O'Reilly, Mary Boyle, 1873-1939
Biographical Note
Mary O'Reilly was born in 1873 in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Her father, John Boyle OReilly, was a noted poet and Irish nationalist, and her mother, Mary Smiley (Murphy) OReilly, was a journalist. As a young woman, OReilly was active in the charitable life of the city of Boston. In the early 1900s she served as a member of the Massachusetts Prison Commission, became a trustee of the Childrens Institutions in Boston, and wrote and lectured on topics in social work and sociology. In 1913, OReilly accepted a position as foreign correspondent for the Newspaper Enterprise Association, and was placed in charge of the London office. During World War I, OReilly performed relief work and sent dispatches from Europe. She returned to the United States in 1917, and went on a speaking tour of the country on the topic of her war experience. She settled back in the Boston area, and continued writing until her death from a heart attack at the age of 66, in 1939.
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Boston College collection of John Boyle O'Reilly
Collection is open for research.
Mary Boyle O'Reilly papers
The Mary Boyle O’Reilly papers document her work as a journalist and political activist, particularly during World War I. They include O’Reilly’s correspondence from Europe during the war, her typescripts, a small series of individually typed or handwritten poems, many with inscriptions from O'Reilly's friends, and family photographs.
Collection contains some original materials too fragile to handle. Access copies have been provided for most, but the correspondence series is closed pending conservation. Box 1 contains open materials. Box 2 contains fragile materials and is closed.