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Material relating to Fr Francis O'Farrell SJ. Includes notes, letters and postcards (mainly in German).

File containing Colm Ó Riordan admission papers and correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials concerning his missionary work in Zambia.

File containing MacSeumais’ admission papers and correspondence with his Irish Fr Provincials from post-war Germany, Pakistan, England and the United States. Photograph included.

File containing Donal Mulcahy’s admission papers and correspondence with provincials concerning his renunciation of property and his years of work at Tullabeg, Gonzaga College and the Milltown Institute.

Xerox copy of a letter from James Marshall, Richmond House, Roehampton Park SW, London, England to Cardinal Newman concerning his return to Africa '...sorely against what I may call my "home" feelings.' Remarks that he was asked by Lord Aberdare to accept the position of Chief Justice of Nigeria but for personal reasons he refused this offer and instead agreed to take on the responsibility of organising a judicial system '...on the distinct understanding that I might come away as soon as I liked. This I have accepted on the condition I was to take out a barrister with me who would take up the post when I left.' Continues 'My thoughts at once turned to barristers who had been at the Oratory School...it is now settled and arranged that Mr. W. V. Kane of the Dublin Bar and an O.S. boy is to go out with me and remain as C(hief) J(ustice).' Asks for Cardinal Newman's blessing.

File containing Henry Lawlor's admission papers; correspondence relating parish work in England and ‘The Eucharistic Crusade’; newspaper cuttings relating to stance on television censorship.

File containing material relating to Sean Noonan's admission to the Society and correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials relating to mission work, the provincial congregation and his final illness.

File containing material relating to Eddie Diffely's admission to the Society of Jesus, and correpsonend including his time as a missionary in Zambia and various appointments at St Ignatius College, Galway.

Correspondence between Thomas Fleming and his Irish Fr Provincials during his professional life in China and in Australia.

File relating to the admission of Joseph Conran to the Society of Jesus and his subsequent Jesuit life, including his move to the Jesuit community at Carmel, California.

A file containing miscellaneous notes, MSS material and articles by Fr Roland Burke Savage SJ relating to his research on Fr Peter Kenney SJ. Includes letters to Fr Burke Savage concerning this research (2 May 1977 - 10 June 1986, 12 items). The file was used by Fr Morrissey for his research on Fr Peter Kenney SJ.

Biographical information on Fr Peter Kenney SJ, and material related to the early years of the Irish Vice-Province.

A file of letters written by various people to Fr Robert Haly SJ:

• Includes a letter from Fr Murphy SJ referring to the polka. Remarks '…I do not consider it, absolutely speaking, a proximate occasion of sin, as I have the assurance of some reliable young persons of both sexes that they never found any harm in it (nd, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Patrick Drinan SJ, Sant' Andrea, Rome describing his life as a novice in the Society of Jesus. Describes his fellow novices (21 March 1825, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Charles Aylmer SJ, Hardwicke Street, Dublin referring to Fr Matthew Gahan SJ. Remarks that he has returned from the Isle of Man. Continues '…(he has) done much good amongst those poor neglected Catholics. But now they are without a priest and of course will fall back again into the old way.' (28 August 1825, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from Prout concerning his ordination to Deaconship ([ ] 1828, 1p).
• Includes a letter from Fr St Leger SJ. Refers to the woods at Clongowes. Remarks that new trees have been planted and hundreds of old trees have been cut down. Refers to Daniel O'Connell 'Mr O'Connell hopes to enter Parliament by a clause in the Act of Union which only requires the oath of abjuration, which was abolished…C. Butler of London has published his opinion that Mr O'Connell's admittance to Parliament cannot be refused according to law…' Includes a note from Fr Peter Kenney SJ at the end of the letter concerning the death of Fr Haly's uncle, Robert in Calcutta on 27 July 1826 (30 September, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from [ ], Clongowes Wood College concerning Christmas celebrations in Clongowes. Refers to the church services and remarks that the Parisian Cope made its first appearance and 'dazzled the natives'. Remarks that the number of scholars in the college is small and many vacancies exist. Refers to Fr Aylmer and Fr St Leger and their plans to erect a new chapel in Dublin. Refers to Fr Moran's departure for Buenos Ayres. Refers to the political situation in Ireland and Daniel O'Connell's determination to go to Parliament (5 January 1829, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from George Oliver, St Nicholas' Priory, Exeter containing queries about members of the Society in Ireland for a publication he is preparing (17 July 1838, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Charles Aylmer SJ concerning his stay in Rome. Describes dining with Fr General on St Stanislaus Day (23 November 1838, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Patrick Sheehan SJ, Roman College concerning news from Rome and general Society matters. Reports that Fr General is pleased with all the Provinces under his direction and has expressed a wish to open a Japanese Mission (30 November 1838, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Bartholomew Esmonde SJ, Al Gesu, Rome enclosing a sketch of his design for the altar at St Francis Xavier's Church, Gardiner Street, Dublin (9 February 1842, 3pp).
• Includes a transcription of the same letter, 9 February 1842, by Fr Francis Finegan SJ [1975].
• Includes a letter from Fr Bartholomew Esmonde, SJ, San Calcedonio, Malta concerning the suspension of Fr Rillo by the Bishop. Remarks that the business has become public due to the intervention of Lord Clifford (25 July 1842, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from John Cunningham SJ, Rome. Refers to the political situation in Ireland and Daniel O'Connell. Refers to Fr Rillo and remarks that he is no longer in Malta. Remarks '…after his justification had been fully established he removed to Palermo. Mr Esmonde is authorised to select whom he pleases to succeed the former.' (25 November 1843, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Esmonde concerning his missionary work in Malta. Remarks 'I have a curious time of it here, strange folks as if all the odd fish of the Mediterranean had climbed up on this rock.' Refers to a new church opened by the Protestants on the island. Refers to the power of the government a governor of the island who control everything (15 November 1844, 2pp).
• Includes a letter from John Lynch, SJ, Church of St Joseph, Willings Alley, Philadelphia, PA describing his surroundings (1 February 1840, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from John Gaffney concerning the Archbishop's (Dr Cullen) decision to prohibit the dancing of the polka. Discusses the implications of this decision and expresses the opinion that the Society should not pursue a different course of action to the clergy of Dublin and rural areas (20 January 1858, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Bishop George Browne of Elphin concerning a retreat to be conducted by Fr Robert Haly SJ. Refers to the parishioners eagerness for a mission (19 April 1858, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from the Bishop of Clonfert, John Derry agreeing to consecrate the Society's church in Galway (11 May 186[ ]), 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Irish Fr Provincial Edmund O'Reilly SJ granting Fr Haly privileges with regard to his mission work (26 September 1867, 3pp).
  Includes a letter from Irish Fr Provincial Edmund O'Reilly SJ advising Fr Haly on how to deal with confessors who declare they are members of the Fenians (8 December 1869, 4p

