Documents concerning:

• Catalogue of those apt for governing (Catalogus Aptorum ad Gubernandum);
• Lists of admissions to the Novitiate, First and Final Vows, etc. (Elenchi Triennales Admissorum in noviciatum, Admissorum ad Vota Prima et Ultima).

Photocopy of pages from the Novice Journal (Beadle) at Tullabeg (IE IJA FM/TULL/55, early part of journal; deals with Loyola House, Dromore, County Down), which references the arrival at Dromore of Fr Hopkins ‘from Dublin to make his Retreat’ (15 September) and ‘Rev[eren]d Fr Rector came to evening recreation accompanied by Fr Hopkins whom he introduced to the Novices (26 September).

Note detailing novice's pensions at Loyola House, Dromore, County Down.

In 1883, the Jesuits (Society of Jesus) purchased from Edward and James Quinn, Dromore house and estate in County Down. It had been the former palace of the Church of Ireland bishop of Dromore. The Jesuits renamed it Loyola House, and ran it as a novitiate house (house of first formation for Jesuits). The decision to move to Dromore from Milltown Park, Dublin was twofold. Firstly, Jesuits from University College at Temple Street had moved to Milltown Park, meaning that the building occupied by the novices was required. As a result, Milltown Park was overcrowded and deemed unsuitable as a novitiate. Secondly, Monsignor William McCartan, parish priest of Dromore made an offer of Dromore house and estate to the Jesuits. McCartan had been entrusted in the will of the late Miss Anna Magennis to oversee the establishment of a religious order in Dromore and he encouraged the Jesuits to establish a house in Dromore. In 1887, Fr Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ (1844-1889) wrote two sonnets while staying there. The novitiate house operated for four years and closed in 1888 when the Jesuits novices moved to St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, King’s County. The Jesuits retained possession of the property until January 1918, when it was sold.

The papers of Loyola House, Dromore, Down concern its purchase (1883-1889), legal and rental matters (1883 -1917), finances (1885-1917) and accounts (1883-1887), maintenance (1890-1918) and sale (1896-1918). Includes some historical notes on Dromore. Material is in the form of letters, deeds, plans and maps.

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.

A file of letters concerning the Dromore property (Loyola House) belonging to the Society of Jesus. At the time the Jesuits were not occupying Dromore, but leasing the land for grazing. The estate was eventually sold in 1918. Includes a note, written on the back of an Income Tax Assessment form, concerning the names vested in the Dromore estate.

Letters addressed to Fr Eugene Browne SJ, Milltown Park, Dublin in his capacity as Procurator of the Province. Includes summary of
accounts from Fr Maher SJ, Crescent College, Limerick (3 March 1903 - 12 January 1904); letter and receipts for rates from J. Baird, Rate Collector, Dromore, Down ‘on your property in Urban District of Dromore, Co. Down’ (6 January 1906); letter from Maxwell Weldon & Co., Solicitors requesting signatures for a new lease to Andrew Brennan of the premises in Commons Street (27 July 1908).

Letter from George McCorry [C.C.] of Ballela, Banbridge, to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Brown SJ, in Gardiner Street. Appeals to the latter ‘not to put further costs on John Magee’, who is a tenant on the Jesuits’ land.

Letter from Fr William McCartan, writing from the Parochial House, Dromore, County Down, to Fr Patrick Hughes SJ. Objects to the latter having found fault with his purchase of cattle for Fr Hughes’ community, and claims that he would profit by the purchase.

Letter from Fr William McCartan to Fr Patrick Hughes SJ. States that he is not satisfied with the latter's letter, and claims that he had told Fr Brown that he intended to purchase five heifers. Complains that he was never treated in such a manner before.

Copy of letter from Fr Patrick Hughes SJ, writing from St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin to Fr William McCartan. Thanks the latter for purchasing the two milch cows, but explains that his (Hughes’) superior, the Provincial Fr Brown, did not want the two store heifers that were purchased at the same time, and that he had already made this fact clear to Fr McCartan. Sends the latter a cheque for the cows.