Series 3 - The Papers of Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap.

Authorisation from Colonel H.V. Cowan to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. Note from Military Headquarters to Dublin Metropolitan Police Copy note from Major William Sherlock Lennon to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. Letter from Major Gerald Henry Pomeroy Colley to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. Note from rebel participant in the Easter Rising Copy of last letter of Seán Mac Aodha (Seán Heuston) to his sister Letter from [T. Martin?] to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. enclosing artefacts found in the Genera... Photographic print of Con Colbert Copy letter from Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. to the editor of the 'Irish Catholic' Passes signed by Lord Powerscourt, Major, Assistant Provost Marshal, Dublin
Results 1 to 10 of 28 Show all

Reference code

IE CA IR-1/3

Title

The Papers of Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap.

Date(s)

  • 1916-1957 (Creation)

Level of description

Series

Extent and medium

28 items and 8 files; Manuscript, typescript and artefact

Name of creator

(20 March 1870-2 May 1957)

Biographical history

William Patrick Travers was born into a prominent Cork family on 20 March 1870. The family were devoutly Catholic. John, his elder brother, was also a Capuchin friar and took Anthony as his religious name. Another brother was an Augustinian friar while a sister became an Ursuline nun. William joined the Capuchin Franciscans in 1887, took the religious name of Aloysius, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1894. From his earliest years, Aloysius took a keen interest in promoting the work of the temperance movement. He was appointed President of the Father Mathew Hall in Dublin, and held this position from 1904-13. During his years as President, he used the Hall for the promotion of temperance and as a recreational venue for the members of the Sacred Heart Sodality. To further support the ideals of temperance and to revitalise interest in Irish culture, he founded 'The Father Mathew Record' which began publication in January 1908. The year before, he had inaugurated the Féis Maitiu which promoted Gaelic cultural revivalist activities such as storytelling and festivals of native song and dance. Fr. Aloysius also used the pages of the 'Record' to strongly promote a ‘Buy Irish Campaign’. About this time, he also established the League of Young Irish Crusaders. Like many of the Capuchin friars of the Dublin community, Fr. Aloysius was involved in ministering to the Rising leaders during their imprisonment and was present at the execution of James Connolly in Kilmainham Jail on 12 May 1916. He later championed the cause of various labour leaders in Dublin. It has also been speculated that Fr. Aloysius undertook a secret mission to Pope Benedict XV in connection with the Irish struggle. He was elected seven times to the office of Provincial Definitor (Councillor) and was Provincial Minister of the Irish Capuchins from 1913-6. In his later years, he became an enthusiastic member of the Legion of Mary and published numerous devotional tracts including a popular prayer book, 'The Voice of the Church', 'The Seraphic Standard' and 'ĺosa Mo Mhian'. He died on 2 May 1957 at the Capuchin Friary, Church Street, Dublin. He was 89 years old and was a Capuchin friar for almost 69 of these years. He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Scope and content

The series comprises material relating to the involvement of Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. in the national movement during the revolutionary period.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The series has been arranged into four sub-series: 1. 1916 Rising; 2. Correspondence with Republican Prisoners; 3. Correspondence with Wives and Relations of republican prisoners; 4. Other Papers.

Conditions governing access

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

Script of material

Language and script notes

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

A complete set of digital copies of this series (the Papers of Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap.) is available at the Digital Repository of Ireland (DRI) at https://repository.dri.ie/catalog/wp98dz41d

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Alternative identifier(s)

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Accession area

Related subjects

Related people and organizations

Related genres

Related places