‘Memoire Contenant un abregé de la vie de Monseigneur Olivier Plunkett, Archevêque D’Armagh, et Primat D’Irlande, tiré des historiens de ton tenis, de son procés ou la sentence, de mort, et des lettres du R. Pere Corker Benedictin son ami intime.’

Letters, telegrams, memoranda and notes relating to Belgian refugees in Ireland. Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ was a member of the Distribution Committee ‘appointed by the Local Government Board to look after the welfare and distribution of the Belgian Refugees arriving in Dublin’. Most of the letters comprise offers to house refugees or concern schemes to aid them, both physically and spiritually. Includes:
– letter from Dr Bernard Coyne, Bishop of Elphin (1913-1926) to Lady Moloney seeking her assistance in the securement of a disused barracks in order to provide shelter for Belgian refugee families (21 Oct. 1914, 1p.);
– bills from drapers and household stores for items purchased for the refugees;
– letters relating to troubles between Protestants and the Catholic refugees in Portadown;
– letters to Fr Nolan from refugees and members of the Belgian Refugees Committee;
– lists of names and locations of refugees in Ireland and names and addresses of people who housed refugees.

On 17 October 1914, the Father Provincial of the Irish Province of the Society of Jesus, Thomas V. Nolan, received a letter from the Local Government Board to go down to the North Wall at 7.30am on the 18th and meet the 100 Belgian refugees ‘and one hundred each of the following days’. This was due to ‘a few of your Order, who speak Flemish’. Subsequently, the Irish Provincial became a member of the Distribution Committee which looked after the welfare and distribution of refugees arriving in Ireland. The Irish Jesuits received offers to house the refugees and organised schemes to aid them, both physically and spiritually.

English translation of a letter written on 30 January 1673 by Archbishop Oliver Plunkett to Fr Giovanni Oliva SJ, General of the Society of Jesus, informing him of his appointment of Father Stephen Rice (1625-1699), a Jesuit, ‘a person of profound religion…(and)…great prudence – unwearied in suffering, most assiduous in working in the vineyard of the Lord’ to work in ‘the pulpit & Schools of Armagh.’ (Fr Rice was made Superior of the Mission in 1672). Also discusses the state of the Society in Ireland, ‘I see that it is in a most desperate condition here, I see to my great sorrow that it will not last long in Ireland if there is not a better way to train and receive novices and to punish the wild & disobedient…If you, Rev. Father, who are so full of zeal to preserve & propagate the Faith in heretic countries & for the great love you always had for this unfortunate nation, will not lend a hand to Save the S.J. in Ireland I fear it will not have the Success that I wish it.’ (The original version forms part of MSS B 33)

A file relating to Fr William R Prendergast SJ, including application to join the Society, correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials, catalogue entries, memorial card and an album of black and white photographs (Jesuit life, villa, school and family photographs (1916-1950).

Letters concerning the relationship between the Society of Jesus and the Legion of Mary and the Legion’s 1943 Dundalk Missionary Display. Includes letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Archbishop McQuaid.

Letters from Fr Joseph Flinn SJ to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ concerning boys who wish to join the Society of Jesus and money from his father to erect a memorial in Clongowes boys chapel in honour of Fr Flinn's mother.

Letters from Fr Leonard Sheil SJ to the Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ and his Socius, Fr John Coyne SJ seeking permission to visit his brother’s widow and children. His brother was killed in the war, 1945.

Letters from Mercy Simms (nee Gwynn, Fr Gwynn’s first cousin) wife of Archbishop George Otto Simms, to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ, concerning domestic and social affairs. Includes references to the Gwynn genealogy/pedigree and Fr Gwynn’s research on the subject.

Holograph letters of reference for Mr George A Mulholland, organist, for St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

Letters to the Irish Provincial on various matters. Includes letters concerning:

• Polish scholastics coming to Ireland to study;
• the censuring individual scholastics;
• financial matters of the late Fr Henry Browne SJ;
• the taking of villas during wartime;
• a report on Irish theologians in Hong Kong;
• the question of censorship of various publications (See also ADMN/3/1 and 23);
• the question of Jesuit support for the Catholic Association for International Relations;
• a proposal by Fr Patrick J Connolly SJ to open a Jesuit school in Dartry;
• the Secret Instruction of the Holy See: Normae Quaedam De Agendi Ratione Confessariorum Circa VI Decalogi Praeceptum;
• the prohibition of female characters in plays produced by scholastics;
• comments on Director’s Service from Sodality reports of summer 1944 (See also ADMN/3/65 and 74);
• the publication of a book entitled Selected Writings of Father Ledochowski (See also ADMN/3/44);
• an invitation to the Irish Fr Provincial to the inauguration of President Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh (see also ADMN/3/43 and 76) in June 1945, signed by Taoiseach Éamon de Valera;
• relations with the Confederación Nacional de Congregaciones Marians;
• the proposal to purchase Crawfordsburn Estate, County Down (see also ADMN/3/6);
• the Chair of Education in University College, Dublin and
• some suggestions about choirs in the Province.

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.

Photographic album belonging to Fr John A McAvoy SJ, with captions in English and Irish. Includes photographs of

• Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin 1929;
• Irish Jesuits on villa (holiday);
• area around Wicklow;
• Irish Jesuits contemporary to John A McAvoy;
• Michael Collins' grave 1922;
• Clongowes Wood College, 1921;
• Orangemen in Rathfriland, County Down, 12 July 1920;
• B Special 'Black and Tans' of Ulster, Rathfriland, 1923;

Statement concerning a sum of money bequeathed by Mr. Marley to Dr Joseph Dixon, Roman Catholic Primate of Ireland for daily mass.