I can hardly contain my excitement!

Last month, I learned that the University of Notre Dame’s “Hammes Bookstore” and the “Shaheen Bookstore” at St. Mary’s College accepted The Westcott Story: The Enduring Spirit of an American Family Spanning 400 Years into their collection of books for sale. I will share my family’s story with my St. Mary’s ’75 classmates at our 50-year reunion at month’s end (May 31, 2025—10-10:30 a.m.). As well, I just received confirmation that I will sign Volumes I and II of The Westcott Story in the grand foyer at Hammes Bookstore on Friday, October 3, 2025—3:30-5 p.m, coinciding with Notre Dame—Boise State football weekend!

The news struck me as a pretty big deal as Notre Dame tradition runs deep in my extended family. Twenty of us studied at the University of Notre Dame (ND) or St. Mary’s College (SMC), founded in 1842 and 1844, respectively:

1.       Father—Daniel Thomas Broderick, Jr. (ND ’41)

2.       Mother—Yolande Westcott Gordon Broderick (SMC)

3.       Aunt—Virginia Sterne Gordon Guy (SMC)

4.       Brother—Daniel Thomas Broderick III (ND ’66)

5.       Brother—Laurance Gordon Broderick (ND ’68)

6.       Sister—Kathleen Broderick McCormack (SMC ’69)

7.       Brother—Dennis John Broderick (ND ’70)

8.       Brother-in-law—Dennis Cameron Hanover (ND ’74)

9.       Self—Christine Broderick Emmanuel (SMC ’75)

10.    Sister-in-law—Mary Josephine Emmanuel Hanover (SMC ’75)

11.    Brother-in-law—Robert Anthony Emmanuel (ND ’76)

12.    Brother—Terrence Michael Broderick (ND ’78)

13.    Brother-in-law—Stephen Craig Emmanuel (NC ’79)

14.    Brother—Timothy Patrick Broderick (ND ’82)

15.    Brother-in-law—John David Emmanuel (ND ’82)

16.    Sister-in-law—Patricia Jacques Emmanuel (ND ’82)

17.    Cousin-once-removed—Kimberly Guy Hoggart (ND ’01)

18.    Niece-in-law—Marcia McDonnell Broderick (SMC ’08)

19.    Niece—Jacqueline Olivia Emmanuel (ND ’12)

20.    Nephew—Shane Christian Broderick (ND ’23)

Can you imagine? Twenty in my extended family privileged to share a religious college experience that shaped us as Christians and prepared us to handle what was and is yet to come. The caring. The sharing. Since our nation’s colonization. The genuine communion is a beautiful thing that still gives me hope for our fledglings.

The American Westcotts were certainly communal. It was the colonial way—relying on each other as spouses, as families, religious, and community leaders to survive let alone get ahead. Volume I of The Westcott Story covers this period from 1630 through the American Revolution, Civil War, and Reconstruction eras, as lived by nine generations of surnamed Westcotts in my lineage.

Volume II dives into the period of two world wars and takes us through five generations of surnamed-Westcott descendants to the present as of year-end 2024. It will especially resonate with those who studied at one of the adjacent campuses of Notre Dame, St. Mary’s College, or Holy Cross College as well as followers of Notre Dame football. This includes the contingent known as “subway alumni” by virtue of their faithful allegiance to the Notre Dame Irish without having actually enrolled as students.

Those interested in the history and lore of these thriving Catholic institutions—established by the Holy Cross religious—will be fascinated by the experiences of three generations of Westcott descendants at “Notre Dame”: the reverence; traditions; declaration of World War II / the Naval Reserve Midshipmen’s School; football and boxing legends; ND student government; ND’s reluctant acceptance of SMC cheerleaders; the imminent merger then failed talks between ND and SMC during my freshman year in 1971-72; and the residential Holy Cross Village where my father spent the last ten years of his life within spitting distance of “God’s Country.”

The Westcotts’ authentic story showcases our rich history at Notre Dame and throughout four centuries in America. There’s much to be gained by learning from whence we came.

Please honor the Westcotts and me by reading “our story” and attending one of the following events (or others to come) if you are able.

My Upcoming Events

• May 20, 1-2:15 p.m. – University of West Florida (UWF) Leisure Learning, Pensacola

• May 31, 10 a.m. – St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN, my 50-year reunion (Class of 1975)

• June 12, 4-6 p.m. – Bodacious Bookstore & Cafe, Pensacola, remarks and book signing OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

• June 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m. – UWF Historic Trust at Voices of Pensacola OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

• July 2, noon-1 p.m. – Pensacola Civitan Club

• July 26, 1-3 p.m. – Page & Palette Bookstore remarks and and book signing, Fairhope, AL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

• October 3, 3:30-5 p.m. – Hammes Bookstore book signing, University of Notre Dame, IN, book signing OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

If you have occasion to read The Westcott Story, you would do me a great service by posting a review on Amazon and Goodreads.

Learn more at https://www.ChristineBEmmanuel.com. And let me know if interested in booking me to talk about my family’s remarkable story. It’s our story after all. America’s story. We’re still making history. Perhaps I will inspire you to document your own.