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History of the Temperance Reformation by James McKenna

James McKenna (d. 1846) played a key role in the founding of the Cork Total Abstinence Society (CTAS) in 1838. He also acted as Fr. Mathew’s principal travelling secretary during the early years of his campaign. McKenna made extensive efforts to publicise the movement through newspaper advertising, the printing of posters, pamphlets and handbills but the most comprehensive expression of his temperance philosophy is preserved in his manuscript history of the movement. McKenna kept his voluminous records of the CTAS’s progress in his 'History of the Temperance Reformation in Ireland, England and Scotland by James McKenna, Chief Travelling and Confidential Secretary to the Very Reverend Theobald Mathew'. This eclectic, meticulously hand-written collection of hundreds of outsized pages of transcribed material was woven together in McKenna’s own strident presentation. The text recorded very many of the activities connected Fr. Mathew’s temperance campaign from 1838 to 1846. McKenna intended to publish his account, as the definitive, triumphal and popular history of what seemed like a permanent social revolution. McKenna’s sudden death (in Cork in 1846), and the temperance crusade’s rapid retreat, likely combined to prevent the manuscript’s publication. Although of dubious literary merit, McKenna’s manuscript represents an extremely important source for Fr. Mathew’s temperance crusade. The text is preserved in the Irish Capuchin Archives.

Holy Trinity Friary Library

This series includes a collection of rare books which were formerly held in the Library of Holy Trinity Friary, Father Mathew Quay, Cork. They were transferred to the Irish Capuchin Archives in Dublin in 2012. The collection is divided into six sub-series. In all of the sub-series the volumes have been arranged chronologically by date of publication. The series includes works published in Latin, French and English. Most of the volumes are in an extremely poor condition due to exposure for many years to inappropriate environmental storage conditions in the attic and in other locations in Holy Trinity Friary.

Transcripts of Letters and Documents relating to Father Mathew

The series includes mostly copies of contemporary letters and documents relating to Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC and his temperance campaign. Most of the transcriptions of original source material in this series are undated but it can be surmised that they were compiled in the early decades of the twentieth century. Note that the date element refers to the original date of creation of the document or the time-period to which the research pertains. The original material is for the most part described in separate files.

Lantern Slides and Plates relating to Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC and his Temperance Campaign

The series includes lantern slides and glass plate photographic images relating to the life and career of Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC (1790-1856), a famed nineteenth century temperance campaigner and Capuchin friar. It is very probable that these lantern slides were used as illustrative aids by the Capuchins for public talks and auditorium lectures on Fr. Mathew’s campaign against intoxicating liquor. Temperance activity was revived in 1905 when the Irish Catholic hierarchy invited the Capuchins to preach a National Crusade. This revival generated widespread public enthusiasm and by 1912 the Capuchins had administered over a million pledges throughout the country. The lanterns slides were, in all probability, used in this campaign. The collection includes images of various places associated with Fr. Mathew’s life and notable events associated with his crusade against intoxicating liquor which began in Cork in 1838. Other images relate to later commemorations of Fr. Mathew and include photographs of the ‘Father Mathew Pavilion’ at the Cork International Exhibition of 1902 which displayed historical artefacts, devotional objects and personal paraphernalia associated with his campaign.

Kilkenny Friary Library

This section contains a collection of historical texts which were formerly held in the Library of the Capuchin Friary in Kilkenny. They were transferred to the Irish Capuchin Archives by Fr. Benedict Cullen OFM Cap. in the late 1990s. The collection includes some rare seventeenth century theological works collected by Irish-born friars who were educated in continental seminaries and friaries. Many of these early works include valuable information in the form of annotations, marginalia, and inscriptions. Other volumes include notes and stamps which provide further information about their provenance. Very little is known about the Capuchins in Kilkenny in the eighteenth century, though it must be presumed that, during most of this period, friars were living in the city. It can be said with some degree of certainty that they had a community in Kilkenny in 1757. A volume in this collection bears an annotation on the title page: ‘Ex libris Patris Simonis Eustace, Capucini Conventus Kilkenniensis 1757’. In another volume, he wrote ‘Simon Eustace, Vicar’, and enters the date 1756 (See CA KK/10/14). Aside from theological works touching upon the lives of saints or other aspects of religious devotion, the library also includes books relating to local history and antiquities, medicine, and linguistics. The series includes works published in English, Latin, French, and Dutch. The texts are listed chronologically.

Archival Catalogues

This series comprises historical catalogues and schedules of records held in the archives of Holy Trinity Friary in Cork. Some of the material noted in these catalogues is now extant in the Irish Capuchin Archives. However, other archival material referenced in these descriptive lists has now evidently been lost.

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