Rising from the ashes: An historical analysis of the Our Lady of the Angels School fire: Emergence of leadership and life safety codes

The emergence of life safety codes for schools across the United States is a direct result from the tragedy that occurred on December 1, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois. The Our Lady of the Angels School fire prompted school and fire officials to reexamine and revisit the existing fire and life safety codes that had been implemented before the incident had taken place.; This research examines the history of Catholic education in the United States, dating from the Colonial Period to the 19th Century. The study explores Catholic education in Chicago and the history of the parish and school system of Our Lady of the Angels. The leadership and dynamics of the Archdiocese of Chicago is present throughout the research, as well as the engagement of the school's community in shaping the culture of the education of its children.; The research explores the ethnicity of the community, which played a great role in the background of the formation of the parish and school. The study focuses on the changes in the climate of a thriving community and how the devastation of the fire impacted upon its residents.; The investigation of the fire is historically traced throughout the research with a focus on the implications for school leaders to gain insights on ways to protect students and schools from ever experiencing such a disaster such as this.