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DePaul University Special Collections and Archives

Irish Collection

Irish_bookplate.jpg

Bookplate of the Illinois Chapter American-Irish Historical Society, DePaul University.

When the Illinois Chapter of the American-Irish Historical Society ran out of space to hold their library in 1927, the organization’s Secretary, Alexander Pope, hoped to find an opportunity to reach a larger audience by moving their collection to DePaul. In 1934, funds from the Federal Emergency Relief Administration were made available to catalog the mainly Irish-American related titles for access. Books of purely Irish interest were later added by Roger Faherty, Eugene F. O’Riordan and Rev. Hugh P. Smyth, C.M. During the 1940s, Rev. Jeremiah Lehane, C.M. began to focus on Irish literature, especially authors identified with the Irish Renaissance to coincide with academic programs and programs. Dr. William Feeney (Department of English) contributed manuscripts and playbills relating to Irish theatre and he acquired titles for the collection with funds provided by Eugene O’Riordan. A fund from the Meehan family accounts for acquisitions to the collection in recent years.

FatherMurphy_IrishRebellion.jpg

"Father Murphy and the heretic bullets."
Maxwell, W. H. History of the Irish Rebellion in 1798: With Memoirs of the Union, and Emmett’s [sic] Insurrection in 1803 / with numerous illustrations drawn and engraved by George Cruikshank. 6th ed. London: H.G. Bohn, 1864.  SpC. 941.507 M465h1864
- Purchased with Meehan family fund for the Irish Collection.

Dublin.jpg

"View of Dublin".  Wright, G. N. An Historical Guide to Ancient and Modern Dublin. Illustrated by engravings, after drawings by George Petrie ... By the Rev. G. N. Wright. London, Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, 1821.
SPC. 914.1832 W949h1821.  Illinois Chapter American Irish Historical Society.