| Description | Contains family papers, including correspondence of Kennedy with his mother and sister Mary, and letter from Mrs M.K. Kennedy (mother) to Clare Kennedy (nee Murphy) (wife). Kennedy's diary 1928-1929 includes references to the work of Mainie Jellett ('emptied of meaning save decorative gratification') and to Clare Kennedy.
Accounts 1915-1932, includes bills from the Ladies' Committee for meals in the ministers' dining room, details of payments to and terms of employment of Lizzie Penrose, charwoman, and details of household accounts. Newspaper cuttings, photographs, etc., 1922-1935 include a photograph of Hugh and Clare Kennedy, and one of the members of the Executive Council and their wives, 1923.
Kennedy's correspondence as Attorney General contains material relating to women, for example, confidential opinion (1923-4) of a case in which Jessie and Florence McCarthy, Kenmare, County Kerry accused officers of the Free State army of beating them and greasing their hair. Kennedy advises that no army proceedings be initiated, describing the McCarthys as typical of the 'Catholic bourgeoisie which existed in Irish country towns and villages under the British regime'; also letter from Richard Mulcahy, Minister for Defence about six women prisoners (Mrs O'Callaghan, Annie O'Neill, Kitty Costello, Nellie O'Ryan, Mary McSwiney and Maud Gonne MacBride) on hunger strike in Kilmainham, with biographical sketches; material relating to Nora Connolly O'Brien and Kathleen Brady case; on public opinion and the Irregulars, copy letter (1923) to Margaret Collins O'Driscoll from Benedict O'Sullivan OP], referring to 'that diabolical MacSweeney [sic] woman'.
Also letter from the Irish Women Citizens' Association seeking amendments to the Criminal Law [Amendment) Act 1885: 'it is unjust to hold young persons entirely responsible for their own moral conduct until they have passed out of the chaotic stages of adolescence and the period of curiosity'. Material relating to the Judiciary Committee includes letters from Louie Bennett, Irish Women Workers' Union and from Patricia Hoey, Women's Independent Association; also material on designs for judicial robes includes correspondence between Kennedy and Kitty MacCormack, Dun Emer Guild, with sketches and notes.
In relation to Kennedy's election campaign in Dublin, 1923, a letter from John Kelly, Irish Railway Workers' Trade Union complains that the 'Countess [and] her lady friends are concentrating their malicious warfare amongst thousands of half educate[d] men and women voters' ; material on 1925 Senate election includes election literature on Mary Mulcahy and Kathleen Browne.
Working papers and memoranda, July-September 1936, include memorandum to the Second House Commission from the Joint Committee of Women's Societies and Social Workers, mainly about the trend in legislation towards diminishing women's position of equality under the Constitution, with particular reference to civil service appointments. On designs for state seals, included are three sketches and copies of designs by Mabel McConnell. Other correspondents include Lady Lavery on personal, social and political matters: Alice Stopford Green on literary and political matters; Maymie Lavery on hunger strike in North Dublin Union and her eventual release; Florence Bayley Sherman on John Boyle O'Reilly. Correspondents relating to employment applications, requests for testimonials, etc include Nurse M.M. Flynn, Margaret Lynch, Catherine Murphy, and Agnes MacNeill (on medals to be presented in Croke Park). Correspondence with Francis Sheehy Skeffington includes reference to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington's better MA degree and the problems of acceptance for a woman teacher. |
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