A file of letters to Fr Bartholomew Esmonde SJ. A brief précis to the letters is included in the file.

A file of letters from Fr Charles Plowden SJ (novice master at Stonyhurst) concerning Society matters to to Fr Charles Aylmer SJ. Many of the letters relate to the Irish novices studying in Stonyhurst and English novices studying in Ireland and general Society matters.

• Includes a letter concerning the appointment of Fr Lavizzario as the agent of the Society in Rome (11 February 1818, 3pp).
• Includes a letter concerning an official letter received from the Bishop re-affirming that the Society of Jesus had not been restored. Remarks that their property in London is under threat '…Dr Poynter has employed a lawyer to claim our property in London. He has means of succeeding and his success will complete our ruin. We are in fact in a very dangerous crisis.' (23 July 1818, 2pp).
• Includes a letter concerning three scholastics from the English Province he proposes to send to Ireland for their studies. Describes the three (1 September 1818, 3pp).
• Includes a letter referring to a refusal to ordain students from Stonyhurst 'who do not renounce their religious state.' Continues 'very probably a requisition to us all to make such renunciation will soon arrive and this will bring the matter to an issue. Our refusal will be followed by censures, suspension…' ( 10 September 1818, 1p).
• Includes a letter remarking that the Society of Jesus in England has no way of obtaining Holy Orders except by going to Clongowes. Remarks 'The candidates must be adopted there as students of your college in order to be presented by you.' (29 September 1818, 2pp, incomplete).
• Includes an account of money owed to Stonyhurst College for the upkeep of Irish scholastics studying there (18 February 1819, 4pp).
• Includes a letter referring to Fr Kenney's voyage to America (15 July 1819, 3pp).
• Includes a letter referring to lay brothers and the observance of the various customs in the colleges where he (Fr Plowden) studied (19 September 1819, 2pp).
• Includes a letter concerning Fr General's displeasure at having received no communication from Fr Aylmer. Includes details about Fr Kenney's visit to America and the state of affairs in America (22 November 1819, 3pp).
• Includes a letter concerning orders from Fr General to Fr Kenney to remain as visitor to America. Remarks that he heard that Fr Kenney had already set sail for Liverpool (30 July 1820, 3pp).
• Includes a letter remarking on his ill health (30 July 1820, 3pp).
• Includes a letter written from Rome concerning Society matters and directions from Fr General. Refers to Spain, remarks 'In Spain all seems to be lost for the Society excepting their religious spirit. Their letters and petitions for directions how to act show that they retain the full spirit of their vocation…on the other hand God sends comfort from Vienna, where the Austrian Emperor openly protects the Society and settles it in Gallicia and with generous allowances for subsistence and many privileges and exemptions.' Refers to Fr Kenney's return from America (23 September 1820, 2pp).
• Includes a letter referring to the sudden introduction of the Catholic Bill. Remarks '…the Catholic Bill fills my head, heart and time…In this crisis we must have an agent here…there must be somebody to speak in our cause. The General must decide this point before Easter, and he go with me to the Pope...' (7 April 1821, 3pp).

A file of letters to Fr Charles Aylmer SJ. A brief précis to the letters is included in the file, and list of Irish Jesuits (1831).

Letter from M Finlayson, 104 Hill Street, Glasgow to Fr William Seaver SJ, Stonyhurst College, England concerning family news. Includes lines of a poem entitled 'He is Fooling Thee', after Longfellow.

Letter from Maggie Mc[ ], 174 Gowcaddens, Glasgow to Fr William Seaver SJ, Stonyhurst College, England concerning his departure for America. Refers to her desire to become a religious and asks Fr. Seaver to pray for her.

Letter from Maggie [ ], 10 Abercorn Street, Glasgow to Fr William Seaver SJ, Stonyhurst College, England expressing her regret that she did not get to say goodbye to Fr Seaver before his departure for America.

A file of letters from Amelia Brownlee, 4 Argyle Place, Rothesay and 24 Burnbank Terrace, Glasgow to Fr William Seaver SJ, Glasgow, Scotland and Stonyhurst College, England. The letters are all of a personal nature, inviting Fr Seaver to visit, personal news and wishing him a happy Christmas.

