Repository: ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title: John B. Collins Papers
Creator: Collins, John B.
Collection Number: AIS.1977.17
Extent: 2.5 Linear Feet (5 boxes)
Date: 1917-1976
Date: 1918-1935
Abstract: Through the 1920s and 1930s, John B. Collins actively participated in various organizations and activities that supported establishment of an independent republic in Ireland. Additionally, Collins was also active in several organizations affiliated with the Catholic Church in Pittsburgh. The collection contains letters, publications, clippings, organizational records, memorabilia, handbills, pamphlets, posters, and photographs that Collins produced and collected as result of his concern with these subjects.
Language: English .
Author: ASC Staff. The finding aid was rewritten by Jared Campbell in 2001. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process on March 22, 2001.
Publisher: ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address: University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Biography

Long time Pittsburgh resident, John B. Collins actively participated in the city's Irish-Catholic community. A strong supporter of the struggle for an independent Irish Republic, Collins became an active member of the Pittsburgh chapters of the American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic (AARIR) and the Friends of Irish Freedom (FOIF) during the 1920s and 1930s. Both American based organizations worked to organize Irish-American support for the fight for Irish independence. A supporter of Eamon de Valera's pro-republican Fianna Fáil Party, Collins helped arrange the leader's 1927 and 1930 visits to Pittsburgh.

A member of Pittsburgh's Catholic community, Collins served as president of local chapters of the Holy Name Society and the Knights of Columbus and joined the Cecilian Society, the Catholic Society for Social Justice, and the Bishop's Club.

A man of strong political and religious conviction, and a prolific letter writer, Collins corresponded with people, organizations, and publications that he believed misrepresented the Irish cause or the beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church.

Scope and Content Notes

This collection reflects John B. Collin's participation in the Irish Independence movement and various Catholic organizations in Pittsburgh from 1913 to 1976 and material he collected in relation to these interests.

The collection consists of five series. Series I contains material related to the organizations with which Collins affiliated and about which he collected material. Series II includes material dealing with Eamon de Valera, while Series III contains material regarding the 1935 controversy surrounding the showing of motion pictures on Sunday. Series IV consists of various correspondences and Series V contains miscellaneous material and memorabilia.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Acquisition Information

On indefinite loan from the Irish Centre of Pittsburgh, 1977.

Previous Citation

John B. Collins Papers, 1913-1976, AIS.1977.17, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Preferred Citation

John B. Collins Papers, 1913-1976, AIS.1977.17, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Archives Service Center satff in 1977. The collection was reprocessed by Jared Campbell in 2001.

Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Jared Campbell in 2001. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 3922084

Copyright

Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Subjects

Corporate Names

Abbey Theatre
American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic
Catholic League for Social Justice
Catholic Church -- Societies, etc.
Cecilian Society
Friends of Irish Freedom
Holy Name Society
Irish Independence Club
Knights of Columbus

Personal Names

Collins, John B.
Cosgrave, William Thomas
De Valera, Eamonn
Kountz, Richard
Lynch, John M.
O'Mahoney, Joseph P.
Russell, Charles
Williams, Christopher H.

Geographic Names

Allegheny County (Pa.)
Pittsburgh (Pa.)

Other Subjects

Irish Americans -- Pennsylvania -- History
Irish Americans -- Political activity
Irish Americans -- Societies and clubs
Personal papers
Ethnic groups

Container List

Series I. Organizations

Scope and Content Notes

The series contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, meeting minutes, constitutions, newsletters, pamphlets, programs, announcements, photographs, memorabilia, and publications pertaining to organizations to which either Collins belonged or about which he gathered material.

Abbey Theatre Company, 1931-1934

Containers: box 1, folder 1-4

American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic, 1921-1932

Containers: box 1, folder 5-11

American Committee for Relief in Ireland

Containers: box 1, folder 12-13

American Steel Foundries, 1931

Containers: box 1, folder 14-15

Banban Brotherhood, 1920

Containers: box 1, folder 16

Bishop's Club, 1930-1931

Containers: box 1, folder 17

Catholic League for Social Justice, 1933

Containers: box 1, folder 19-20

Cecilian Society, 1913-1924

Containers: box 1, folder 21-24

Friends of Irish Freedom, 1919-1921, 1928

Containers: box 1, folder 25-32

Holy Name Society, 1926-1932

Containers: box 2, folder 1-16

Irish Independence Club, 1931-1932

Containers: box 2, folder 17-18

Knights of Columbus, 1917-1930

Containers: box 2, folder 19-23

Laymen's Retreat Movement, 1931

Containers: box 3, folder 1-5

Little Sisters of the Poor, 1931

Containers: box 3, folder 6-9

National Council of Catholic Men Confernace, 1932

Containers: box 3, folder 10-12

Series II. Eamon de Valera

Scope and Content Notes

The series focuses on material created and collected by Collins relating to the Irish Republican leader, Eamon de Valera. The series contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, meeting minutes, photographs, contracts, handbills, brochures, checks, invitation lists, and a publication. The bulk of the series concerns the arrangements for de Valera's 1927 and 1930 Pittsburgh visits and a banquet held to celebrate the 1932 election that placed de Valera at the head of the Irish Government as Taoiseach (priminister). Also included in these files are material concerning the development and American financial support of the Irish newspaper The Irish Press, Ltd. and a copy of de Valera's 1923 presidential address.

