John Thayer manuscript
Dates
- Creation: 1798
Scope and Contents
Consists of one manuscript, "A Discourse Delivered, at the Roman Catholic Church in Boston, on the 9th of May, 1798, a Day Remembered by the President for Humiliation and Prayer throughout the United States" (1798) composed by Boston-born, revolutionary, and Catholic priest, John Thayer. In 1798, President John Adams requested a national day of fasting and prayer in response to the brewing naval war between France and the United States. In response, John Thayer's Catholic sermon focused on pro-American, Federalist, and anti-French themes.
Creator
- Thayer, John, 1758-1815 (Person)
Restrictions on Access
Original manuscript closed pending conservation review; preservation copy in Shared box 1672 available for use.
Conditions Governing 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: John Thayer
John Thayer was born on May 15, 1758 in Boston, Massachusetts to Cornelius and Sarah (Plaisted) Thayer. Thayer was a Protestant in his early life, graduated from Yale University, and was educated as a Congregational minister. He served as a chaplain during the American Revolutionary War in John Hancock's military company. While visiting Rome in 1783, he investigated accounts of the miraculous cures of Saint Joseph Benedict Labre and consequently converted to Catholicism. Thayer studied for the priesthood at the Seminary of St. Sulpice in Paris, where he was ordained in 1787. Upon his return to Boston, he established a small chapel on School Street, primarily for French Catholics. Around 1799, he traveled to Kentucky as a missionary and made a name for himself as a Catholic voice against slavery. In 1803, he returned to Europe and settled in Limerick, Ireland. He died there on February 5, 1815.
Sources
"Fr. John Thayer." Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/81623936/john-thayer (Accessed June 7, 2024).
Meehan, Thomas. "John Thayer." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912, https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14556d.htm (Accessed June 7, 2024).
Extent
1 Linear Feet (2 containers)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Consists of one manuscript, "A Discourse Delivered, at the Roman Catholic Church in Boston, on the 9th of May, 1798, a Day Remembered by the President for Humiliation and Prayer throughout the United States" (1798) composed by Boston-born, Catholic convert, revolutionary, and priest, John Thayer.
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.
- Title
- John Thayer Manuscript
- Status
- Completed
- Subtitle
- 1798
- Author
- Molly Aleshire
- Date
- 2024
- 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