A file of letters relating to Fr Denis Murphy's work on behalf of the cause of the Irish Martyrs. Includes Fr Ryan, Reginlad Walsh O.P., Fr John Morris SJ, Percy Barron (Cistercian Priest), Sr Benedict Maria, Gilbert Dolan (Benedictine monk), J Clement Fowler (Benedictine monk),

A file of notes and correspondence concerning Fr John MacErlean's family tree. Includes letters from a relative, Teady McErlean, Portglenore concerning their family history (8 August 1928 - 14 January 1932, 31 items).

A file relating to an article written by Fr Patrick Gannon SJ in the 'Irish Ecclesiastical Record' supporting a fellow Jesuit's interpretation of a passage in St. Mark. This article sparked a controversy as Fr Gannon's views were disagreed with by Cardinal MacRory (and other eminent scripture scholars). Includes a letter from Fr John R MacMahon SJ (Fr Provincial), St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin to Fr Byrne SJ concerning the controversy. Remarks 'In reply to a letter from Fr Gannon, I wrote to him to say that I could not allow him to pursue the discussion about St. Mark III, 20 - 21 any further…that I would not approve of his seeking an interview with the Cardinal; that he might write to the Cardinal, but that I would have to see a draft of the letter beforehand.' Remarks that he received a reply from Fr Gannon and includes a passage from the letter describing it thus 'He is taking a most extravagant view of the situation.' (15 April 1945, 1p). Includes a copy of a letter from Fr Provincial (Fr MacMahon SJ) concerning a letter Fr Gannon wishes to write to Cardinal MacRory regarding the difference of opinion between the two men. Remarks 'Let me assure you (and I wish I could convince you) that you are taking far too tragic a view of the whole business. If you could put it out of your mind for a month, you would, I am confident, take a more tranquil view of things.' (26 January 1945, 1p). It would appear from the file that Fr Gannon was not able to put the matter out of his mind and that it was only as a result of his death in 1953 that the matter was laid to rest. It would also appear that Fr Gannon's view was gaining some support amongst scripture scholars when he died.

Notes compiled by Fr John Grene SJ, on individual Jesuits of the Irish Province. A note states 'Possibly all are in Memorials Ir. Prov.' Some notes in other hand, post-date Grene.

Browne, Thomas
Burke, William
Butler, James

Cunningham, John
Curtis, John

Ferguson, Charles

Gannon, Nicholas

Halpin, Thomas
Haly, Robert
Hayes, James Mark
Hearne, John

Kavanagh, Michael
Kelly, Michael
Kernan, Edward

Lentaigne, Joseph
Lynch, Henry
Lynch, John

McDonnell, James

O'Callaghan, Sylvester
O'Connor, John
O'Farrell, Michael
O'Reilly, Edmund

Rorke, Henry
Ryder, Alexander

Seaver, Matthew
Sheehan, Patrick
Stackowski, Francis Xavier

A file relating to research carried out by Fr Fergal McGrath SJ on his family tree.

Letter from Fr John Morris SJ in London to Fr Nicholas Walsh SJ. Writes in relation to the process for the canonisation of two Dominican martyrs, about whom Fr Walsh wrote to him, and explains that the Archbishop’s Court [in London] is closed, and the Process has been sent to Rome. States that although they died in England, they do not necessarily have to go through the English Process, and suggests that he avails of the Court of the Archbishop of Dublin.

Letters written to Fr Thomas Wheeler SJ from W.J. Gannon, House of John of God, Stillorgan, County Dublin, and Anathoth, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, relating to his future spiritual life. In the first letter he writes, ‘I am now satisfied that it is God’s holy will that I am not to serve Him as a Jesuit…’.

File of letters addressed to Fr Thomas Wheeler SJ. Mainly relates to financial matters as Fr Wheeler was Province Procurator at the time. Includes letters from:

• W.J. Gannon, Stillorgan, who wishes to become a lay brother with a congregation in Hatfield, England (1 December 1907);
• Fr Timothy Kenny SJ, St Patrick’s, East Melbourne thanking Fr Wheeler for ‘getting the faculties to bless Beads’ (29 July 1908);
• Fr. William Delany SJ, University College, St. Stephen’s Green requesting that a separate passbook and chequebooks be established solely for ‘the Kennedy account’, and that no money be drawn unless for the purposes expressed by Mr Kennedy. (8 September 1909);
• Fr Richard O’ Reilly S.J. , St. Stanislaus College, Tullamore detailing the offer of Mr. Joe Corcoran of £500 for the 46 acres of land belonging to the Jesuits adjacent to Tullabeg (3 November 1910) and the legalities involved in the sale of land, trustees and the future of Tullabeg (13 November 1910)

Letters from Mr Henry Croasdaile SJ, Stonyhurst College, Lancashire, England to Fr Thomas Wheeler SJ. Accompanied by cheques for amounts of money, which constitute his share of property left to him by his mother on her death.

A file relating to Fr Eugene A Ward SJ. Includes application to join the Society, correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials, catalogue entries, extensive correspondence relating to Fr Ward's work in America.

File relating to Fr Patrick J Walsh SJ concerning his work in Africa, his health, application to join the Society, correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials, catalogue entries, photograph and obituary.

A file related to Fr William Wallace SJ. Includes biographical notes on Fr Wallace compiled by Frs John MacErlean and Francis Finegan (5 items). Includes letters from Fr Wallace before and after his conversion, addressed to Mrs Conway, Portaferry, County Down and a letter and card of Fr Charles Blount SJ, concerning Fr Wallace (26 July 1889, 6 items). includes typescript copies of four of the letters from Fr Wallace to Mrs Conway (26 July 1886-25 May 1909, 6 items) and correspondence concerning Fr Wallace (1916 January 1950-16 July 162, 2 items).

