The Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown hosted a public book signing event to celebrate their new memoir The Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown: Serving the Mahoning Valley since 1874.

The author of the book, Thomas G. Welsh, was there to speak about the 221-page narrative.

The Ursuline Sisters commissioned Welsh, a well-regarded author of local historical books and an adjunct journalism professor at Youngstown State University, to write the book.

"I had connections to the community through a couple of relatives," Welsh says. "So I kind of grew up with the Ursulines. And, for that reason and that I've written a couple books on local history, including a published dissertation about the local Catholic schools, they thought I would be a good person to address that project."

The project took a year and required extensive research of archival data. The book includes numerous historical photos and interviews with people across the Mahoning Valley connected to the Ursuline Sisters, including Hollywood actor and Youngstown-native Ed O'Neill, an author in his own right, penned the book's foreword.

"It was a real privilege," Welsh adds. "Their history overlaps with the history of Youngstown in so many ways."

Copies of the book are available through online sellers, at the Tyler and Arms museums, and Mill Creek MetroParks' Davis Center. 

More about the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown and their 150th anniversary celebrations can be found here.