| ID | 1892 |
|---|---|
| Collection | Thomas M Kettle Papers |
| Reference | LA34 (1-425) |
| Description | LA34 (1-425) The collection contains a considerable amount of material relating to Mary (Sheehy) Kettle. Her personal correspondence [LA34/45-62] includes letters on personal, political and literary matters. Correspondents include Katherine Tynan Hinkson, Joseph Devlin, Belle S Shortt, Chief Secretary's Lodge, Dublin, expressing her anxiety 'to help your sister' (12 August [? 1916]) and others. The section on the Irish Convention and other public issues [LA34/63071] includes a notebook and a letter to Mr G Curry regarding a forthcoming conference of the International Labour Organisation on the issue of women's status at work, 1914; also letter to Mary Kettle regarding the lack of any proposal to elect female delegates to the Irish Convention, 1917, and one from O H Litster, Department of Health, regarding the possibility of a newspaper campaign in favour of an adoption act, 1950. Other correspondents include Bishop Joseph McRory, John Dillon, Cruise O'Brien and Erskine Childers. Newsclippings, a telegram and letters refer to the Nationalist Veterans' Association, 1924-1930 [LA34/72-76]; also newsclippings and correspondence re presentation to Mary Kettle by women admirers, 1932 [LA34/77-82], including letters from Mrs C Cahalan Burns, Maud Gonne MacBride, Elizabeth Bloxham and Maude Joynt. Literary material [LA34/83-85] includes manuscript and typescript of articles by Mary Kettle, 'Women through masculine eyes', 'The spirit of woman: some pioneer voices', 'Wanted: an armistice for Ireland', and an essay on Joan of Arc. Also included: Tom Kettle's last letter to Mary Kettle, 3 September 1916: 'There was never in all the world a dearer woman or a more perfect wife'; leaves her full control of his publications, 'as a compliment to her intellect as well as her love'; mancripts note by Mary Kettle on reverse, 'To be destroyed after my death', [LA34/402]. Also letters of condolence to Mary Kettle on her husband's death from army comrades and friends [LA34/412-425]. Kettle's personal correspondence includes a letter to Mary Sheehy (later Kettle), 'my own dear wife', from London [LA34/2]; a letter from C Beatrice Hazleton to Kettle [LA34/5], and a number of letters from Mary Sheehy in Dublin to Kettle in London, analysing their relationship and making references to events such as the closure of the Royal University, and home rule, expressing irritation at women's ineligibility for intermediate inspector posts, also tells him that 'we that is to say women nationalists, are to start a new women-suffrage society', (13 November 1908) [LA34/6] Tom Kettle's letters on constituency and public issues include one from Alice Stopford Green, suggesting 'a system of holiday schools' to be run by the Gaelic League, and an Irish Congress [LA34/128]. Speeches (1906-1912) include 'Why bully women? An argument for the Conciliation Bill', published copy of a speech to the Irish Women's Franchise League [LA34/138] The collection also contains family correspondence, including a letter from Fr Eugene Sheehy to Mary Sheehy, with messages from her mother and 'Kathleen' [LA34/90]; letters from Eugene Sheehy to Mary Kettle, to his mother and to Betty Kettle [LA34/90]; also copy of typescript chapter regarding the relationship of Francis and Hanna Sheehy Skeffington [LA34/99] and press clippings giving an account of the arrest and imprisonment in Northern Ireland of Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 1932 [LA34/100]; also postcards to Mary Kettle from Owen Sheehy Skeffington, 1946, Andree Sheehy Skeffington 1949 [LA34/10-111] and others, and an 'Irish Times' photoportrait of Mary Kettle [LA34/122]; also letters to Mary Kettle regarding Tom Kettle's published works from publishers and editors, and from Shane Leslie, Kate O'Brien, James Dillon [LA34/336-352]. |
| Access | By prior appointment. |
| Date | 1904-1950 |
| Century | 20th |
| Keywords | |
| Repository Name | UCD Archives |
| Address | James Joyce Library UCD Belfield Dublin 4 |
| Eircode | D04 R7R0 |
| Telephone | (01) 716-7555 |
| Email Address | archives@ucd.ie |
| Repository Web Address | www.ucd.ie/archives |
| latitude | 53.30671 |
| longitude | -6.22347 |