File relating to Fr Robert Stevenson SJ, including application to join the Society, correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials, catalogue entries and memorial card.

File of material related to the admission and taking of vows of Fr Patrick Simpson SJ to the Society of Jesus. Includes correspondence related to Fr Simpson’s studies in Rome.

File relating to Fr Daniel J Shields SJ which includes correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials, personal record, application to join the Society and photograph.

Mission office material relating to Fr Brian Sharkey SJ. Includes passport, passport photographs, personal record, announcement of death, obituary and correspondence between Fr Sharkey and Frs Thomas Martin and Vincent Murphy, Irish Jesuit Mission Office, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

File relating to Fr Brian Sharkey SJ, which includes correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials, personal record, application to join the Society and photograph.

File relating to Fr Charles C Scantlebury SJ, including application to join the Society, certificates, correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials, catalogue entries, passport, photographs, obituary, pass to travel around Dublin during 1916 and memorial card.

A file of letters from Blount, Lynch and Petre, Solicitors, London concerning the estate of Rev. John Errington SJ.

Copy correspondence between James Campbell, 10 Inns Quay, Dublin and Messrs. Blount, Lynch and Petre, Fitzalan House, Arundel Street, Strand, London concerning the charges on Garrisker and the rate of six per cent. Remarks that Mr. A. D. Nicolls is anxious for a settlement (31 March 1886).

Material relating to Fr Michael J O'Reilly SJ, including correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials, personal record and application to join the Society.

File of mission material relating to Fr Kevin O'Dwyer SJ. Includes passport, passport photographs, photographs, personal record, announcement of deate, memorial card, obituary, newspapers articles, and correspondence between Fr O'Dwyer and Frs Thomas J. Martin and Vincent Murphy, Mission Office, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin, Ireland.

File of correspondence between Fr Kevin O'Dwyer SJ and his Irish Provincials. Material relates to his time in Australia, York,
Limerick, London, Amsterdam, Nova Scotia, Montreal, New York, Iowa and Singapore.

File of material relating to Fr Henry O'Brien SJ which includes correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials and curia regarding his years spent in Arizona, obituary, personal record and application to join the Society.

Material relating to Fr Gerard P Nolan SJ, including catalogue entry, correspondence regarding his entry into the Society, correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials and biographical information.

File of material relating to Fr Joseph McSweeney's tour of duty as chaplain to the Royal Air Force in the Middle East after Second World War (material on Second World War check chaplain's file). Includes letters regarding going to Belfast in 1945 for medical examination, a letter from Fr Edmund D'Arcy SJ, 114 Mount Street, London to Irish Fr Provincial expressing his concern over Fr McSweeney. Remarks that Fr Blount, senior army chaplain , came to see him and said that he considered Fr McSweeney. to be '...very weary and ought to be brought home'. (28 July 1948, 2pp).

A file containing letters from Mary H. Allies, 3 Lodge Place, St John’s Wood, London to Fr Matthew Russell SJ informing Fr Russell of her father’s death and agreeing to supply information about him for an article.

A file of letters from Thomas W. Allies, 82 Gloucester Place, Portman Square, London, England, Inishbofin, County Galway, Ireland and 3 Lodge Place, St Hohn's Wood, London, England to Fr Matthew Russell SJ.

A file of letters from Hilaire Belloc to Fr Matthew Russell SJ. Includes a reference to the French elections. ‘Are you not delighted at the result of the French elections? I am. I do not like Kings...’. (30 October [ ], 3pp). Refers to articles he wishes to contribute to the Irish Monthly. (nd, 4pp). Discusses his future career ‘I have for the last week been visiting various people of importance with a view to choosing a profession, I want to be earning soon; I believe that my mathematics...will help me in Engineering - but I never live except when I am on the water.’ Refers also to his writing and describes it as ‘...the work of a boy, it is like those nasty little plums that come on the young wild plumtrees in the forest of Marly.’ Continues ‘But if you ask me why I write as I do, I will tell you this much: that in the circle of newspapers of criticism of perfectly turned verses, of madly-hunted ideas, I am all at sea. I would have it that no man should write who was not a zealot for something and when I desire, I desire the hills and the sea. I desire the faces of men and women not some unjust imitations. And I desire above all that free and happy forbearance and that perfection of charity which this country is absolutely unable to give.’ (5 February 1889, 4pp). Refers to writing and editing and remarks ‘If I ever become an editor I shall accept everything that touches me - irrespective of merit and shall refuse all well known names. There is a club in Paris called “La Decadence” into which no one cannot (sic) be admitted whose work has not been refused three times!’ (20 April 1889, 4pp). Refers to the Great War and remarks that he is looking forward to it ‘It will sweep Europe like a broom, it will make Kings jump like coffee beans on the roaster...’. Asks Fr. Russell to choose a composition from a ‘batch’. (30 June 1889, 4pp). Enquires why some of his verses have not appeared in the Irish Monthly. Remarks ‘I didn’t love it (The Irish Monthly) half as much as I should have done if my “poor thing but mine own” had been in it.’ (nd, 2pp). Refers to a visit he made to Ireland. Observes that ‘The Country is getting richer and it is high time. The Irish have too much political sense to boast of any success: they insist rather on what they need than on what they have, which is the right way to go about politics; but very soon people over here will wake up to find Ireland transformed.’ (1 January 1910, 2pp). Remarks that suggestions have been made to him to write a Catholic essay on the history of England ‘...but the only thing I can afford to write is a Catholic School history...’ (13 January 1911, 1p).

