Eire Society of Boston Records 1817-1997 (Bulk 1937-1990) MS.2010.012
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Eire Society of Boston Records 1817-1997 (bulk 1937-1990) MS.2010.012 https://hdl.handle.net/2345.2/MS2010-012 Archives and Manuscripts Department John J. Burns Library Boston College 140 Commonwealth Avenue Chestnut Hill 02467 library.bc.edu/burns/contact URL: http://www.bc.edu/burns Table of Contents Summary Information .................................................................................................................................... 3 Administrative Information ............................................................................................................................ 4 Historical Note ............................................................................................................................................... 5 Scope and Contents ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Arrangement ................................................................................................................................................... 6 Collection Inventory ....................................................................................................................................... 7 I: Administrative files ................................................................................................................................. 7 II: Eire Society publications ..................................................................................................................... 16 III: Meeting minutes .................................................................................................................................. 29 IV: Financial records ................................................................................................................................. 29 V: Photographs .......................................................................................................................................... 30 VI: Scrapbooks .......................................................................................................................................... 30 VII: Artifacts ............................................................................................................................................. 31 VIII: Collected materials ........................................................................................................................... 31 Eire Society of Boston Records MS.2010.012 - Page 2 - Summary Information Creator: Eire Society of Boston Title: Eire Society of Boston records Collection Identifier: MS.2010.012 Date [inclusive]: 1817-1997 Date [bulk]: 1937-1990 Physical Description 25.75 Linear Feet (49 containers) Language of the In English. Material: Abstract: Composed of official records of the Eire Society of Boston, including meeting minutes, correspondence, programs, publications, and financial records. In addition there are clippings, scrapbooks, and some photographs which relate to the society and its activities. While most of the material dates from the period after 1937, there are some collected artifacts and ephemera from the nineteenth century pertaining to Irish and Irish-American political figures. Preferred Citation Identification of item, Box number, Folder number, Eire Society of Boston records, MS.2010.012, John J. Burns Library, Boston College. Eire Society of Boston Records MS.2010.012 - Page 3 - Administrative Information Publication Information Processed by Andrea Goldstein in 1995; updated by Lynn Moulton in 2015. This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace. Restrictions on access Collection is open for research. Provenance Because the current accessioning system was not used until January 1986, it is not possible to know exactly the dates of acquisition of materials received before that time. The initial gift of materials seems to have been in 1981, with subsequent donations from the Eire Society of Boston (1990-2014). Restrictions on use These materials are made available for use in research, teaching and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The original authors may retain copyright to the materials. Eire Society of Boston Records MS.2010.012 - Page 4 - Historical Note The Eire Society of Boston was founded in 1937 by a group of over eighty people that had attended a sixteen-lecture Irish history course organized by the Massachusetts Department of Education. The Society's stated goals were to "promote the knowledge of Irish culture through the encouragement of study in the arts, sciences, literautre, language, and history of Irleand" as well as highlighting Irish contributions to civilization via Society lectures, theatrical and musical productions, and publications. The Society sought to distinguish itself from existing Boston-area Irish cultural organizations such as the Charitable Irish Society by making its focus scholarly rather than charitable and social. The Society was open to both men and women, had no religiouos affiliation, and barred participation by anyone "holding or seeking" public office. Long-running Eire Society programs and publications included a four-page newsletter, the Bulletin; a monthly winter lecture series from October-April; and an annual dinner, Gold Medal award for exemplification of Society ideals, and night at the Boston Pops. In addition to annual programming, the Society organized participation in local Irish cultural events and trips to Ireland; used Society funds to support Boston-area museum and library acquisitions of significant Irish artworks and special collections; and invited Irish artists to perform in the United States. Despite its early distinction as a cultural rather than charitable organization, the Society has also supported initiatives in Ireland including the arts, ecumenical groups, education, hospitals, and peace-seeking. Sources: "About Us." Eire Society of Boston Website, accessed 12/7/2020: https://www.eiresociety.org/about-us/ Ryan, George E. "Looking Inward: The Eire Society of Boston." Bulletin 18, No. 4 (January 1980):1-3. Scope and Contents These records document the activities of the Eire Society of Boston through their correspondence, event ephemera, financial records, minutes, and publications. Events are further illustrated by photographs and scrapbooks. The core of the Society's functions is captured through its administrative files, which include personal and official correspondence of members, communications to members, constitutions, officer and member lists, biographical sketches of Gold Medal winners, arrangements for Annual Dinners, Night at "Pops" programs, Irish travel and tourism brochures, publicity for Society events, and news clippings on Ireland, Irish politicians, and the Eire Society. Eire Society of Boston Records MS.2010.012 - Page 5 - Arrangement Organized in eight series: I. Administrative files, II. Eire Society publications, III. Meeting minutes, IV. Financial records, V. Photographs, VI. Scrapbooks, VII. Artifacts, and VIII. Collected materials. Eire Society of Boston Records MS.2010.012 - Page 6 - Collection Inventory Series I: Administrative files, 1930-1990 Arrangement Arranged by decade and alphabetical thereunder. 1930-1940 Collins, Patrick: News clippings, 1937 box 1 folder 10 Eire Historical Society: re. Joe Gannon, 1939 box 1 folder 11 Irish History class, 1937-1938 box 1 folder 13 Officer Selection Committee: correspondence with Joe Gannon, box 1 folder 14 1938 Officers, 1937-1940 box 1 folder 15 Pewter Measure for Measure; by W. Gill Wylie, Jr., 1930 box 1 folder 16 1940-1950 Anniversary Play and Dinner, 1942 box 1 folder 17 Annual Dinner, 1946 box 1 folder 18 Application and membership fees, 1944-1946 box 1 folder 19 Book Club, 1949-1950 box 1 folder 21 Booklets and publicity for an undivided Ireland, 1945-1948 box 1 folder 22 Brennan, Joseph: Farewell Luncheon, 1947 box 1 folder 23 Brennan, Robert: dinner, 1943 box 45 folder 1 Building fund, 1946 box 1 folder 24 Centennial Celebrations of John Boyle O'Reilly and Patrick box 1 folder 25 Collins, 1944 Committee appointments, 1948 box 1 folder 26 Committee correspondence, 1949 box 2 folder 1 Communications to members, 1943-1950 box 2 folder 2-6 Collins, Patrick: News clippings, 1940-1947 box 2 folder 7 Colum, Padraic: Dinner, 1942 box 2 folder 8 Confession of St. Patrick, 1947 box 2 folder 9 Eire Society of Boston Records MS.2010.012 - Page 7 - Constitution, 28 April 1944 box 2 folder 10 Correspondence about Night at "Pops", 1943 box 3 folder 2 Correspondence and activities, 1949-1950 box 2 folder 11 Correspondence and invitations regarding events, 1943-1946 box 3 folder 3 Correspondence and news clippings: Joe Gannon, 1944 box 3 folder 4 Correspondence between and from officers, 1949 box 3 folder 5 Correspondence by officers, 1949 box 3 folder 6 Correspondence: Joe Gannon, 1941-1948 box 2 folder 12-14 Correspondence, photos, 1949 box 3 folder 7 Correspondence regarding activities, 1949-1950 Correspondence: Regina Madden, 1942-1949 box 3 folder 1 Costello, John, P.M.: reception and dinner, 1948 box 3 folder 8-10 de Valera, Eamon: reception, March 1948 box 3 folder 11 Dramatic Productions, activity finances, 1949 box 4 folder 1 Entertainment, singers,