Actus Generalis ex Universa Theologia, die 30 Junii 1893, (defendet P. Josephus Jouanen). Defence by Josephus Jouanen of his theological studies. at the Aula Maxima, University College. Includes letters to Fr Peter Finlay SJ concerning his organisation of the ‘Grand Act’ (a theological debate) which took place in the Aula Maxima of University College, Stephen’s Green on 30 June 1893 (4 May-16 July 1893, 9 items) and newspaper extracts concerning ‘The Grand Act’ (29 June-1 July 1893, 3 items).

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)

Letter from William J. Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin to Fr William Delany SJ concerning the move of the Jesuit Fathers from St Stephen's Green to new premises. Remarks ‘On a full consideration of the case I think it is not one that needs the consent of the Holy See. It is not really the establishment of a new house. It is a case of transfer.’. Concludes ‘The only drawback ...is that the Council...of Studies may seize the opportunity of investigating all sorts of things about the new University, and thus delay the business for months...’.

Letter from Fr Edward J. Coyne SJ, Director of Extra-Mural Studies at UCD, to Patrick Kavanagh re. the latter's series of Extra-Mural lectures. Asks Kavanagh for “some idea of the type of poems [he intends to read] and the general line of remarks...I am delighted to hear you are in better health and also that the Muse has returned to you, even ina violent way”.

Letter from Fr George Porter SJ, writing from Fiesole, to Irish Fr Provincial James Tuite SJ. Urges the latter to reconsider his decision not to send any novices to the University that year. Reports that Fr Finlay’s grand act was received very well in Spain, and suggests that he be appointed to teach philosophy in place of Fr Baron. Asks again about the terna for a successor to Fr Dalton.

Letter from Fr John Conmee SJ, University College, Dublin to Fr Matthew Russell SJ (Editor of 'The Irish Monthly'), thanking him for the ‘kind and encouraging things’ Fr Russell said of Fr Conmee’s ‘little paper’ i.e. 'Old Times in the Barony', which was published as a booklet in 1900. “Anything I may write on the Barony is already promised to the New Ireland. If I can send you any thing worth printing…I will – but I only write on compulsion and compose – as the Scotch joke– wi’ deefeculty’ ”.

Letter from Fr William Delany SJ, President, University College, Dublin, 85 & 86 Stephen's Green, Dublin to Fr William Ronan SJ thanking him for a donation of £500. Includes a receipt for the donation.

Copy letter from Fr William Delany SJ, University College, St Stephen's Green, Dublin to the Archbishop of Dublin concerning a formal application to [Rome]. Remarks 'I am not skilled in the forms of the Curia and if anything in the enclosed might be otherwise expressed I shall gladly amend it on hearing from your Grace.’.

Copy letter from Fr William Delany SJ, University College, St Stephen's Green, Dublin to the Archbishop of Dublin, William J. Walsh concerning a letter he has received from the Archbishop which he describes ‘...as a great relief to me...’. Remarks ‘...the case does not come under the recent legislation, but I thought it safer to make the application as suggested by your Grace. Time is so important now that it is a comfort not to have to wait for Rome.’.

Copy letter from Rev William Delany SJ, University College, St Stephen's Green, Dublin to the Archbishop of Dublin, William J. Walsh concerning the application of the Governing Body of University College for three years tenancy of the St Stephen's Green buildings. Remarks ‘The first essential preliminary to the transfer is obviously [to] providing a home for this community to which they may transfer their belongings...’. States that he has searched the neighbourhood for a suitable hall of residence where Jesuit Fathers could also live. Continues ‘...the most I could secure were two houses some 6 minutes walk from each other. No. 35 Lower Leeson Street... and Winton House, Winton Road...’. Remarks that these two houses although physically separate ‘...will be under one jurisdiction the responsible head being the superior in Leeson Street.’. Concludes ‘...I recognise most fully the advantage of having the new Institution begin its existence in the old home of Newman’s “Catholic University” and this helps me to go not merely with resignation but with positive gladness.’.

Letter from R. Donovan, Dublin Commission, Royal University Buildings, Dublin to Rev William Delany SJ requesting a list of Fellows of the Royal University teaching in University College, Dublin. Includes a list of the Fellows detailing dates of appointment, ages, subjects taught, number of lectures delivered and academic distinctions.

Letter from William J. Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin, Archbishop's House, Dublin to Fr William Delany SJ concerning the move of the Jesuit Fathers from St Stephen's Green. Remarks that ‘...the leave of the Holy See...is now necessary.’. Continues ‘It will make things smoother if you mention in the petition...that this is not a question of a new foundation but the establishment of two houses rendered advisable by legal changes which involved the removal from University College.’. In a postscript marked ‘Confidential’ the Archbishop refers to the Chair of Logic. Remarks that he thought Fr Maher was going forward and ‘On that account I did not regard Shine’s candidature as a real one...It is said there will be a veto from Cork against any but an O.P.!’.

