The O'Hara Room

The former periodicals room of Reeves Memorial Library has officially been renamed The O'Hara Room as a tribute to Sister of Charity Sister M. Rosalie O'Hara. Since she is not one of the more well-known sisters to have taught at Seton Hill University here is a brief biography of Sister Rosalie, a truly remarkable woman.

Sister M. Rosalie O’Hara

1908-1986

Sr. Rosalie O’Hara was a teacher of communication skills and considered a pioneer in radio and television education. She taught at Fordham University from 1968-71 and at Seton Hill University from 1971-83. At SHU she taught Screen Arts and directed the media center. She wrote plays and radio scripts and took summer classes at Notre Dame. While taking post-graduate courses at Northwestern University she was working on a two-person script. Everyone was partnered except for Sr. Rosalie so she worked with a young man from the Drama Department: Charlton Heston. During her career she was also associated with Marshall McLuhan, Lauren Bacall, Jack Healy, and Truman Capote. She was on the advisory board of WQED for 15 years, was a past member of the (PA) Governor’s Advisory Board for Public Television, and a judge for the National Film Festivals in 1969, 1970, and 1971. Sr. Rosalie was also a charter member of the American Film Institute and the National Association of College Teachers in Film and Television. Her script, Alice in Poetryland, won the Gabriel Award for best educational TV series and her documentary on Elizabeth Seton, produced for WQED, received the Golden Bell Award of the Catholic Broadcasters Association.