Archival list The New Collection Catalogue Irish College Rome PART TWO Kirby Series (1840‐1871) ARCHIVES PONTIFICAL IRISH COLLEGE, ROME Code / Level Title / Date / Description Lang. / Extent KIR/NC Kirby New Collection Series 1840-1895 2834 items Eng. Ital. Fr. Lat. This series includes the following: Kirby correspondence dated and in chronological order. 1840- 1895. Mainly letters received by Kirby but also letters to students and staff of the College and letters to third parties forwarded to Kirby. Drafts of outgoing letters by Kirby 1841-1894. The following are part of this series but have not been included in this catalogue: Kirby Correspondence- undated or undated and unidentified Kirby’s lecture and academic notes, spiritual and devotional material and pastoral letters and encyclicals. Prose from Fanny Kirby. KIR/NC/1 Kirby correspondence dated and in chronological order. Sub-Series c.1840 - 1895 2310 items Eng. Ital. Fr. Lat. Mirrors material contained in the ‘core’ Kirby Collection. As Kirby acted as Roman agent for many members of the Irish or Irish-born hierarchy he was the recipient of candid correspondence from bishops in Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, England, the USA and Canada. Therefore letters from members of the hierarchy dealing with political and ecclesiastical issues make up the bulk of his correspondence. Kirby’s role as intermediary with Propaganda or the Pope remained relatively consistent despite the changes of personnel, personality and policies that took place over his lifetime. Kirby’s other correspondents included former students, priests in conflict with their bishops, ex-Zouaves, politicians and visitors to Rome, regular and secular clergy, authors of books, individuals or priests seeking marriage dispensations and lobbyists seeking favour from the Papacy. He was also keen to assist nuns in their dealings with the Vatican and/or their bishops. His links to Pope Pius IX, the Cardinals Prefect of Propaganda, Italian prelates, Vatican officials and Pope Leo XIII are reflected in his correspondence. He was frequently called upon to present Peter’s Pence collections, addresses and petitions to the Pope from bishops and likewise he was often instructed by the Vatican 215 Code / Level Title / Date / Description Lang. / Extent to transmit Papal Blessings, dispensations, faculties and gifts to ecclesiastics and laypersons. Kirby was considered to be a very pious man and acted as spiritual confessor to many Italian and Irish nuns and English-speaking laypersons in Rome. He frequently sourced and sent objects of piety such as Agnus Deis, copies of paintings and relics to individuals and communities in Ireland and Italy. He also received frequent requests for charity from individuals, convents and fraternities in Rome and Ireland and acted as a persuasive guide for persons considering conversion to Catholicism. He maintained contact with his immediate family and friends in Ireland and also received regular letters from his nieces and their children who emigrated to the USA. Cullen to Kirby letters. Includes over 800 letters from Archbishop Cullen to Kirby and there are also earlier letters from Rector Cullen to Vice-rector Kirby. Cullen typically wrote about issues in candid detail and in conclusion often requested Kirby to personally liaise with Cardinal Fransoni or Monsignor Barnabo on his behalf. He also confided in Kirby revealing his opinions, worries and fears. Issues that proccupied him include his opposition to the Queen’s Colleges and the Commissioners on National Education; his promotion of nuns like Sister Margaret Aylward and the Christian Brother to run schools, hospitals, orphanages; his lobbying for the Catholic University, the appointment of Dr Newman and his eventual disapproval of Dr Newman’s plans for the University; his criticism of the standard of ceremonies and churches in Ireland upon his return to Ireland and his attempts to phase out Station Masses; his promotion of the 40 hour devotion, styles of singing, church building and decoration in the Roman style; his enthusiastic support of missions to counteract proselytism and unorthodoxy in Ireland; his daily reports from the Synod of Thurles; his active lobbying of Propaganda for his preferred candidates to the hierarchy in Ireland; his lifelong battle with Dr MacHale including his final battle with MacHale over the appointment of McHale’s coadjutor; his suspicion of ‘Gallicanism’ at Maynooth College and likewise his support for Rector Miley of the Irish College Paris against his professors; his unsuccessful attempts to defend coadjutor bishop John Lynch against attacks from the Scottish hierarchy in 1867; his project to establish and erect Holy Cross Seminary; his difficult and protracted dispute with Fr O’Keeffe; his opposition to Gavin Duffy, the Young Irelanders and his clashes with the Fenians; his attempts to influence Irish politicians and