A carte de visite of the emblem of the Catholic Boys' Brigade founded on Church Street in Dublin in March 1894. The photographic print (on card) was produced by W.F. O’Connor, 1 Wellington Quay, corner of Parliament Street, Dublin.
Letters mainly from patrons forwarding subscriptions in favour of the Brigade. The file includes letters from Richard O’Shaughnessy, barrister, 3 Wilton Place, Dublin, to Fr. Mark McDonnell OSFC, Church Street, passing on his good wishes to the Boys’ Brigade. He claims that ‘the richer Catholics, and a large, a very large number of Protestants would be among its subscribers … if they only know the work it is effecting’.
Letters expressing satisfaction with the excellent discipline and work of the Boys’ Brigade of Church Street. Many of the letters are from employers seeking boys to perform paid work. Correspondents include John. J. White, Cork Factory & Warehouse, Dublin, 'The Irish Rosary', St. Saviour’s Priory, Dominick Street, Fr. Paul Neary OSFC, Church Street, and P.D. Hartnett, grocer, 71 Great Strand Street, Dublin.
Letter from the Most Reverend Henry Henry, Bishop of Down and Connor, to [Fr. Mark McDonnell OSFC], referring to a request made by one of his Belfast priests to establish a Boys’ Brigade similar to the one founded on Church Street. Archbishop Henry asks for a copy of the rules and inquires whether ‘the results produced would justify the expenditure of time and trouble and I suppose funds’.
An unsigned draft letter to Fr. Benignus Gannon, Provincial Minister of the Order of Friars Minor, enclosing copies of the preliminary rules and constitution of the Catholic Boys’ Brigade. The author requests ‘a statement as to how far your Order on Merchants’ Quay, Dublin, is identified with the said “Catholic Boys’ Brigade” …’. Reference is also made to the need for the three Capuchin friars identified as clerical trustees of the organisation to sign over their trusts.
Letters from William Mooney & Sons, solicitors, 16 Fleet Street, Dublin, to Fr. Mark McDonnell OSFC regarding the possession of properties held by John Butterly in May Lane and their transfer to the lay trustees of the Catholic Boys’ Brigade, Dublin.
Minutes of two meetings of the Catholic Boys’ Brigade Committee, Church Street, referring to the payments of subscription fees and the tenders for the installation of railing outside the Brigade Hall.
Copy letter from Fr. Paul Neary OSFC to Timothy Harrington, Lord Mayor of Dublin. Fr. Paul refers to a dispute between the Committee of the Catholic Boys’ Brigade and the Capuchin friars of Church Street. Fr. Paul states that the lay Committee of the Brigade are organising an annual meeting without their sanction and wishes to lay these facts before the Mayor. Fr. Paul concludes by declaring that they ‘have no grievances with the Boys as such nor do we intend to oppose the meeting’.