Maurice Lenihan papers
Dates
- Creation: 1818 - 1884
Scope and Contents
The majority of the papers consists of correspondence to Maurice Lenihan. The papers also contain records from Lenihan's service as joint secretary of the O'Connell Testimonial Committee in Limerick. The committee records include minutes and correspondence, newspaper clippings, a history of the committee's work, expenses, and a subscriber list for the statue of Daniel O'Connell erected by the Committee. Further documenting Lenihan's life is a manuscript notebook of his memoirs, which may be a partial draft of his series 'Reminiscences of a Journalist,' which he published in The Limerick Reporter from 1866-1869. The memoir includes original letters and clippings pasted in alongside his reminiscences.
The papers include letters from Dublin painter Bernard Mulrenin (1803-1868) to his future wife Mary Quill, which were collected by Lenihan. Finally, there is a letter from Florence Egan to the Limerick General Advertizer regarding a verse for the upcoming election in 1818 and a list of persons who were given circulars.
Creator
- Lenihan, Maurice, 1811-1895 (Person)
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
Maurice Lenihan was born in Waterford, Ireland on February 5, 1811. He attended St. John's College, Waterford, and Carlow College. After graduating he began his career as a journalist, first with the Tipperary Free Press in Clonmel, then with the Waterford Chronicle. Lenihan was a close friend of Daniel O'Connell, and with O'Connell established the Tipperary Vindicator under Lenihan's editorship. In 1849 he bought the Limerick Reporter and merged it with the Tipperary Vindicator. Lenihan was known for his moderate nationalism.
In 1866 he published Limerick; its History and Antiquities, and from 1866-1868 he published a series of articles in his paper titled 'Reminiscences of a Journalist.' Lenihan was elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy in 1869, was a member of the Society for the Cultivation of the Irish Language, and served as mayor of Limerick in 1884. Maurice Lenihan died in Limerick on December 25, 1895.
Source:
Irwin, Liam. “Lenihan, Maurice”. Dictionary of Irish Biography. Accessed 26 July 2024. https://www.dib.ie/biography/lenihan-maurice-a4789
Norgate, G. Le G., and Marie-Louise Legg. "Lenihan, Maurice (1811–1895), journalist and local historian." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 23 Sep. 2004; Accessed 16 Sep. 2020. https://www-oxforddnb-com.proxy.bc.edu/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-16444.
Extent
3.5 Linear Feet (6 containers)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
These papers document the life of nineteenth-century Irish historian, politician, and journalist Maurice Lenihan. Includes correspondence, records of the O'Connell Testimonial Committee in Limerick, papers of Irish painter Bernard Mulrenin collected by Lenihan, and a draft portion from Lenihan's series 'Reminiscences of a Journalist.'
Arrangement
Organized in five series: I. Bernard and Mary (Quill) Mulrenin papers; II. Correspondence; III. Memoirs; IV. O'Connell Testimonial Committee records; and V. Other documents.
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.
Materials Specific Details
Spiked holes in many of the letters indicate an early rough filing system on a spike on an editorial desk. Lenihan instructed a binder to 'press' letters into three volumes. Early notes on some of the items describe them as 'in bound volume.'
- Title
- Maurice Lenihan Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Subtitle
- 1818-1884
- Author
- Alf MacLochlainn
- Date
- 1992
- 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
John J. Burns Library
Boston College
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill MA 02467 USA
617-552-4861
burns@bc.libanswers.com