of the faculty of the NCSSS
A photo with Bruce Mohler, head of the NCCW, photos from past commencements, and a reunion at St. Teresa College
A collection of photos from NCSSS, from St. Teresa College, her relatives, and wedding pictures from her niece
Photos from graduate school, at Mohler's house, as well as photos from her retirement party