Correspondence concerning Madame Regina Łukasiewicz’s accusations of the theft of her late husband’s papers by Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ and Prof. E. O'Doherty of U.C.D. (her late husband was Jan Łukasiewicz, Professor of Mathematical Logic at the Royal Irish Academy (a special professorship) ). Madame Łukasiewicz was suffering from ‘paranoid psychosis with delusions of persecution’ and was admitted to St Vincent’s Private Mental Home for a number of weeks until Fr Gwynn helped to arrange her removal to the house of her nephew in England. The papers had in actual fact, been deposited by herself in the R.I.A. Library in 1956. Documents include:

• copies of letters sent by Madame Łukasiewicz to the Taoiseach and the Commissioner of the Gardai stating her case and seeking help with living expenses and the return of her husband’s manuscripts (15 and 18 July 1957, 2 items, 2pp each);
• letter from the Slavic Assistant in Rome to Irish Fr Provincial Michael O'Grady SJ (8 December 1957, 2pp);
• statement of Fr Gwynn made for the Provincial explaining his ‘connection with the sad history of Madame Regina Łukasiewicz’ (11 December 1957, 4pp);
• statements of Dr Mary Sullivan and Dr John Malone on the mental health Madame Lukasiewicza (13, 16 December 1957, 4pp);
• statement by Dr Farrington, Librarian and Assistant Secretary, R.I.A. (13 December 1957, 1p.);
• copy of statement made by solicitor Arthur Cox ‘acting as Madame Lukasiewicza’s legal advisor’ for the Provincial (16 December 1957, 1p.);
• letter to Fr Gwynn from Fr Stanislaus Wawryn SJ (Polish Provincial) (23 December 1957, 1p.);
• letter to the Provincial from the Society’s Curia in Rome (26 December 1957, 1p.);
• copy of letter of Taoiseach Éamon de Valera to Fr Gwynn on the matter, in which he states ‘I know that since Prof. and Madame Lukasiewicz came here you have been one of their kindest friends…I regret very much that you should be subject to the annoyance which these charges cause you; and I would be glad to assist in any way in making it known, to any one who may be concerned, that I regard these charges as altogether without foundation and, indeed, in the circumstances, as outrageous’ (30 December 1957, 1p.).

Correspondence between Irish Vice-Provincial Fr John Keane SJ (Fr Provincial is in Rome for six months), J.W. Bacon (Secretary and Bursar of University College, Dublin) and Fr Michael Egan SJ in connection with the administration of the ‘Father Delany Exhibition’ Trust.

File relating to Fr Thomas J O'Donnell SJ including memorial card, photographs, catalogue entries, application to join the Society and correspondence relating to his time spent in India and at Vatican Radio.

Handwritten notes by Fr John O'Brien SJ on subjects such as:

• Illuminated Manuscripts, including letters from Edward Sullivan (23 January 1917), Thomas William Lyster, Librarian, the National Library of Ireland (19 June 1917) and William Alexander Henderson, National Literary Society, 6 St Stephen's Green, Dublin (nd.).

• notes on notable individuals born in Galway, statements on imports and exports and net tonnage of sailing and steam vessels to/from the Port of Galway (1906-10, with letter from the Superintendent of Statistics and Intelligence Branch, Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, Dublin (1 March 1912) to Fr John O'Brien SJ and pamphlet with the title ‘Good facts about Galway’ with information on ‘The Honourable Past; The Present: Achievements and resources; Some distinguished Galway men’ produced by St Ignatius College, Galway. Written by Fr James Rabbitte SJ. See SC/GALW/3

• Supplement entitled Galway as a Transatlantic Port’ reprinted from The Financial Times (16 February 1912).

Letter from Dr Bartholomew Woodlock, Catholic University of Ireland, 86 St Stephen's Green, Dublin to Dr Charles Russell asking Dr. Russell to recommend a friend (Alfred Barrett) to Lord O'Hagan in connection with the new legislation regarding the Court of Chancery. Remarks 'I shall take it as a special favour done to myself personally if you will kindly render my friend any service in your power...'