Letters from Bessie Rayner Belloc to Fr Matthew Russell SJ.

A file of letters from Fr David Bearne SJ to Fr Matthew Russell SJ concerning contributions for 'The Irish Monthly'.

Letter from William Barry, Dorchester, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, England to Fr Matthew Russell SJ concerning a review he (William Barry) is writing of Fr Sheehan’s new book for 'The Catholic Times'.

File of mission material relating to Fr Dermot Murphy SJ. Includes photographs, personal record and correspondence between Fr Murphy and Frs Thomas Martin and Vincent Murphy, Jesuit Missions, 20 Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

Material relating to Fr Dermot J Murphy SJ which includes correspondence concerning his work in Zambia and his health. Includes black and white passport size photographs, correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials and curia, personal record and application to join the Society.

Material relating to Fr Michael Morrison SJ which includes correspondence relating to his time as a chaplain to the British forces during the Second World War, his work in Australia, correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials and curia, personal record and application to join the Society.

Material relating to Fr Michael Moloney SJ which includes correspondence describing his work in Australia and Zambia and includes correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials and curia, personal record and application to join the Society.

Letter from Fr James A. Cullen, 4 High Street, Buxton, England to Rev James Tuite SJ, Irish Provincial, Milltown Park, Dublin concerning his noviceship in Arlon, Belgium.’.

A file of letters from Fr James A. Cullen to Irish Fr Provincial James Tuite SJ, concerning his noviceship. Includes a letter in which Fr Cullen remarks ‘If I might have a month or five weeks for vacation...I would prize it as it might strengthen my body and soul.’. Continues ‘I am very anxious for many reasons that my noviceship should be on the continent.’ (2 June 1881, 4pp). Includes a letter to Rev Tuite SJ thanking him for organising a place in the Novitiate of Arlon, Belgium (14 July 1881, 4pp).

Material relating to which Fr Sydney C Lennon SJ includes correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials and curia, personal record and application to join the Society.

Letter from Brother William Nash SJ, St Ignatius Presbytery, 27 High Road, London to [ ] concerning his thoughts on the late Brother John Conway SJ. Remarks ‘...the characteristics which stood out were his cheerfulness...and his natural spirit of religion.’. Concludes [he had a]...capacity to bear the unpleasant things of life with a laugh and a joke. He was to me a great Jesuit.’.

Material relating to Fr Donald Lawler SJ which includes correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials and curia, personal record and application to join the Society.

Material relating to Fr Richard J Kennedy SJ including correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials and curia, personal record and application to join the Society.

Catalogue entries for Fr Gerald L Kennedy SJ (1930; 1934); and a letter by Fr Harold E Craig SJ, St Joseph's, Leigh, Lancashire to the Irish Fr Provincial on hearing of Fr Kennedy's death (10 February 1949, 4pp). Includes a CD of photographs, sent by the Fr Michael Head SJ, Province Archivist, Australian Jesuit Province to Fr Fergus O'Donoghue SJ, Province Archivist, Irish Jesuit Province containing a small collection of photos of the Irish mission at Hong Kong taken by Fr Gerald L Kennedy SJ (26 April 2007).

Letter from Edward Corish SJ, Canisius College, Pittwater Road, Pymble, NSW, Australia to Fr John Coyne SJ, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin asking for biographical information on Fr William Kelly SJ, and a certificate of approval given by the Ninth International Congress of Orientalists at Inner Temple Hall, London 10 September 1891.

File relating to Fr Thomas P Kelly SJ, includes correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials.

Mission Office material relating to Fr Laurence Kearns SJ, which includes announcement of death, personal record and correspondence between Fr Kearns and Frs Thomas Martin and Vincent Murphy, Mission Office, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

Material relating to Fr Laurence M Kearns SJ containing admission details, his work within the Society (chaplain in the Second World War, communications and media work in Zambia and Lesotho, correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials. Includes biographical information.

Letters and notes to Fr William A Sutton SJ from various individuals including the Editor of 'The Lamp', Alfred de Burgh (Shankill, County Dublin), Hanbury Geoghegan, Charles Coppinger (Upper Merrion Street, Dublin) and A.H. Matthew (Chelsfield, Kent).

Letters to Fr William A Sutton SJ from William [Smedley] (CheyneWalk, London).

Letters to Fr William A Sutton SJ from Walter Begley (Greencroft Gardens, Hampstead, London, England).

Letters to Fr William A Sutton SJ from Dr Robert M. Theobald. Includes: copy of letter sent to him as Editor of ‘Baconia’ from an irate native of Stratford-on-Avon (10 Jan. 1903, 2pp); letter to Fr Sutton from Dr Theobald’s cousin, W. Theobald (29 Apr. 1903, 2pp); letter to Dr Theobald from Walter Begley (see also J18/43) (30 May 1904, 4pp & envelope); letter from Dr Theobald enclosing newspaper articles consisting of a review of 'Passages from the Autobiography of a Shakespeare Student' by R.M. Theobald and a letter to the Editor of 'The Morning Post' from an Edwin Durning–Lawrence (27 Dec. 1911, 3 items) and letters to Dr Theobald from a ‘P.S.’ (n.d., 2 items).

Letters to scholastic William Sutton SJ from fellow Jesuits, Frs Heinrich Thiemann (Stonyhurst) and Edmund O'Reilly (Milltown Park) on philosophical matters.

File relating to the wish by Baghdad College, Iraq to move the body of Fr Jeremiah Austin Hartigan SJ from the war cemetery at Amara, to their own cemetery in the college grounds. Information from the Commonwealth War Grave Commission suggests this never happened. Includes birth certificate for Jeremiah Austin Hartigan.

