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John Gilmary Shea Correspondence
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Held at: Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center [Contact Us]100 E. Wynnewood Rd., Wynnewood, PA
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
John Gilmary Shea was born John Dawson Shea on July 22, 1824 in New York City to an Irish immigrant James Shea and Mary Ann Flannigan. Shea is considered one of the first American Catholic historians in the United States. Much of his recognition and lasting fame comes from the accolades and accomplishments of publishing nearly three hundred articles and books.
As a child, Shea was plagued with poor health that did not permit him to perform highly physical activities. Therefore, Shea turned to books and academics; something he’d truly excel at. Shea attended the Sisters of Charity School in New York and enrolled at Columbia. Instead of pursuing further schooling, Shea decided to work for a Spanish merchant name Don Tomas in New York in 1838 for approximately six years. During his employment, he not only became fluent in Spanish, but continued to pursue his historical studies and sometimes devoted more time to them than to his work (Bowden, 237). The same year he began working for Don Tomas, at the age of fourteen, Shea published his first article—a short essay on Cardinal Albornoz in the Children’s Catholic Magazine (Gordon, 1).
It wasn’t until 1844 that Shea decided to follow the footsteps of his older brother by studying law. He passed the bar exam two years later in 1846. By 1847, Shea decided to leave his law career and enter the Society of Jesus in Fordham, NY. It was at this point where Shea decided to drop his given name of Dawson and adopted Gilmary, meaning “Servant of Mary.” (Bowden, 237-238). Due to health problems, Shea withdrew from the Society of Jesus in 1852. Ironically, Shea’s historical writing career flourished after he left the Society.
He had several successive publications that garnered widespread recognition. Discovery and Exploration of Mississippi Valley (1852), History of the Catholic Missions Among the Indian Tribes of the United States, 1529-1854 (1854), History of the Catholic Church in the United States (1886-1892). Not only did Shea contribute numerous religious publications such as Catholic World and the United States Catholic Historical Magazine, which he helped establish and served as both president and editor in 1890. Shea also was the Editor in Chief of the magazine for a period of time.
Because Shea was well received as a prominent Catholic historian, he received numerous accolades as well as honorary degrees. In 1862 St. Francis Xavier College honored him with the Juris Utriusque Doctor (J.U.D.); he was the first recipient of the Laetare Medal by the University of Notre Dame in 1883; in 1889, both Fordham University and Georgetown University awarded him the Legum Doctor (L.L.D.). During this time, he also had a significant role in the establishment of the United States Catholic Historical Society, so much so that the organization elected him its president in 1890.
After a long and successful life as a writer, editor, and historian of American history with an emphasis on American Catholic history, John Gilmar Shea died in Elizabeth, New Jersey on February 22, 1892 at the age of 68.
The majority of materials in this collection are of incoming correspondence written or addressed to John Gilmary Shea within 7 boxes. There is also one folder of correspondence that we deemed unidentifiable either because the signatures were indecipherable or did not include signatures. Some of the larger files with twenty or more correspondences are from Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Oscar W. Collet, Archbishop Michael Augustine Corrigan, John Ward Dean, Edmond Mallet, J.W. Powell, and Eugene Vetromile. There is only one folder that contains outgoing correspondence composed by Shea.
Correspondences in this collection may be useful to researchers, historians, genealogists, and others interested in the personal and professional life of John Gilmary Shea.
The John Gilmary Shea Correspondence collection is arranged into two series:
Series 1: Incoming Correspondence
Series 2: Outgoing Correspondence
Correspondences within the Incoming Correspondence series are arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Folders are loosely filled in order to promote proper preservation care.
This is a revision of an older item-level finding aid located in hard copy at PAHRC.
This collection was previously processed by the Ryan Memorial Library. The Philadelphia Archdiocese Historical Research Center (PAHRC) believed the collection needed to be reprocessed in order to promote basic preservation standards. As a result, between October and November of 2012, our processing intern, Hoang Tran, reprocessed the collection at the file level and included item-level description of materials.
