In 1862 four members of the Sisters of Mercy order left St. Augustine for Columbus, in the midst of the Civil War. They established the St. Joseph's Convent in 1867 and immediately opened a school, which became St. Joseph's Academy. It closed in 1952. They later were associated with Pacelli High School in 1958 and St. Anne's Elementary School, founded in 1961.

The collection contains photocopies of secondary material about the Sisters of Mercy in general, a history of the order in Columbus (typescript, 17p.), and information about other Catholic organizations in Georgia and Columbus including the St. Joseph Academy and Convent.