Letter of invitation to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Donal McCartney, Prof. of Medieval Irish History, U.C.D. (and Dean of the Faculty of Arts) to the reception celebrating 70 years of the Faculty of Arts in U.C.D. – ‘it would be a great honour for us if one of our best-remembered Deans were to attend.’

Letter to Arthur Cox from Charles Dawson, Malabar, Ballsbridge, Dublin, former Auditor of the Literary and Historical Society, on the history of the Society.

Holograph letter to Dr Michael Cox from Fr Gerard Manley Hopkins, in which he comments on the thesis of a book, or pamphlet, lent to him by Dr. Cox. The book in question was 'Arts and Industries in Ireland' by S.A. [Sarah Atkinson] (Dublin: M.H. Gill & Son: 1882), which contains two essays, one of which is ‘Irish Wool and Woollens, passages from the history of the staple trade’. Its thesis was that English interests had secured the suppression of the Irish woollen trade, thus contributing to the poverty of Ireland. Hopkins does not accept this – ‘Irish writers on their own history are naturally led to dwell on what in history is most honourable to Ireland…They are also led to dwell on what in history is most dishonourable to England…the most extensive…Irish woollen industry was frieze…this was never checked by English legislation…’.

Dr Cox, a university colleague of Fr Hopkins, was a distinguished Dublin physician, lecturer in the Medical School of the Catholic University Dublin and Examiner for the Royal University of Ireland.
S.A. was Sarah Atkinson, author of a Life of Mother Mary Aikenhead, Foundress of the Irish Sisters of Charity.

The letter along with another by Fr Hopkins (See J11/7) was presented to the then Editor of 'Studies' Fr Roland Burke Savage SJ by the late Fr Arthur Cox, son of the recipient. Both letters were published in 'Studies', Spring 1970 (Vol. LIX, No. 233) pp.19 - 25, with an explanatory introduction and notes by the then Editor, Fr Peter Troddyn SJ.

Typescript copy of original holograph letter of Fr Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ to Dr Michael F. Cox (31 March 1887) commenting on the thesis of the pamphlet on the Irish woollen industry by Sarah Atkinson. ‘I now return your pamphlet with thanks…I more than ever note the selfishness of the legislation of 1699 etc., but I also more clearly see that it goes but a very little way to explaining the poverty in Ireland…’ Comments on a paper by Rev. William Cunningham (a distinguished economic historian), from which he lists a number of ‘relevant facts’ and concludes ‘The above shews a picture of selfishness and shortsighted folly, but it also fails to shew the cause of Ireland’s want of commercial prosperity. So far as there is blame Irishmen must be in great part to blame for that.’

With note on top left corner by Fr Peter Troddyn SJ (Editor of 'Studies'), ‘Copy typed from original (which is mislaid at Feb 1970)’ i.e. this copy was made by Fr Roland Burke Savage SJ about 1965 when he received the two letters from Fr Arthur Cox, son of Dr. Michael F. Cox. The letter published in 'Studies' was taken from this typescript copy as the original holograph letter had, by that time, been lost. (See article in 'Studies', Spring 1970, pp.19-25 for explanatory notes and introduction to the letter.)

Letter to Fr Fergal McGrath SJ (Irish Province Archivist 1975 to 1986) from Fr Anthony Bischoff SJ (Jesuit Community, Georgetown University, Washington), concerning books used by or belonging to Fr Gerard Hopkins SJ, found in St Ignatius’ House of Writers, 35 Lower Leeson Street. ‘I confess I am appalled at the idea that these books have been carelessly assimilated into the house library. In 1947, I spent hours examining every book in the Leeson Street house Library. The result was that I segregated some fifteen or twenty books that had definitely belonged to or been used by Hopkins. All of these I turned over to Father Aubrey Gwynn, then librarian. I made clear to him what the books were, their value as having been associated with Hopkins, and suggested that they be kept as a separate collection. I do not have a detailed listing of the books…I have only two definite titles that I recall…There are also several books by Richard Watson Dixon that belonged to Hopkins…You ought to also have the autograph manuscript of Hopkins’s poem ‘St. Thecla’, as well as manuscripts of one or two of his letters.’