People
- Amat, Thaddeus, 1811-1878
- Bayley, James Roosevelt, 1814-1877
- Collet, Oscar Wilkes, 1821-1904
- Corrigan, Michael Augustine, 1839-1902
- Dean, John Ward, 1815-1902
- DeSmet, Pierre-Jean, 1801-1873
- Donahoe, Patrick, 1811-1901
- Draper, Lyman Copeland, 1815-1891
- Finotti, Joseph M. (Joseph Maria), 1817-1879
- Gibbons, James, 1834-1921
- Lenox, James, 1800-1880
- Moore, George Henry, 1823-1892
- Powell, John Wesley, 1834-1902
- Vetromile, Eugene, 1819-1881
- Winsor, Justin, 1831-1897
- Zilliox, James, O.S.B., 1849-1900
Subject
Place
- Publisher
- Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center
- Finding Aid Author
- Finding aid prepared by Hoang Tran, Processing Intern
- Finding Aid Date
- November 2012
- Access Restrictions
-
There are no restrictions to access this collection. Please note that the archives reserves the right to restrict access to materials of sensitive nature.
- Use Restrictions
-
There are no restrictions to use this collection. Please note that copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Collection Inventory
This series is fairly extensive and it would be in the best interest of the researcher to use the "Ctrl+F" function on your keyboard to search for a keyword (name) within the finding aid.
Akins, Thomas B.; Alcott, Lousia May; Alemany, Joseph Sadoc, A.S.F.; Alerding, Herman Joseph; Allen, A.B.; Alofsen, S.; Aloysie, Sister.
Ambrosia, M., Mother; Anderson, Joseph; Andrews, W.L.; Anstacts, J.; Antoine, O.M.I.
Barnum, P.T.
Baudin, A., S.J.
Paveuse de Beaujeu; Becket, Thomas A.; Beckwith, Hiram W.; Bergh, Henry; Bectise, Pierre; Bedini, Mono; Beecher, E. W.; Beliourt, George A.; Benediro, B. M.; Berrian, T. B. E.; Bertolio, J. M., S.J.
Boucher, V.; Boudreaux, P.; Boulager, C.; Bourgade, P.; Bradley, D.M.
Brown, John Mason; Brownson, Sarah M.; Buel, Alex M.; Bruchard, John D.
Burtsell, Richard Lalor; Buteux, F., Rev.; Butler, James D.; Byington, Cyrus
Cain, James A.; Callan, C.V.N.; Cameron, James G.
Cambell, James V.; Cambell, Thomas J.; Carrayon, A., S.J.; Carrell, George A.
Charrveon, J.V.; Chasse, J.B.; Chatard, F.S., Rev.; Cheney, T.A.; Childs, George, W.
Clement, John; Cocchia, P.
Coquerelle, Charles; Corbe, J.; Corkery, Charles; Conelleau; Conover, George S.; Conroy, John J.
Creedon, M.; Crosby, Howard; Cruise, M.E.; Cummiskey, Eugene Jr.; Cunningham, Peter F.; Curley, James, S.J.; Currier, Charles, C.SS.R.; Curry, J.S.M.; Curtis, A.A., Bp.; Curtis, G.W.
Darlington, William M.
De Courey, Henri; De Goesbriand, Louis, Rev., b.p.; De Grunne, Cte., De Lancey, Edward F.; Denison, Mary N.
Devine, Edward, S.J.; Devitt, E.I., S.J.; Devron, Gustavus; Dewey, R.S., S.J.; Dexter, F.B.; Dimitry, John; Dion, J.V.
Doherty, David J.
Donnelly, James; Doonan, James T., S.J.; Dorsey, Anna H.; Drake, Samuel G.
Drummond, Lewis, S.J.; Dubruel, Paul, S.S.
Dunn, James, S.J.; Dunn, J.P, Jr.; Durrie, D.S.
Edelbrock, Alexis
Emery, George E.; Emmet, Thomas Addis; Etting, Frank M.; Eutopius, Abbot, O.C.R.
Farrelly, F.H.
Fink, Louis M., O.S.B.
