ABSTRACT
Founded in Rome by a Jesuit confraternity, the Conservatory of Santa Caterina began its activities in the 1540s. First designed as a shelter for daughters of prostitutes, the Conservatory later opened its doors to young women from poverty-stricken families and marginalized groups. In their time spent at the shelter, the girls received an education: religious instruction, needlework, music, and basic literacy skills were the pillars of the instructional curriculum. By removing girls from their adverse backgrounds and shielding them from sexual exploitation, the Conservatory attempted to carve a formative period for its wards at a time when there were no set standards for the education of young women.