Biographical information on Fr John J Hannon SJ. Includes catalogue entry (1930), correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials and brief biography by Fr Fergus O'Donoghue SJ.

Two handwritten letters from Maureen Cooper, Detached House, Michaelstow, Ramsey Road, Harwich, Essex to her uncle, Fr Henry Gill SJ in which she details local news, her health issues and urges Fr Henry to request more regularly correspondence from family members. Her mother was Cissie Gill, died in 1938, younger sister of Henry.

Letters to Fr Henry Gill SJ from various scientists and scientific institutions on his research. Includes:

• letter from the Assistant Librarian of the Royal Institution, London giving Fr Henry Gill SJ permission to use one of the Libraries to demonstrate ‘the new glow in Vacuum tubes’ which Fr Henry Gill SJ discovered during the course of his research work in Cambridge (22 May 1909, 1p);
• letter from Prof. Oliver Lodge, (The University, Edmund Street, Birmingham) thanking Fr Henry Gill SJ for sending him his article on ‘the Ether’ and discussing the theory propounded by Prof. J. J. Thomson, who, in a recent Address ‘allows for the possibility of extra condensation of ether close to matter’ (9 September 1909, 3pp);
• letter from the Director of the Union Géodésique et Géophysique Internationale concerning Fr Gill’s paper, ‘Some Speculations on Wegner’s Theory of Continental Drift’ published in Publications du Bureau central séismologique international, série A: Travaux scientifiques, fascicule 15 - 1937 (18 January 1936, 1p.) and letter from J. E. Doyle (Mullaghadun, Dungannon, County Tyrone) discussing his ideas on entropy and concluding ‘I would strongly advise you to consult an authority on physics and biology before publishing anything more on this subject, as erroneous arguments, although they should not be taken as proving anything one way or the other generally throw some discredit on the thesis which they are used to support’ (3pp).

Correspondence mainly between Irish Fr Provincial, Fr Leonard Sheil SJ and the English Provincial, relating to Fr Sheil’s Mission work in England. Includes:
– incomplete letter from Fr Sheil to the Provincial referring to a Mission he and Fr Robert L. Stevenson SJ are to give in Peterborough, ‘We will run one mission in a hostel, and another in the church at the same time. There are 180 Irish in the hostel; and there are believed to be about 400 in lodgings around the town. We may, or may not, be able to get at them.’ Also describes his recent travels on the Continent (third page of letter is missing) (12 Sep. 19--, 2pp);
– letter from Fr Sheil to the Provincial describing a ‘country mission in Northampton’ where he “was told to take a different village every day, say Mass in some Catholic house, visit every house – Catholic or no, and ‘hold a service’ on the village green in the evening” (2 September 19–, 7pp);
– covering letter and note (January 1953, 2pp) from Fr Sheil to the Provincial enclosing a memorandum entitled ‘Relations between Irish and English Jesuit Missioners’ (n.d., 3pp);
– covering letter from Fr Sheil (13 April 1953, 1p.) to the Provincial, enclosing a letter he received from the Archbishop of Cius and English Apostolic Delegate following Fr Sheil’s report to him of 1952 Mission work. The Archbishop writes ‘I have read with deepest interest the reports sent to me by the Reverend Father L. Sheil, S.J. and I have informed the Holy See of all the splendid work that has been accomplished. For this most necessary apostolate, certainly the Delegate of the Holy Father must send a cordial blessing in the name of His Holiness and he is confident that, with God’s help, more and more will be achieved for those who stand so much in need of the ministry of their own priests’ (9 April 1953, 1p.);
– copy letter from the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne to the English Fr Provincial Desmond Boyle SJ, regarding Fr Boyle’s ‘wishes concerning the activities of the Irish Mission staff in England’. States ‘I have…instructed Father Leonard Sheil to confine his activities in future to Camp Missions during the autumn months, and, once he has fulfilled his programme in London this autumn, to approach no parish priest about a parish Mission nor to accept any parish Mission without a specific request from Father Farrell.…I think he (Fr Sheil) has done good work for the Irish in England, some of which, such as the Confraternity in Birmingham, may be of permanent worth. But whatever good he has achieved is due in no small measure to the co-operation of the English Province and the support he received from the English parish clergy’ (22 Apr. 1953, 1p.);
– Fr Boyle’s reply thanking Fr Byrne for his co-operation and stating ‘I only hope that we of this Province have not seemed too difficult or dog-in-the-manger-ish. The position was getting rather confused and it seemed desirable to regularize it. Your mission Fathers have done wonderful work in England, and I am quite sure that Fr Sheil will be approached either directly or through Fr Farrell for further missions’ (29 Apr. 1953, 1p.);
– letter to Fr Sheil from Dr James Staunton, Bishop of Ferns in which he remarks ‘I was glad to know that you are going to St. Wilfrid’s York, and I hope your Fathers and yourself will be invited to give many missions in the secondary modern schools, and pioneer in this sphere’ (20 Aug. 1958, 2pp);
– letter to the Provincial from Fr Sheil describing the work of two Irish chaplains in London – Fr Cullen in Warwick Street and the chaplain in Bayswater (Sep. 1967, 2pp).
Also includes list drawn up by Fr Sheil of Jesuits who ‘should give a very good priests’ retreat’ (n.d., 2pp).

