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Boston College collection of photographs and postcards of Ireland

 Collection
Collection MS-1986-092: Boston College collection of photographs and postcards of Ireland

Dates

  • Creation: 1921 - 1993

Scope and Contents

This is a collection of photographs and postcards of Ireland from multiple sources.

Black-and-white photographs of 1921 Dublin and the surrounding area document unrest surrounding the March 14th execution of six prisoners from Mountjoy Gaol (now Mountjoy Prison); protests, including by Cuman na mBan; military checkpoints and searches; and family of those executed. Of note is a photo of Maud Gonne with Thomas Whelan's mother. The photographs also show housing conditions and American Committee for Relief in Ireland members, possibly alongside Irish White Cross members. Many of the photographs are stamped by Dublin commercial photographer W. D. Hogan or the London-based British Illustrations Ltd. Notes by Boston College librarian Helen Landreth indicate that chairman of the American Committee for Relief in Ireland, C. J. France, collected these photographs while visiting Ireland.

The color slides feature Irish communities, landscapes, and everyday life in the 1980s and 1990s. Most document County Galway and County Cork, with particular focus on the Monaghan family in the small community of Blackweir, County Galway.

The Christine Spengler postcards feature images of Northern Ireland, specifically Belfast, Derry, and Londonderry, during the Troubles. Many of the images juxtapose military uniform and weapons with smiling children.

The Thomas Reiners collection of postcards feature images of tourist destinations in Ireland during the 1980s. Two of the postcards are addressed to Reiners.

The Francis J. Cotton collection of postcards feature images of farming life in Ireland around 1910, as well as images of Edinburgh and of St. Paul's Cathedral, London.

Restrictions on access

Collection is open for research.

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.

Extent

1.25 Linear Feet (3 containers)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This is a collection of photographs and postcards of Ireland from multiple sources. Black-and-white photographs of 1921 Dublin and the surrounding area, including some by commercial photographers, document unrest surrounding the execution of six prisoners from Mountjoy Gaol (now Mountjoy Prison) on March 14 of that year. Color slides feature Irish towns and everyday life in the 1980s and 1990s. Postcards feature images of Northern Ireland during the Troubles, and Irish tourist destinations in the 1980s.

Arrangement

Organized into five series, which are ordered chronologically. I. C. J. France collection of 1921 Dublin images; II. Carol Burchill slides; III. Christine Spengler postcards; IV. Thomas Reiners collection of postcards; and V. Francis J. Cotton collection of postcards.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

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. However, notes found with the 1921 photographs indicate that they were likely a gift of C. J. France (circa 1950).

The slides were a gift of Carol Garibaldi Burchill, 1994.

The postcards addressed to Thomas Reiners, who worked in the Library, were likely donated by him.

The postcards with images by Christine Spengler were purchased from Emerald Isle Books, 2004.

The Francis J. Cotton collection of postcards were donated by Francis J. Cotton, 1990.

Related Materials

Bobbie Hanvey photographic archives, MS.2001.039, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Loretta Clarke Murray collection of women in revolutionary Ireland, MS.2016.016, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Michael Schwartz Northern Ireland photographs, MS.2018.005, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Patrick A. Collins papers, MS.1986.038, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Processing Information

The photographs in Series I were receieved in slide carousels and moved into sleeves during processing. The original groupings have been maintained; each carousel is now corresponding to a folder.

Title
Boston College Collection of Photographs and Postcards of Ireland
Status
Completed
Subtitle
1921-1993
Author
Lynn Moulton, 2019; Elizabeth Peters, 2023
Date
2023
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2023 October: Added two accessions: MS.2001.064 and MS.2004.034

Repository Details

Part of the John J. Burns Library Repository

Contact:
John J. Burns Library
Boston College
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill MA 02467 USA
617-552-4861