Sister Hyacinth Werden, an excellent educator was the first principal at Derham Hall. In January 1905, 70 boarding students from St. Joseph's Academy, St. Paul, moved out to a developing area in the southwestern part of the city, where the new school was located. This was the official opening of the College of St. Catherine. In addition to the high school boarding students there were "young ladies of uncertain age who were grouped together as 'specials.' "