St. Catherine of Siena was a figure of immense influence in Medieval Europe. The routine nature of her correspondence with both temporal and ecclesiastical authorities provided her political agency unparalleled by the women of her time. In order that we might grasp the extent of St. Catherine’s influence, we set out to catalogue the letters found in the first two volumes of Suzanne Noffke’s, The Letters of Catherine of Siena. We extracted both geographical and biographical information relevant to each letter. In this way we were able to create a database of information highlighting the precise locations from which these letters were sent and received. We were able to determine these locations through chronological and biographical analysis. This data will provide the foundation for the creation of a visual map, poised to illuminate the extent of her connection to lords spiritual and temporal. It is our hope that this database will constitute a valuable resource for those interested in pursuing further research with the Italian department into the life and deeds of St. Catherine.
Authors: Michael Bontempo and Christian Contessa
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Andrea Righi of the Italian Department
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