Gladstone; his attempts to control newspapers such as ‘The Tablet’ and Lucas; his opposition to clerical involvement in politics including his opposition to Fr Lavelle and the Brotherhood of St Patrick; his 216 Code / Level Title / Date / Description Lang. / Extent criticism of the poor Law System etc including his appearance before a Committee of the House of Commons in and his attack on Sir Robert Peel for not contributing to relief following the failed harvest of 1862; his concern for the spiritual wellbeing of Irish Catholic soldiers and sailors and their families; his satisfaction with the disestablishment of the Established Church in 1869; his fundraising for the Pope and his efforts to counter anti-Papal propaganda; his initial concerns and reluctance for a Papal Brigade which is followed by a efforts to minimise any negative fallout and maximise the benefits of the Brigade; following the collapse of the Papal States efforts to safeguard the property of the Irish College; his attendance at the Vatican Council which issued the Dogma of Papal Infallibility; his very delicate physical and mental state caused by illness, stress, overwork and insomnia leading to a collapse in 1858; his reports of epidemics such as scarlet fever, cholera, small pox and typhoid fever. Other correspondents. There are also c.70 letters from Archbishop Cullen to Kirby dated between 1885 and 1893. Croke confided in Kirby describing him as ‘his oldest and best friend’. Croke letters frequently deal with major political matters. He and his compatriot, Archbishop Walsh, came into conflict with Rome concerning Irish politics and did not enjoy the same reputation there as did Cullen. There are also c.90 letters from Archbishop Moran to Kirby. The Moran letters begin with his appointment to Sydney in 1884. He corresponds frequently with Kirby during this period and during his first years in Australia. By the 1890’s he writes less frequently and more in the style of a progress report. KIR/NC/1/1831/1 Printed pamphlet giving advice for the treatment of cholera Item morbus signed by Henry Halford, President of the Board. 20 October 1831 Eng. 2pp Pamphlet recommends that those affected by cholera be kept as warm as possible and to be given warm drinks containing wine and spices and essential oils. Extracted from the London Gazette. Mentions Savory, Moore & Co, New Bond Street as being a shop where ingredients can be purchased. 217 Code / Level Title / Date / Description Lang. / Extent KIR/NC/1/1836/1 List of students who qualified for the 'University of Louvain' Item burses. c1836 Ital. 1p These burses relate to students of the Irish College Rome who are named as Michael MacLaughlin, Philip Conlon, Peter Murphy, Patrick Caroll, Hugh O'Brien, John Gordon, James Callan, Arthur MacCann and Purcell. Also notes their diocese. KIR/NC/1/1840/1 Holograph letter from Dr. Cullen, Civiltà to Dr. Kirby, Irish Item College Rome. 30 May 1840 Eng. 4pp Cullen, who is travelling back to Ireland, describes the journey to Kirby. He leaves instructions for Kirby regarding the finances of the college which appear to be in difficulty. He authorises Kirby to sell items belonging to the college to pay bills and if a cheque arrives from McCann to endorse it with Cullen's signature and present it to a banker who is unfamiliar with his handwriting. He is also concerned that he may be partly liable for Mr Gilligan's debt to Forlonia, a banker. He mentions books belonging to the Stamperia of Propaganda Fide, to Dr. Fay of Galway and others which are currently in the college and old papers that are cluttering the garret. If anything should happen Cullen on his journey he requests that books should be sold to pay off his bills and those of the college and that the remainder should become the property of the college. He finally instructs Kirby to send the box to Liverpool and to write to him in Munich. KIR/NC/1/1840/2 Holograph letter from Dr. Paul Cullen and Francis Joseph Item Nicholson, Bagni di Lucca, Casa Rustica and Parma to Dr. Kirby, Irish College Rome. 4 and 8 June 1840 Eng. 4pp Cullen is travelling back to Ireland and has met with Nicholson and O'Ferrall. Nicholson is concerned about the state of Kirby's health. He asks Kirby to make enquiries about the feast of St. Ligori. Cullen is weary of the journey and of being alone and is concerned that he might not have enough money for the trip. He describes Lucca as being beautiful but poor. 218 Code / Level Title / Date / Description Lang. / Extent KIR/NC/1/1840/3 Holograph letter from Dr. Cullen, Munich to Dr. Kirby, Irish Item College Rome. 13 June 1840 Eng. 4pp Cullen describes the towns that he has passed through on his way to Munich including the fine cities of Verona and Tyrol. He is impressed with the buildings of Munich, especially the King's chapel. He dined with Mon. Viale, the Pope's internunzio and took a tour of the city with students from the German College.