Books used by or belonging to Fr Gerard Hopkins SJ
Annotated books, 1876 - 1884
IE IJA J/11/18 - 'The History of Tacitus According to the Text of Drelli. Books III, IV, V.'
IE IJA J/11/19 - 'Corpus Poetarum Latinorum'
IE IJA J/11/20 - 'The Acharnians of Aristophanes'
IE IJA J/11/21 - 'Aeschylus – Choephoroi'

Non-annotated books, 1884 - 1918
IE IJA J/11/22 - ‘Poems’ by Richard Watson Dixon
IE IJA J/11/23 - 'Poems' by Henry Patmore
IE IJA J/11/24 - 'Prometheus. The Firegiver' by Robert Bridges
IE IJA J/11/25 - 'Eros and Psyche. A Poem in Twelve Measures' by Robert Bridges

Letter to Fr Gerald Manley Hopkins SJ from Cardinal John Henry Newman, following Fr Hopkins's letter for the Cardinal's birthday in which Fr Hopkins commented on the state of the country. The Cardinal replies, ‘Your letter is an appalling one, but not on that account untrustworthy. There is one consideration however, which you omit. The Irish Patriots hold that they never have yielded themselves to the sway of England and therefore never have been under her laws, and never have been rebels. This does not diminish the force of your picture, but it suggests that there is no help, or remedy. If I were an Irishman, I should be (in heart) a rebel. Moreover, to clinch the difficulty the Irish character and taste is very different from the English.’

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.

Letter to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Brown SJ from Laurence Gillooly, C.M., Bishop of Elphin (a member of the Senate of the Royal University), concerning Fr Brown’s support for the candidature of Fr Hopkins to the Fellowship of Classics. States ‘His Eminence, Card(inal) McCabe, informed me on Wednesday last of the selection of Fellows made on that day by the Senate of the R(oyal) University; and on Friday I learned from him that he had on the previous day resigned his place in the Senate in consequence of the rejection of his proposal relative to the Fellowships. I had hoped…that the communication made to you by Dr Woodlock of the resolution unanimously adopted…by the Episcopal University Committee in reference to the Fellowships would prevent the unfortunate conflict in the Senate; and it was with deep regret I learned that you had, in opposition to the Coetus Episcoporum, represented by the Episcopal Committee, kept on your two Candidate (sic); and thereby rendered the conflict inevitable –…I take the liberty of writing to you now, to tell you how much I deplore the step you have taken and the conflict in which it engages you and to express a hope that you will for the sake of your great undertaking in Stephen’s Green…remedy the mistake you have made by withdrawing the Revd. Fr Hopkins, as you are of course still perfectly free to do. For many years past I have publicly & privately used my best efforts to secure to your Society an eminent position in your University System. If the result is to be, from the very outset, a conflict…I must say I will heartily repent of what I have done and persuaded others to do in this matter.’ (For background to the appointment see T. J. Morrissey’s article ‘Hopkins’s Friends and Colleagues’, J11/46 and article by Norman White in 'The Hopkins Quarterly' entitled 'An Irish Row').

Letter to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Brown SJ from Laurence Gillooly, C.M., Bishop of Elphin (a member of the Senate of the Royal University) – ‘I write now to let you know, that at our Committee Meeting when the question of the Fellowships came to be considered, the opinion expressed by his Em(inence) was in perfect accord with the resolution of the Committee. That was on Tuesday at 2 o’c(lock). There was no intimation that he had previously entertained, not to say, communicated to you, a different opinion…Dr. Woodlock…was requested at the close of our Meeting, about 5 o’c(lock) to give you official information of our views respecting the Fellowships…and I had no doubt, neither had any other member of Committee, but he had done so…the selection of the Candidates for the two Fellowships in question was generally supposed to have been deferred by the Senate to his Eminence – and for that as well as other reasons he expected his choice would be approved and so did the other members of the Ep(iscopa)l Committee.’ Includes original envelope addressed to Fr Brown. (See J11/46; pp.197 – 199)

A file of letters from Mr Cyril Power SJ, Rathfarnham Castle, County Dublin concerning his studies and results of his exams.

Letters to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from John Eric Colledge of the English Language Department, University of Liverpool, on his academic publications and research, including his proposal to lecture in U.C.D. on St. Nicholas of Flüe, an ‘illiterate contemplative.’

Letters to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Fr Patrick J. Dunning, C.M. (President of St. Patrick’s College, Armagh). Includes:

• letter seeking information on St Malachy for an article Fr Dunning wishes to write in the school magazine and expressing surprise at the apparent lack of interest, on the part of the Irish, in St Malachy (18 January 1973, 2pp);
• letter seeking information for a lecture he is going to give to the London Medieval Society on ‘The attitude of the Irish Church to the Norman Invasion’ (13 November 1974, 3pp);
• letter on his brother Tom’s ‘valuable collection on Old and Middle English Literature’ which has been offered to U.C.D.. Includes a memorial card of Prof. Thomas P. Dunning, C.M. who died in 4 May 1973.

