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

Copy of a letter from Cardinal Patrick Moran, Archbishop of Sydney, St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney to Fr James Colgan SJ (Fr Superior), Manresa, Hawthorn concerning the boundary between St Mary's Parish and Chatswood.

Letter from Fr John Stephen Bourke SJ, Manresa, Hawthorn, Victoria to Irish Provincial Fr John R. MacMahon SJ concerning the possibility of Fr Sydney Lennon SJ being made available for work in Australia.

Letter from Fr Paul O'Flanagan SJ, Manresa, Hawthorn, Victoria to to Irish Provincial Fr Thomas Byrne SJ concerning news from Australia including Fr Kennedy's illness and the giving of missions.

Letter from Fr Thomas Claffey SJ, Manresa, Hawthorn, Melbourne to Fr John Ryan SJ (Superior of the Mission) concerning Fr James Colgan's illness and death.

A file of letters from Fr Aloysius Sturzo SJ (Superior: 2 September 1883 - 5 April 1890) to Irish Fr Provincial concerning the Mission in Australia. Includes a letter asking permission to open a novitiate if he felt it was needed (12 November 1883 , 6pp). Includes a letter expressing his frustration over the delay in receiving answers to his letters. Remarks 'I feel very much embarrassed when there is anything to be done that requires the signing of a contract. I think that Fr General should give me as much power as he can communicate...' Refers to the lack of men and remarks that Fr Bietal SJ, an Austrian Jesuit is likely to be recalled to his own Mission in Adelaide (17 December 1883, 4pp). Includes a letter referring to the type of person suitable for the Mission in Adelaide (17 December 1883, 4pp). Includes a letter referring to the type of person suitable for the Mission. Remarks 'I hope you will not send to Australia anyone who is in any way weak concerning drink and the other fault that comes after drinking to excess. In this country...our dealings are more before the public and any fault in those two matters would ruin our character entirely.' (14 October 1886, 4pp). Includes a letter referring to Fr Joseph O'Malley's return from New Zealand. Remarks that Fr Thomas McEnroe SJ remains in New Zealand but that he is not certain whether the Mission has been closed or not. Includes a letter referring to the election of Fr Clancy as Rector of St John's College. Remarks that his election has been declared invalid. Describes how this has occurred. (10 January 1889, 4pp). Includes a further letter concerning Fr Clancy and the Rectorship of St. John's College. Remarks that they have consulted a lawyer who felt the election was invalid '...we saw that this was the best opportunity for us to retire with honours and without offending our friends from the truly dangerous battlefield...' (7 February 1884, 6pp). Includes a letter referring to the need for more Fathers to be sent out particularly a German or French Father that could be employed as a prefect in one of the colleges (17 September 1884, 8pp). Includes a letter concerning a decision to publish the Messenger of the Sacred Heart in Melbourne. Refers to the sale of land at St Patrick's Melbourne for the construction of a portion of the railway. Remarks that Fr Christopher Nulty SJ (Rector) has paid off all debts and wishes to spend the remainder on finishing the college (9 August 1886, 3pp). Includes a letter referring to the closure of Tullabeg and the possibility of Fathers being sent out to Australia. Remarks 'I hope that even independently from the closing of Tullabeg you will send me some good prefects and masters who are wanted here very badly...' (20 August 1886, 3pp). Includes a letter concerning an offer by the Bishop of Tasmania to the Society of a house for the purposes of opening a seminary for the Bishop's diocese and that it could also be used as a sanatorium for Jesuit Fathers '...I wrote to him that...it would not be prudent...for us to accept an offer...which we could not accomplish through want of men and money (1 October 1886, 10pp).

A file of letters from Fr Austin Kelly SJ (Vice-Provincial of the Vice-Province 1 October 1947-1 November 1950) to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ. Includes a letter asking Fr Provincial to send out experienced Missioners., remarks 'We need subjects so much and we are not known in spite of the years we have been in the Commonwealth (6 February 1948, 1p). Includes a letter referring to a promise made to the Archbishop of Adelaide to staff the new University College in 1950. Remarks 'I see that Fr Fergal McGrath SJ is in USA on loan. Could Your Reverence possibly lend us Father McGrath for a few years to give the Adelaide University College a start - and a good one too?' (7 February 1949, 1p). Includes a letter thanking Fr Provincial for his congratulations following Australia's elevation to the status of Province. Remarks 'Please God all our fond hopes may be realised so that we shall have the vocations and support to keep going all our commitments.' (7 November 1950, 1p).

A file of letters from Fr George Kelly SJ, St Mary's, North Sydney and Manresa, Hawthorn Melbourne to Irish Fr Provincial concerning the Australian Mission.

A file of letters from Fr John Fahy SJ (Vice-Provincial of the Vice-Province 19 March 1931-25 August 1939) to Irish Fr Provincial Laurence Kieran SJ. Includes a letter referring to a visit to the Hong Kong Mission. Remarks 'Your men are doing glorious work there I had expected great things; the reality surpassed my expectations. That will become a first class mission.' (25 February 1937, 2pp). Includes a letter referring to plans for a retreat house and scholasticate at Sydney. Refers to the Archbishop of Perth and his desire for the Jesuit fathers to build a college in Perth. Remarks '...he wishes to get the Jesuits into his diocese. It does not seem to have occurred to him that the people of Perth would be expected to support any Jesuit Fathers who work there. So we exchange letters on this question of filthy lucre.' (1 April 1937, 2pp). Includes a letter expressing his thanks to Fr Kieran SJ for writing about the Australian Jesuits studying in Ireland. Remarks '...I am most grateful for your interest in them and your care of them. Other Provincials never write about our men: all we get is the bill and the exam results...' Refers to his own position as Provincial of the Vice-Province. Remarks 'Yes, our period of office is drawing to a close...I long for the day... Boys oh Boys, think of it: no more "relationes", no more triennial papers, no more elenchi, no more building, no more administratio temporalis, no more...peace perfect peace.' (21 April 1937, 2pp). Includes a letter referring to the proposed opening of a scholasticate in January 1938 (25 October 1938, 1p).

A file of letters from Fr John Meagher SJ (Vice-Provincial of the Vice-Province 25 August 1939-1 October 1947) to Irish Fr Provincial (John R. MacMahon SJ and Thomas Byrne). Includes a letter referring to an offer by the Apostolic Delegate to take a minor seminary in New Zealand in 1947. Asks if four or five young priests could be sent out. Remarks 'We have offers of work from practically every Bishop in Australia and must refuse for want of men. Our recruiting is bad and I really don't know what to do to remedy the trouble.' (10 November 1945, 1p). Includes a letter referring to a request by Fr Dan O'Connell SJ for Fr Richard Ingram SJ to help with his work in the Riverview Observatory. (18 March 1946, 1p). Includes a number of letters concerning Fr Cooney and his ill health. Includes a letter remarking 'He (Fr Cooney) wants to return to Hong Kong in September but I think you realise his return there would probably settle his chances of ever doing any more work...I think that Fr Cooney will never be really fit to return to Hong Kong (15 May 1946, 1p). Includes a letter referring to proposals to open colleges in Adelaide and Brisbane. Remarks due to the shortage of Jesuit Fathers that this is impossible. (27 June 1946, 1p).

File of letters to Irish Fr Provincial James Murphy SJ. Includes an index/précis to the letters.

File relating to the work of Fr Harold E Craig SJ in China and India. Includes correspondence concerning difficulties with Fr Craig in both missions and his recall to Ireland.