Letter from Fr Alfred Weld SJ, writing from the Gesù in Rome, to Irish Fr Provincial Nicholas Walsh SJ. Reports on the takeover of the Gesù by the Giunta, and states that the house is to be used as offices for the Artillery, Infantry and Cavalry. Refers to effect these events are having on the Fr General, and reports on the exodus of the residents from the house. Announces that he and Fr. Lambert are going to the English College. Refers also to the Roman College and the South American College. Refers to confusion in relation to the Pope’s rights over the Observatory. Reports that the Fr General gave him a letter from Fr Walsh, in which he refers to ‘the house in Stephen's Green’, and declares himself to be glad that Fr Walsh has accepted it, and hopes that ‘an energetic man devoted to study’ will be appointed as head.

Letter from Fr Matthew Russell SJ, 87 St Stephen's Green, Dublin to his sister concerning the death of their uncle Rev. Charles Russell. Describes his final hours and the funeral at Maynooth.

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 the Honorary Secretaries, Catholic University Committee, 86, Stephen's Green, regarding an assembly to discuss the Catholic University Question .

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 (Province Archivist, 1975 to 1986) from Fr Roland Burke Savage SJ (Clongowes Wood College), concerning the holograph manuscript of Hopkins’s 'St. Thecla' which Fr Burke-Savage discovered ‘while cleaning out Fr [Patrick] Connolly’s room (in St Ignatius, House of Writers, 35 Lower Leeson Street) when he was in (St.) Vincent’s having his leg set about 1948…I got leave from Engl(ish) Provincial to keep it on permanent loan.’

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.

File of handwritten and typescript letters addressed to Michael F. Cox (father of Arthur Cox) from the following individuals:

• Dr Thomas Hayden, 30, Harcourt Street, and 18, Merrion Square North, Dublin (6 items, 1873-1877);
• D Robert Cryan, 54, Rutland Square, West, Dublin (8 September 1876);
• Sr Ignatius Keenan, Convent of Our Lady, St Catherine’s, Baggot Street, Dublin (1 September 1876);
• Dr Bartholomew Woodlock, Catholic University of Ireland, 86, St. Stephens Green, Dublin (22 September 1876);;
• Bishop Laurence Gillooly, Diocese of Elphin, Sligo (6 July 1877);

Letters of thanks, ‘I beg to acknowledge, with thanks, receipt of copy of your inaugural address to the Literary and Historical Society…’ (11 January 1873), of application, ‘In reference to your letter of application for a Demonstratorship in the School of Medicine…’ (16 September 1875) and of impending vacancies to which Michael Cox is deemed suitable ‘Would you think of going in for a provincial appointment? The Workhouse Dispensary in Longford is vacant… (22 September 1876) make up the bulk of the correspondence.

A file of letters from John Edward Pigot to Dr Charles Russell. Includes letters concerning the establishment of a club '...to serve (as) a social centre to the Catholic body (4 November 1858, 4pp and 10 November 1858, 8pp).

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial and printed pamphlets relating to the War. Includes: circular sent to the Irish Fr Provincial from the Irish Volunteers protesting against the proposal to introduce conscription in Ireland;
– letter from the Irish National Aid and Volunteer Dependants’ Fund seeking contributions towards their ‘Gift Sale’ in order to raise funds [for the administration of the campaign against the introduction of conscription];
– circular and printed matter from the Irish War Savings Committee seeking support for their ‘Thrift campaign’;
– letter from the Lord Lieutenant’s Private Secretary regarding a proposal to establish a fund ‘to be devoted to the purchase of literature suited to be despatched to Irish Regiments at the front’, also includes copy of Irish Fr Provincial’s reply;
– copy letter from Andrew Bonar Law (Treasury Chambers, Whitehall) to the Irish Fr Provincial seeking a subscription to ‘the new War Loan’.
Also includes printed matter on ‘Catholicism and War’; ‘Voluntary Women Patrols’ and an ‘Address From the French Catholic Association for Young People. To the young Catholics – Allies and Neutrals’.

File of material relating to Fr John Mallin SJ including short CVs (1942; 1965; 1974), documents regarding entry to the Society (details of baptism and medical reports), medical reports, small number of letters written from Germany by Fr Mallin (1963-66) and Spain (1973-74) and obituary from the 'Irish Province News' (April 1977).