Copy of Presidential Message, 1923

Containers: box 3, folder 13

Minutes of Joint Meeting of Erskine childers and Padraic Pearse Councils

Containers: box 3, folder 14

Pittsburgh Visit, 1927

Containers: box 3, folder 15-16

Pittsburgh Visit, 1930

Containers: box 3, folder 17-22

Irish Free Press, Ltd., 1929-1931

Containers: box 3, folder 23-25

Irish Presidential Election Results, 1932

Containers: box 3, folder 26

Pittsburgh Banquet Celebrating de Valera's Election, 1932

Containers: box 3, folder 27-29

Miscellaneous

Containers: box 3, folder 30

Series III. Sunday Movie Controversy

Scope and Content Notes

The series contains five files concerning a 1935 attempt to change a Pennsylvania state law that forbade the showing of motion pictures on Sunday. The series reflects Collins' and the Church's attempts to encourage Pittsburgh's Catholic community to vote against a bill that would change the law.

Sunday Movie Controversy, 1935

Containers: box 3, folder 31-35

Series IV. Correspondence

Scope and Content Notes

The series contains the correspondence of Collins on a wide range of topics. Additionally, material remains in the files that provide contextual information to the letters themselves. A large portion of the series consists of letters written by Collins to publications regarding the popular reference to William T. Cosgrave as the first president of the Irish Free State. Collins, like many other supporters of de Valera, believed that the treaty signed in 1921 forming the Irish Free State under the dominion of the English Crown was an unacceptable resolution of the struggle for Irish independence. Collins wrote letters regarding this subject to the Associated Press, several newspapers, and individuals. Other letters concern Collin's beliefs regarding contraception, Irish land annuities, the purchase of a car for Pittsburgh priest Father James Delaney, and various other issues. The files are arranged alphabetically.

America, Letters to the Editor, 1932

Containers: box 3, folder 36

Ave Maria, Letters to the Editor, 1931-1932

Containers: box 3, folder 37

Berchfield, Chris, letters from, 1922-1931

Containers: box 3, folder 38

Contraception, letter to the Pittsburgh Press and Related Clippings, 1931

Containers: box 4, folder 1-2

Cosgrave, William T., letters, related clippings, and pamphlets, 1931

Containers: box 4, folder 3-5

Delaney, Father James M., letters and clippings

Containers: box 4, folder 6-8

Irish Land Annuities, 1932

Containers: box 4, folder 9-11

Irish Situation, correspondence with Associated Press re: dispatcher that appeared in the Pittsburgh Press, 1932

Containers: box 4, folder 12

Kuntz, Richard, 1923-1932

Containers: box 4, folder 13

O'Mahoney, Joseph, Editor of The Indiana Catholic Reporter, letters and clippings, 1932

Containers: box 4, folder 14-15

Russell, Charles Edward, 1932-1933

Containers: box 4, folder 16

St. Endas Church

Containers: box 4, folder 17-22

St. Mary's Church

Containers: box 4, folder 23-25

Williams, Christopher H., letters and article "Propoganda", 1923-1928

Containers: box 4, folder 26-27

Miscellaneous Correspondence, A-G, 1923-1927

Containers: box 4, folder 28

Miscellaneous Correspondence, H-O, 1923-1927

Containers: box 4, folder 29

Miscellaneous Correspondence, P-Z, 1923-1927

Containers: box 4, folder 30

Series V. Miscellaneous

Scope and Content Notes

The series contains miscellaneous material collected by Collins. The material includes periodicals, pamphlets, essays and notes, broadsides, photographs, a map of the Irish Republic, press releases, and memorabilia. Most of the material is the product of publicizing the various Irish cultural events around Pittsburgh during the 1920's and 1930's.

Brian Boru Club, 1920

Containers: box 5, folder 1

Catholic Theater Bulletins, 1924, 1926

Containers: box 5, folder 2

Irish Centre of Pittsburgh, 1966, 1976

Containers: box 5, folder 3

Irish Faire

Containers: box 5, folder 4

Irish Freedom Fund

Containers: box 5, folder 5

Irish Martyrs

Containers: box 5, folder 6

Lynch, John, press release and transcripts of speech, 1970-1971

Containers: box 5, folder 7-8

Map of Irish Republic

Containers: box 5, folder 9

Meta Machine Company, annual report

Containers: box 5, folder 10

Saint Patrick's Day Charicatures, 1928-1931

Containers: box 5, folder 11

Sheet Music

Containers: box 5, folder 12

Statue of Westminster, Photograph

Containers: box 5, folder 13

Theater Programs

Containers: box 5, folder 14-19

Theater Programs

Containers: box 5, folder 20

Ulster Delegation, copy of transcript, 1920

Containers: box 5, folder 21

Sinn Feiner, eight issues, 1921

Containers: box 5, folder 22

Miscellaneous Periodicals

Containers: box 5, folder 23

Pamphlets

Containers: box 5, folder 24

Essays

Containers: box 5, folder 25

Broadsides

Containers: box 5, folder 26

Unidentified Photograph

Containers: box 5, folder 27

Misc. Memorabilia

Containers: box 5, folder 28

Guide to the John B. Collins Papers, 1913-1976 AIS.1977.17

Arrangement

Biography

Scope and Content Notes

Access Restrictions

Acquisition Information

Previous Citation

Preferred Citation

Processing Information

Copyright

Subjects

Corporate Names

Personal Names

Geographic Names

Other Subjects

Container List

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes