Documenting Sisters’ Habits: A Conversation with Darrin Pufall Purdy

Event details

  • Tuesday | May 12, 2026
  • 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
  • 263 South 4th Street Philadelphia PA 19106

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 7:00pm

Attend live or stream via Zoom. This event is FREE!

In the most recent issue of American Catholic Studies, Darrin Pufall Purdy (Boise State University) described his work documenting and replicating a traditional habit of the Sisters of Charity of New York. We are pleased to have him join us for a special conversation about that project and his broader efforts to preserve the material history of sisters’ habits.  We invite attendees to read the essay in advance (available here) and come with questions or comments for the discussion. 

About the Speaker

Darrin Pufall Purdy is a Professor of Theatre and Director of University Theatre at Boise State University, where he teaches costume design and technology. His research and creative practice center on the documentation, reconstruction, and fabrication of traditional religious habits worn by American communities of women religious. His research and reconstructions have informed professional productions internationally—most notably the 2024 Broadway revival of Doubt: A Parable by John Patrick Shanley—demonstrating the enduring relevance of his work to contemporary theatre and design.


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American Catholic Historical Society HQ
263 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Parking conveniently located within walking distance at the Bourse Garage.