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Letter from Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap., referring to his poor health and his imminent departure for Santa Inés, ‘one of the old Franciscan missions in Los Angeles – somewhere about 40 miles from Santa Barbara'. Bibby adds 'The Bishop, Dr. [John Joseph] Cantwell, is giving it to our people, and I’m to run it …’. He also refers to prominent members of the Irish American community and to his meeting with Seán T. O’Kelly, Sinn Féin envoy to the United States. Bibby writes ‘He [O'Kelly] has a tough job before him, as hard as ever a man faced. Even had our people played the game – it would be difficult owing to [the] sinister influence of [Daniel Florence] Cohalan and [John] Devoy’.

Letter from Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., St. Francis Hospital, Santa Barbara, California, to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap. referring to his declining health. He writes 'Tis a desperate fight I'm making for life. ... I was more a corpse than alive when brought in here [hospital]. I have anaemia & ulceration of stomach. Though [the] former more serious, the latter would almost kills a bull'. Bibby adds 'When I think of Fr. Peter and his 4 Def[initors] I find it hard not to be bitter, but I try as best to have patience and offer up this suffering in expatiation of my sins’. He also refers to on-going work at the mission in Santa Inés.

Letter from Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap. expressing his relief at being able to work again and affirming that he would like to do more preaching. He also refers to communications from Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. and to his distress on not having access to Irish newspapers. Reference is also made to the troubled state of Ireland. He writes ‘the greatest opportunity that came for nearly 800 years lost: it would make one’s blood boil’.

Letter from Fr. Albert Bibby to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap., confirming that a letter has arrived from the Provincial Minister stating that he has arranged for his travelling to Abbottstown in Pennsylvania. Fr. Albert writes ‘I simply dread the saying good-bye here. But I see I must face it and rely on God’s help to bring me through this as he has brought me through other unpleasant experiences in the past’.

Letter from Fr. Albert Bibby, St. Benedict’s Rectory, 320 West End Street, New York, to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap., re his arrival in New York and to his meeting with Fr. Solanus Casey OFM Cap. He describes Casey as ‘a New Yorker, a great worker in the cause and a grand Friar of genial but somewhat ascetic type. He speaks at meetings, writes in [the] Press, and is the friend and trusted confidant of the right people’. Fr. Albert also refers to divisions in the Irish community in New York and notes that ‘our friends are split up into pieces – too bad. I’m speaking with a grand type of man who with tears in his eyes spoke of Liam M[ellows] … English gold and English diplomacy is at work in sowing the seeds of discord here’. He concludes that ‘the more I see here the greater my appreciation of Ireland’.

A note from Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap. referring to his preparations for his departure for the Santa Inés mission in California. Bibby remarks that he arrived in New York City 'almost a wreck' but leaves it in 'pretty good form'.

Letter from Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., St. Francis Hospital, Santa Barbara, to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap., referring to his weakening condition and suggesting that the end is near. He writes ‘I know my dear mother and sisters will feel my death – won’t you write and console them’. He asks to be remembered in a lengthy list of family members and friends. Bibby writes 'Remember me to all the brethren – for no one have I the smallest particle of bitterness, though alas I have often said bitter things for which I in heartily sorrow'.

Letter from Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. to [Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap.] referring to the poor state of the Santa Inés mission. He also expresses his satisfaction on hearing of news in Ireland. He writes ‘I get the "Irish World" and occasionally "Sinn Féin" and so I am kept in touch with Irish affairs – Frank Gallagher’s Prison Daily and other articles I devour even though they pierce my very soul and make me sob like a child’. Bibby asserts that he has said mass for Erskine Childers on his anniversary and will do ‘tomorrow for Rory, Liam, Dick & Joe’. He adds ‘I can never forget what was said, what certain Friars said when my dearest friend Erskine and Rory etc. were slain, oh how their bitter words tore my very soul asunder’.

A letter from Dorothy Godfrey (1893-1975) to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap. on her anger on hearing of the death of Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. She writes ‘I want to tell you and your good friends, that Fr. Albert did die broken-hearted over the treatment he received from F. P[eter Bowe] and the two who went over to England to have his faculties taken from him. What he suffered for God and Ireland he did not mind, but to think of his own in religion doing such mean things almost broke his heart'.

Letter from D. O’Callaghan, prisoner no. q 128, Lewes Prison, to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., concerning his conditions of imprisonment. He also expresses his joy on hearing that the ‘Gaelic League is doing splendidly and was never stronger’. He later claims that ‘my people are immigrated all over the world not through any fault of their own and not necessary for me to tell you the cause’. He has yet to receive a letter mailed to him from his brother in America.