The congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) was founded in 1833 by Blessed Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger in Bavaria, Germany to provide education and spiritual formation for girls, with special concern for poor girls. In 1847 Blessed Theresa accompanied the first School Sisters of Notre Dame to the United States. Three years later, Mother Caroline Friess, although just 26 years old, was put in charge of the congregation in North America. She opened a motherhouse in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and from there traveled throughout the United States and Canada establishing convents and schools.

Today the School Sisters of Notre Dame are an international community of approximately 5,500 women religious serving in a variety of ministries in 30 countries on five continents. Their ministry is directed toward education in the broadest sense, which for them means enabling persons to reach the fullness of their potential. Committed to this goal, the sisters respond to varying needs of the church and world through a diversity of ministries, such as education, administration, spiritual, pastoral, social, legal and health services. Those with whom they minister range from young children to the elderly.

About 3,200 of these Sisters are ministering in the United States. The 678 School Sisters of Notre Dame who are participating in the Nun Study are members of the congregation's seven United States provinces: Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Mankato, (MN), Milwaukee, St. Louis and Wilton (CT). These Sister participants are continuing their charism of education by volunteering for this research project.