Fischer, Agustin; Fisher, Frances C.
Flasch, Kilion C.; Foley, H.; Foley, Thomas; Folson, George; Forbe, Arch; Forbes, John M.; Force, Peter, Forhan, P.S.J.
Gardner, E.M.; Garnier, T.H.; Garroni, Novato; Gatschet, Albert S.; Gayarré, Charles; Gerard, John, S.J.; GerinLajoie, A.; Germain, J.E.; Gertrude, Sister.
Gibra, B.E.
Glascott, William H.
Greble, Edwin; Green, Samuel A.; Gross, William H., Bishop
Hager, Albert D.
Hale, Edward E.
Hamel, Thomas E.; Hamilton, William, S.J.; Hammer, Bonaventure, O.S.F.
Harrison, Burton; Harrison, Henry; Hart, A.B; Haskins, George F.; Hasley, E.; Hawks, Francis L.
Healy, David; Healy, P.F.; Healy, James A., Bishop; Hecker, I.T., C.S.P.; Heas, Michael
Hennelly, J.E., C.M.; Hennessy, John, Bishop
Herberman, Charles G.; Heslin, Thomas, Bishop; Heyburn, A.; Hickey, Edward; Hickey, J.; Higgins, J.A., S.J.; Hilder, F.F.; Hill, Alfred J.; Hill, Wm.; Hoelscher, P., Rev.; Hogan, John J., Bishop; Hoguet, Henry L.; Homes, H.A.; Hopkins, Thos. F.; Horan, E.J.
Houghton, Mifflin & Co.; Howley, M.F.; Hoyt, A.H.; Hubbard, C.J.; Huberdautt, G.
Hughes, John, Archbishop
Ireland, John, Archbishop
Jeroma, Maria
Jones, Augustine; Joos, Edward; Joslin, Titus; Juncker, H.D., Bishop
Keen, Gregory B.; Kelby, Robert H.; Keller, Joseph E.; Kelly, George C.; Kelly, John
Kempker, John F.; Kenny, Patrick; Kersaint, Fred
Kidder, Frederick; Kieckans, F., S.J.; Kimball, Richard B.; Kivman, Jenny L.
Lawlor, Michael, S.J.; Lawrence, R.I.; Leahy, F.
Leray, Francis A.; Levins, Webb; L'Hiver, Louis; Lieber, Francis; Lightner, E.G.
Lorraine, N.Z.; Loughlin, I.; Lowe, E.; Ludwig, H.C.; Luers, J.H.; Lummis, H.; Lusk, Charles
Maguire, A.; Mahar, T.F.; Major, Henary; Major, James
Markoe, William F.
Matthews, Brandon; Matz, N.; Mayer, Brantz; Mayers, Frank B.; Maynardi, Effingham
McCann, Walter Edgar
McDonnell, Charles E.; McDonnell, James; McElroy, John C., S.J.; McFarland, Francis P.; McFearn, J.H.; McGee, James
McGovern, Thomas; McIntosh, H.F.; McKeon, Mary; McKinnon, Colin; McLaughlin, J.
McNeiry, Francis, Bishop
Medlicott, WIlliam G.
Miles, John D.; Milner, John
Morgan, John A., S.J.; Morgan, Louis Seeger; Morin, P.L.
O'Callaghan, Edward Bailey; O'Connel, D.J.
O'Connor, James; O'Connor, P.; O'Connor, R.A.; Odin, John Mary; O'Farrel, Michael J.; O'Gorman, James M.; O'Hanlon, John, O'Hara, William
O'Meara, David; O'Neall, John B.; O'Neill, John A.; O'Regan, Anthony; O'Reilly, B.; O'Reilly, Bernard
Osborne, John M.; O'Sullivan, J.
Pardow, J., S.C.; Pardow, William O'Brien, S.J.
Pasko, Wesley Washington; Patterson, D. Williams; Paul, Sr. M. Gertrude; Paulow, H.; Pax, George; Peck, J.M; Pelletreau, N.S.; Perron, Sarah
Piet, John B.; Piet, Sr. Mary Samuel; Pillsbury, W.L.; Pisto, F.; Point, F.; Pope, Amy M.