Also includes references to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ ‘presenting to U.C.D.’ his ‘most valuable card-index on Irish Medieval History, together with your most valuable correspondence with distinguished scholars. I am sure the History Department will be delighted with this generous presentation’ (23 July 1975, 2pp). (Inquiries to the Archives Department, U.C.D. in February 1998 revealed that no such presentation was made, either to the Library, History or Archive Departments in U.C.D.)

Letters to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from John Byrne (Professor of Early and Medieval Irish History, UCD) on St. Lawrence O'Toole and the Drummond Missal.

Letters to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Prof F.X. Martin, O.S.A. (Department of Medieval History, U.C.D.) introducing Dr Michael Richter, (Department of Welsh History, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth) and letter from Dr Richter to Fr Gwynn concerning his edition of the ‘Canterbury Professions.’ Includes:
– reprint from 'The Downside Review' of Richter’s article 'Archbishop Lanfranc and the Canterbury Primacy' – Some Suggestions (Vol. 90, No. 299, April 1972, p.110 – 118);
– photocopies of ‘the relevant pages’ of 'Canterbury Professions', (1973);
– partial draft of Dr Richter’s manuscript on Church Reform in Britain and Ireland after the Conquest ([1969], p.29 – 78 and appendices and footnotes).

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

A file of letters to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Brown SJ (term 7 May 1883 - 2 February 1888). Includes an index/précis to the letters by Fr James Rabbitte SJ.

Material relating to the Jesuit presence in Galway in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Includes:

• letter from Fr James Rabbitte SJ to Fr John MacErlean SJ, concerning Galway records and Jesuit chalices (1 December 1935, 2pp);
• notes by Fr John MacErlean SJ on the chalice of the Galway Jesuits (n.d., 1p.) and drafts of a typescript article by [Fr Francis Finegan SJ] on the Centenary of St Ignatius’ Galway, recalling the history of the Jesuits in the city in the seventeenth century (1963, 8pp and 9pp);
• copybook by Fr John MacErlean SJ on the Jesuits in Galway using James Hardiman's version of 1651 map, and his history of Galway [1905], (71pp). Includes letter from Fr John MacErlean SJ, University College, St Stephen's Green, Dublin to Fr William Byrne SJ, St Ignatius, Galway on townlands (19 September 1905).

Copy of published letter written by Fr William Delany SJ, President, University College, Dublin concerning the Jesuit Fathers continuing the management of University College. Fr Delany remarks that St Stephen’s Green would not be suitable as a University building ‘There is no room for the necessary buildings and grounds.’. Also states ‘...that it should be national in its constitution and should be governed from within, not by any mere section of the Catholic community...’. Includes handwritten notations. Appears in publication, p.15.

A file relating to 'St Stephen's', the magazine of the University College, Dublin and the Catholic University School of Medicine, Cecilia Street, Dublin and the removal of the medallion from the cover of the magazine, and insertion of the Catholic University of Ireland. Includes a letter from Joseph Brennan, Honorary Secretary to the Representative Council, Catholic University School of Medicine to Fr William Delany SJ referring to the medallion. Remarks, ‘..it was not their (the Representative Council) intention to substitute a medallion of the Catholic University for the existing medallion. Their object simply was to remove the false impression conveyed by the wording of the medallion, that the magazine belonged exclusively or mainly to the students of University College, and was not the joint organ of the students of University College and of the Catholic University School of Medicine.’ (22 March 1906, 2pp). Fr William Delany SJ established St Stephen's, as a magazine for University College, Dublin, and not for the Catholic University of Ireland. Includes list of subscribers to 'St. Stephen's' (March 1906) and accounts (1905-06).

This disagreement seems to precipitate the end of 'St. Stephen's : a record of University life', Vol. II No. 12 (May, 1906).

M.A. thesis by James J Corboy SJ, entitled 'The Jesuit Mission to Ireland 1596-1626' at the faculty of Modern History, UCD (2 copies, 248pp each) (1941) with separate bibliography and index (34pp). Also includes letter from Dr R Dudley Edwards, UCD and Fr Jerome Mahony SJ concerning ‘Lord Justice Loftus’ and ‘Carew’ (5pp) (21 June 1954), and letter from Fr Jerome Mahony SJ to Fr Roland Burke Savage SJ that he has completed Menelogy up to 1800 (13 February 1956).

File containing extensive documentation concerning the will of Charles Kennedy and his bequest to the Society of Jesus. The Society used the proceeds from this bequest to construct University Hall, Hatch Street. The extent of the file can be explained by the numerous properties owned by Charles Kennedy and the necessary documentation that inevitably accompanies ownership of property, receipts and vouchers from professional companies involved in the construction of University Hall and the fact that the will of Charles Kennedy was contested by his brother Frank Kennedy. His legal action was unsuccessful (29 January 1909 & 30 January 1909 & 30 May 1912, 3 items).