Letter to Irish Fr Provincial Cecil McGarry from Sr Mary Regis, Mercy Convent, Doon, County Limerick, following Fr Leonard Sheil's death. Encloses letters sent to her from Fr Sheil over a number of years and press-cuttings relating to him, in the hope they might be useful to the Society when writing Fr Sheil's biography. States ‘I thought I would like to do a little for him after all he did for me.…When he started his missions in England I used to make pictures & pieties to help him & send them to the different addresses. He sent me accounts of these missions…He never thought of himself, his aim was to use everything he could to bring souls to God… I have kept letters of his since 1939 & all the years of the war & until he wrote before Christmas to announce his illness’ (Aug. 1968, 4pp). Encloses seven letters from Fr Sheil, thanking her for sending badges and medals and discussing her health and his missions. Includes letter in which he remarks ‘…thanks so much for all your lovely pictures and things. They are immensely valued over here. Sometimes indeed religion is not valued, but I hope that these pictures etc. will make it impossible for them to forget the lovely things of Our Faith. One little boy brought five Protestant pals, mostly bigger than himself, to the mission at West Hartlepool. I have had many conversions of people years away from Mass and the Sacraments. Many others have rejected me. The [leak]age of the children when they leave school, & have no Catholic school, and no good parents, is frightful. I start missions again on January 8th at Coventry and near Northampton. They will be very tough, so help me with your prayers. I bless each house I enter, put them on their knees, if they don’t refuse, and instal (sic.) a holy picture’ (28 Dec. 19--, 2pp). Also includes photocopies of clippings on Fr Sheil from various English newspapers (n.d., 4 items).

Correspondence between Vice-Provincial Brendan Lawler and the English Provincialate in Mount Street, London, relating to Fr Leonard Sheil’s recall to the Irish Province due to his final illness. Includes:

• letter from Irish Fr Provincial Brendan Barry SJ to Fr Thomas Dunphy SJ of Mount Street in which he states that Fr Sheil ‘…is beyond medical aid, since he has cancer of the liver. He is not confined to bed and – characteristically – he is all on for doing some work for God before he dies. Nevertheless it is obvious that his days at Farm Street have come to an end. I am therefore putting him in the Catalogus as withdrawn from Farm Street and stationed at the College of Industrial Relations, Sandford Road, Dublin 6. He went there from the nursing home last week and he is to stay there as long as his health allows. Please advise Father Corrigan that it seems best now to regard Father Sheil as no longer applied to the English Province or attached to Farm Street’ (19 Oct. 1967, 1p.) and
  – reply from Fr Dunphy to Fr Lawler – ‘I need hardly say how sorry we are about this, because he has been such a wonderful man. There is no doubt that he has done great work in the parish and has been deeply loved and respected by all who knew him. He was certainly a source of great edification to this community’ (22 Oct. 1967, 1p.).

Correspondence concerning Fr Leonard Sheil's return to Farm Street Church, London on mission work. Includes:
– letter from Provincial Fr Brendan Barry SJ to Fr John Brooks SJ, Superior of the English Provincialate in Mount Street, London, offering the services of Fr Sheil for mission work amongst Irish immigrants. ‘I should let you know that last December Father Sheil had an operation for cancer in the intestine. However, he is in very good form again and is most anxious to take on plenty of work. His doctor wrote to me in January to say that it is quite possible that he may continue to have many years of useful activity’ (17 Apr. 1966, 1p.) and
– letter to the Provincial from Fr Sheil describing the week he spent working among the inmates in Wormwood Scrubs Jail. ‘There are 1,500 prisoners, 700 of them under 20. Of these youths, 81 are Catholic, 19 of them born in Ireland; 12 had not made First Confession, but all the Irish-born knew their religion. I was supplying for the prison chaplain R.C., an excellent man who spent 16 years of his life at Westminster Cathedral. But they tell me he doesn’t visit the cells. I did, 81 of them. It’s pathetic. And I got locked in twice, because if the cell door slams, there is no possible way of getting out till some warder changes (sic.) to come along’ (13 Jul. 1966, 2pp). Encloses a report he wrote for 'Chaplain’s Weekly' on ‘Farm St(reet) Hotel work’ describing the work of the chaplains in London bars, restaurants, residential clubs and hotels (11 Jul. 1966, 2pp).

Letters and report to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Leonard Sheil SJ concerning missions in Spain, comparisons with missions in Britain and Ireland and the possibility of Fr Sheil’s working in South America. Includes:
– letter from Fr Sheil to the Irish Fr Provincial seeking permission to go to Spain to study Spanish missions in order to adapt certain practices for use in Britain (7 September. 1961, 4pp);
– copy of a ‘Report on Missions in Spain’ following a visit by Frs Shiggins and Sheil who attended five missions around the country (n.d., 4pp);
– letter from Fr Sheil to the Irish Fr Provincial in which he discusses certain Spanish customs which could be used on Missions in Britain. Remarks that he will send the Provincial a report ‘on the meetings I now hold with Protestant clergymen after missions in Ireland’ and that he has sent in ‘full reports on our missions in Britain’ ‘almost every year for ten years’. Also mentions a new member of the mission staff, Fr Kevin Laheen SJ – ‘You will be glad to know that Fr Laheen on this his first mission did very well. He preaches well and his musical voice was a help to O'Beirne and I. I need not tell you that O'Beirne preaches very well, and is a wonderful companion on a mission. He sleeps badly’ (Fr Gerry O'Beirne) (23 March 1963, 3pp) and
– letters seeking permission to go to Spain (and Italy) as a supply priest (25 May 19?? – 30 November 1965, 4 items).