Prioress, Reverend Mother, u.d.c.; Providence, Sisters of St. Mary's of the Woods; Preston, Thomas D.; Preston, William S.; Pujet, John; Purple, Samuel S.
Quigley, Thomas; Rademacher, Jos.; Ragaru, Aloisius, S.J.; Rappe, Amedeus; Raymond C.
Reynolds, W.; Richards, J.; Richardt, P. Michael; Rios, J.A.; Ripley, S.E.W.; Ripp, Geo. W.
Romo, Jose M.; Rosati, Joseph; Rosecrans, J. H.; Ross, William E.; Russell, J.B.; Rust, A.; Ryan, J., S.J.; Ryan, James; Ryan, John; Ryan, Patrick J.
Sainsbury, W. Noel; St. Francis, Mother Mary of; St. Palais, Maurice de; St. Seraphine; Salpointe, John Baptist; Sanden, M. Van Der; Sauliner, W.M., Scannell, Richard; Scharf, J. Thomas; Scheler, Bernard; Schneider, Augustine
Schoolcraft, Henry R.; Scollard, I.; Scull, G.D.
Seghers, Charles J.
Seton, Robert
Shahan, Thomas J.
Shea, Joseph, S.J.; Sitgreaves, L.; Slafter, Edmund F.
Smith, Buck; Smith, Buckingham; Smith, Henry A.; Smith, John J.; Smith, N.N.; Smyth, Clement
Spofford, Harriet P.; Squies; Stansbury, Chas. F.; Starr, Mary ,C.D.
Stevens, John Austin; Stiles, Henry
Stuart, R.; Sulielmus; Sumner, Geo.; Sumner, J.S.
Talbot, D.M.; Tascheriau, E.A.
Thebaud, Aug. J., S.J.; Thomas, Morris
Thomson, J.; Toebbe, D.M.; Toedteberg, Emma.; Tonney, W.J.
Trask, Wm. B.
Tucker, William P.; Turgeon, A.D., S.J.; Tuttle, Charles W.
Urbansky, Anthony; Vacilio, Leone; Vandevelde, F.; Varela, Felix; Van Geeson, Henry C.
Verox, Augustin
Vigga, W.M.; Vigilante, L., S.J.; Vignaux, Henry; Vitarrasa, Sadoc; Villiers, Coulon; Villiger, Burchard; Visani, Chas. A.
Walbert, Edwin J.; Wales George W.; Wall, L.J, Rev.; Wallace, John Wm.
Walthall, W.T.; Walton, I.N.; Walworth, Clarence A.
Ward, L.W.; Warde, Townsend; Watterson, E.; Watterson, John A.; Weadock, Thomas A. E.; Webersink, P.; Werren, W.
Whelan, James
White, N.M.; Whittlesey, Chas.; Winand, Michael Wigger
Williamson, Joseph
Wolf, Innocent; Wood, James F.; Woodman, Cyrus; Woodward, Charles L.; Woolworth, S.B.
Yenni, D.; Young, Alfred
To respect provenance of the materials, it was in the best interest to the researcher that the correspondence remain as they were previously processed and labeled "Bishop". Consist of a correspondence with notes on bishops.
Contains correspondences that were unidentifiable due to illegible signatures, no signatures, or a portion of the full correspondence.
Also contains a set of correspondence that was previously labeled "Donahoe". To respect provenance of the materials, it was in the best interest to the researcher that the correspondence remain as they were. There are a total of 12 correspondences. Some of the materials have illegible signatures or no signatures while some are signed by: Hugh Conway, Madame Bayer, Carillen, Anthony Dominic Bishop of San Antonio, Joannes Bernardus.
File contains approximately a total of twelve correspondence sent to Parkman, Francis; Jordan, P.A., Rev.; Middleton, Thos., Rev.; Martin, I. J. Griffin; Reily, John T.; Loughlin, J.T., Rev.