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Patrick Kane scrapbooks

 Collection
Collection MS-2004-040: Patrick Kane scrapbooks

Dates

  • Creation: 1912 - 1937

Scope and Contents

Scrapbooks of newspaper clippings assembled by Patrick Kane. The scrapbooks pertain mostly to Irish and Irish-American politics, as well as Catholic concerns. Although clippings include news and current affairs, many contain historical articles or cultural content, particularly verse. Kane frequently reused account ledgers or print books to house his clipping collections, which are pasted over existing content. The publications from which Kane took the clippings are rarely indicated, and dates are only occasionally noted. Some scrapbooks may be thematic or contain content from a single newspaper, as their covers include the name of a gathering or publication (Annual Banquet of the Irish Worship Club, National Convention A.A.R.I.R., The Grail, The Gaelic American). In addition to the scrapbooks there are several handwritten letters to Patrick Kane and his wife, and a small amount of printed material.

Creator

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.

Biographical note

Patrick Kane was born in Cloone, County Leitram, Ireland. He was descended from a long line of Irish rebels. His grandfather, Patrick Kane, was a leader of the Molly McGuires. Kane moved to Chicago, Illinois where he represented O’Donovan Rossa's paper The United Irishman for over twenty-two years, and appeared as a witness on Rossa's behalf in the trial of Rossa vs. Cassidy. Other Irish leaders and personal friends of his were Patrick Ford, John Condon, E.J. Ivory, Maurice M. O'Connor, P.J. Colman, and Jerry Driscoll. Kane was a bartender for several years in the Old McCoy Hotel, before opening his own place at 475 Fulton Street. There he organized the "O'Kane Tigers." This club was for many years a power in politics on Chicago's great West Side. He belonged to the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division Eight, and was also a Secretary of the United Irish League, Branch 2. He was a member of the United Irish Societies, the Clan-na-gael Guards, and was a delegate to conventions of the American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic.

Kane was a noted poet and an ardent worker for the Irish cause. He wrote many political campaign songs, including "Our Wilson Again," used by Woodrow Wilson’s re-election campaign. Kane's poetry is included in Rhyme with Reason: A Garland of Irish Shamrocks, Many of Them Grown in America, edited by P.G. Smyth. Along with P.G. Smyth, James Keegan, James K. Fielding, and Joe Fogarty, Kane was part of a literary quintet that was ever critical, in prose and verse, of the mistreatment of Ireland by the British. He wrote for leading Irish papers both in the United States and abroad, including Irish World, The Irish Republic, The United Irishman, and the Chicago Citizen.

Patrick Kane died on August 3, 1937; his wife, Katherine Kane, died on September 17, 1937.

Sources:

Biographical sketch, Box 1, Folder 3, Patrick Kane Collection, MS.2004.040, John J.Burns Library, Boston College.

Smyth, P. G. Rhyme with Reason: A Garland of Irish Shamrocks, Many of Them Grown in America. Chicago: P. G. Smyth, 1911.

Extent

5.75 Linear Feet (20 containers)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Scrapbooks created by Irish-American poet and advocate for Irish independence Patrick Kane. The scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings documenting Irish, Irish-American, and Catholic political and cultural affairs, as well as a small amount of correspondence and printed material.

Provenance

Gift of Thomas Mescall, grand-nephew of Patrick Kane, 1998.

Processing Information

Loose materials found in the scrapbooks have been foldered for preservation.

Title
Patrick Kane Scrapbooks
Status
Completed
Subtitle
1912-1937
Author
Ed Copenhagen and Corban Rhodes
Date
2010
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

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