Biographical information Fr John Ffrench SJ which includes 'A few particulars relative to the Hon. and Rev. John Ffrench SJ', Dolllard, Printinghouse, Dublin (1887), 'Memoirs of Father Ffrench of the Society of Jesus', Manresa Press, Roehampton (1898) and copy of a letter from Fr Ffrench, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly to Mother Ursula Querk, Ursuline Convent, St Joseph's, Sligo concerning his nephew's accident and his cure due to the intercession of (6 February 1854, 4pp), with note from Sr. M. St. Dominic, Ursuline Convent, St Joseph's, Sligo (20 September 1983).

File of receipts, requests for masses, and bequests sent to Fr Charles Farley SJ, St. Francis Xavier, Upper Gardiner Street, (Province
Procurator). Includes receipts, postcards and letters from Frs Edward Boyd Barrett, James O'Connor, Joseph Flinn, A. Magne, Daniel J. Finn (from R.M.S Orsova on the way to Australia), James Creagh, James Farrell, John Ryan (Valkenberg), William Byrne, Bernard Page, John Nerney, C. Wishoff, Leopold Skarek, and Dr. Conway Dwyer, 86 Merrion Square, Dublin.

Letter from Ethie (cousin), Grove End Road, London to Fr William White SJ.

File of letters from Patrick (cousin), Conacody, Ardfinnan, Tipperary and Upholland College, Wigan, England to Fr William White SJ.

Letter to Fr John Conmee SJ from a [ ] Lalor SJ in Petworth (an English Jesuit house) thanking Fr Conmee for writing to him following the death of a mutual friend, Fr Michael Waters SJ in Upper Gardiner Street on 22 November 1895.

Letter to Fr John Conmee SJ from Dr. Henry C. Drury enquiring what year the Conmee family came to live at Kingsland, County Roscommon. The Drury family lived at Kingsland before the Conmee’s and Dr. Drury is helping ‘a friend in London who is working at Drury pedigrees.’

Letter to Fr Gerald Manley Hopkins SJ from Cardinal John Henry Newman thanking him for his ‘kind remembrance’ of the Cardinal's birthday and stating ‘I grieve to find you corroborate from your own experience what other friends tell me about the State of Ireland. What are we coming to!’ Also original envelope for the letter, addressed to ‘The Revd. G. Hopkins, S.J., 85.86 Stephen’s Green, Dublin’ dated 27 Feb. 1885, Birmingham. With Holyhead Kingstown Packet franking on back, dated Feb. 28.

A file of correspondence between Fr Harold E Craig SJ and Irish Fr Provincial concerning his work in England and his return to Ireland for summer holidays and annual retreats.

File relating to the return of Fr Harold E Craig SJ to Ireland and his appointment to parish work in England.

Letters to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Longmans Group Ltd. (formerly Longmans Green & Co. Ltd.) concerning the publication of 'Medieval Religious Houses: Ireland' by Fr Gwynn and Neville Hadcock. Includes copy of the agreement between the publishers and Fr Gwynn for the book signed on the company’s behalf (6 November 1953, 4pp).

Letters to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Neville Hadcock asking Fr Gwynn to participate in the proposed volume, 'Medieval Religious Houses: Ireland'… ‘that is, if I do the sort of donkey work and prepare lists, by counties in the first place, with ref(erence)s of all recorded monasteries marking those in doubt, as I complete a county I could pass it on to you to weed.’ (24 September 1953, 4pp).

Letters from publishers, the Clarendon Press, Oxford, to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ, concerning the possibility of a reprint of his 1940 book 'The English Austin Friars in the Time of Wyclif'. Includes Fr Gwynn’s copy of book.

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from publishers the Clarendon Press, Oxford, concerning Russell & Russell’s reissuing of 'Roman Education'. ‘As he says in his letter of 29 January 1964 a loophole in the Unites States copyright law enables books published here (UK) before 1957 to be reprinted there (US) without authorisation – though not to be exported into countries where this loophole doesn’t exist. Naturally he didn’t say that practically all American publishers regard it as unethical to take advantage of this loophole, for various reasons, and especially because it is liable to create the situation in which we now find ourselves.’

Letters from publishers the Clarendon Press, Oxford, to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ on a proposal by publishers W. Heffer & Sons, Ltd. to reprint Fr Gwynn’s 1920 book 'Roman Education from Cicero to Quintilian'. Includes letters to Fr Gwynn from Heffers (30 June 1956 – 15 July 1960, 3 items), royalty statements from Clarendon Press (1969, 1971, 2 items) and copy of 'Roman Education from Cicero to Quintilian'.

Letters from Fr Aubrey Gwynn’s first cousins, Arthur Montague Gwynn, New South Wales, Australia and Edward Harold Gwynn, Gloucester, England, written in response to Fr Gwynn’s request for genealogical information as part of his research on the history of the Gwynn family (24 July 1974 – 17 April 1975, 3 items).

Letter (from Peter, Haslemere, Surrey) and note concerning the biography of Rev. James Gwynne (Fr Gwynn’s maternal grandfather) (1829 -1869).

Letters to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Sarah Wimbush, Archive Research Assistant, National Portrait Gallery, London, seeking information on any known portraits of Stephen Lucius Gwynn (Fr Gwynn’s father), as part of her work in cataloguing Edwardian portraits, one of which is a portrait by Sir William Rotherstein of Stephen (1915). Includes list of known portraits of Stephen (1p.) and photocopy of the portrait (1p.).

Letters to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Gilbert Laithwaite (an Old Clongownian, 1907-1911) to whom Fr Gwynn frequently sent his publications.

Letters from Prof. Geoffrey Hand to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ. Includes news of his appointment to the Fiesole Institute, Florence; his work, colleagues in U.C.D. (where he Lectured in Legal and Constitutional History); family and health.