Molly Flannery Woods Papers 1897-1952, bulk 1918-1952 MS.1995.034 http://hdl.handle.net/2345/1133
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 Related Materials ...... 4 Biographical Note ...... 5 Scope and Contents ...... 5 Arrangement ...... 5 Collection Inventory ...... 6 I: Correspondence ...... 6 II: Nationalist material ...... 6 III: Personal reminiscences ...... 6 IV: Scrapbooks ...... 6
Molly Flannery Woods Papers MS.1995.034
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Creator: Woods, Molly Flannery Title: Molly Flannery Woods papers Collection Identifier: MS.1995.034 Date [inclusive]: 1897-1952 Date [bulk]: 1918-1952 Physical Description 4.25 Linear Feet (5 boxes) Language of the English Material: Abstract: The collection documents the political and personal activities of Irish journalist and nationalist Molly Flannery Woods. It includes correspondence, manuscripts, and scrapbooks. Much of the material relates to Irish nationalism in the early twentieth-century and Woods' time with Cumann na mBan. Preferred Citation
Identification of item, Box number, Folder number, Molly Flannery Woods papers, MS.1995.034, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.
Molly Flannery Woods Papers MS.1995.034
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Publication Information Processed by Tyler R. McDaniel, 1995; revised by Edward Copenhagen, 2005; Revised by Ray Hartley in 2018. This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace.
Restrictions on access Collection is open for research.
Provenance Purchased from Kenny's Bookshop and Art Galleries (Galway, Ireland) in 1998.
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.
Related Materials
Related Materials Kathleen Daly Clarke papers and collection of Thomas Clarke and Irish political materials, MS.2001.007, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.
Letter from Grace Gifford to Joseph Mary Plunkett, MS.2017.015, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.
Loretta Clarke Murrary collection of women in revolutionary Ireland, MS.2016.016, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.
Molly Flannery Woods Papers MS.1995.034
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Molly Woods, née Flannery, was born in County Sligo, Ireland in 1875. She began writing for various publications as early as 1900 and would go on to write for a wide number of Irish newspapers. During the Irish War of Independence, she became a member of the Cumann na mBan (League of Women). The organization was the women's branch of the Irish Volunteer Force and later the Irish Republican Army. She was active during the entire 1916-1921 period. Woods was a prominent member of the Ranelagh and later the Donnybrook branches of the organization and at one point she reported directly to Michael Collins and Liam Mellows. Her husband, Andrew Woods, was also active in the Nationalist cause. During the Irish Civil War she provided medical aid for wounded men, smuggled arms, and harbored wanted men including Liam Mellows and Sean Etchingham. Her home was a known arms and ammunitions depot for certain units of the Irish Republican Army.
Source:
Molly Flannery Woods papers, MS.1995.034, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.
Scope and Contents
The collection documents the political and personal activities of Molly Flannery Woods. The material concerns subjects related to Ireland, Irish nationalism, the Irish War of Independence, and the Irish Civil War. The most significant records document Woods' service with Cumann na mBan. It contains correspondence, manuscripts, military pension documents, memorabilia, and scrapbooks of clippings. The correspondents include: Maire Comerford; Sean Etchingham (the writer "Patsy Patrick"); Maud Gonne MacBride; Barney Mellows; Liam Mellows; and Anna Winfred Smith (director and narrator of "Rambles in Erin" and "Romance of Ireland") and her sister Josie Smith. Also included are materials related to the life and execution of Liam Mellows.
Arrangement
Arranged into four series I. Correspondence, II. Nationalist material, III. Personal reminiscences, and IV. Scrapbooks.
Molly Flannery Woods Papers MS.1995.034
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Series I: Correspondence, 1918-1952 Arrangement
Alphabetical by correspondent.
Scope and Contents
Consists primarily of Woods' incoming letters but also contains copies of several outgoing letters.
Incoming, 1918-1952 box 1 folder 1-14
Outgoing (copies), 1936-1945 box 1 folder 15
Unidentified correspondents, 1944-1950 box 1 folder 16
Series II: Nationalist material, 1920-1944 Scope and Contents
This series includes Molly Wood's application for a military service pension for her service with Cumann na mBan and other work for the Republican movement. Letters of reference are also included with the application. The letters of support were written by Maud Gonne MacBride, Phyllis Ryan, Sheila Humphreys, Mary Childers, Robert Briscoe, Joe O'Reilly, and others. Materials related to the Nationalist's cause include newspaper clippings, two signed copies of Charlotte Despard's "Song for Liberty" and copies of the last letters written by Joe McKelvie and Liam Mellows before their executions. The series also includes a cardboard card that rested on Liam Mellow's coffin, while his body lay in state. The card was given to Woods by Mellow's mother shortly before his burial.
Application for military service pension and supporting letters, box 1 folder 18-19 1939
General nationalist material, 1920-1944 box 1 folder 20-21
"Lieut General Liam Mellows IRA, Dec 8, 1922, RIP" coffin card box 2 with note on back by Woods, 1922, 1952
Series III: Personal reminiscences, undated box 1 folder 17 Scope and Contents
Contains Woods' accounts of strange occurrences, psychic phenomena, and telepathic experiences that she experienced during her childhood and adult years.
Series IV: Scrapbooks, 1897-1949
Molly Flannery Woods Papers MS.1995.034
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Contains three scrapbooks that consist primarily of clippings from Irish and American newspapers. The articles relate to military, political, and cultural activities connected to the Irish nationalist movement. Many of the articles were authored by Woods. The third volume includes letters written by Woods, Teresa Brayton, and Carl Hardebeck.
Volume 1, 1897-1907 box 3
Volume 2, 1910-circa 1930s box 4
Volume 3, 1919-1949 box 5
Molly Flannery Woods Papers MS.1995.034
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