John J. Burns Library
Boston / Area Studies Manuscript Summaries
Summaries of manuscript collections in the Burns Library are provided below. For more detailed information about these same collections, consult the BC Libraries On-Line Catalog.
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- Title: Boston Theological Institute Records, 1966-1999.
Description: ca. 55 linear ft. (52 boxes).
Summary: Composed of administrative records of the Institute. Includes
annual reports, publications, correspondence, meeting
minutes, videocassettes and related material.
Biog/Hist Note: Theological consortium. The BTI was incorporated in 1968. It consists of nine member schools and is governed by a board
of trustees. The BTI unites its members in the sharing of
academic courses and library facilities and sponsors a
number of programs and activities to further
interdenominational exchanges.
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- Title: Ellerton J. Brehaut - Bostoniana Collection, [1657?]-[1981?]
(bulk 1800-1950).
Description: ca. 16 linear ft. (16 boxes).
Finding aids: Preliminary inventory available.
Summary: Consists of correspondence, manuscripts, scrapbooks, newspaper
clippings, account books, publications and other items
relating in some way to the history of the City of Boston.
Includes records created by the Boston Police Dept. and
other institutions, organizations and committees.
Biog/Hist Note: Lobbyist and collector. Brehaut was a native of North
Attleborough, MA, who was graduated from Harvard in 1918.
From 1919 to 1959 he worked for the Greater Boston Chamber
of Commerce, and was a member of various civic committees and organizations. Brehaut was also an avid collector of historical materials. He died in 1985.
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- Title: Citywide Coordinating Council Records, 1975-1978
Description: 154 linear ft.
Arrangement: Organized into three groups: Central Files; Senior Staff
Records; and Resource Center Documents
Finding aids: Partial inventory available.
Summary: The records of the Council include meeting minutes, reports,
correspondence, newspaper clippings, statistics and
publications. The materials document both the activities of
the Council and the process of desegregation of Boston's
public schools.
Biog/Hist Note: Independent oversight organization. The Council was created by court order in 1975 to monitor implementation of Boston's
School Desegregation Plan. It engaged in a broad range of activities under this charge until August, 1978, when its
operation ceased.
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- Title: Concord School of Philosophy Collection, 1824-1903
Description: .25 linear ft. (1 box)
Finding aids: Inventory available. Item level control.
Summary: Consists of programs, photographs, newspaper clippings and
ephemera relating to the school. Also includes a
congressional memorial to Edward Everett, a lecture on Civil
Liberty by John K. Tarbox and items on the Ralph Waldo
Emerson Centennial in 1903.
Biog/Hist Note: Educational institution. The Concord Summer School of Philosophy was founded in 1879. It offered lectures on a
variety of subjects over the course of several weeks.
Officers included A. Bronson Alcott, F. B. Sanborn and S. H.
Emery.
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- Title: First volume of the church records of the church in Plympton, [1698]-[1809].
Description: 1 v. ([120], 232 p.); 37 cm.
Notes: Transcribed from the original ledger by Alice Titcomb in 1880 into a letterbook manufactured by the Siebert & Lilley Company.
Finding aids: The volume's contents are indexed on pages one to five.
Summary: The volume contains church records from the establishment of the church in 1698 through 1809. It includes historical sketches and listings of baptisms, marriages, church officers, ministers and deacons.
Biog/Hist Note: The First Congregational Church of Plympton was established by Reverend Isaac Cushman in Plympton, Massachusetts in 1698.
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- Title: John T. Galvin Papers, 1822-1994, (bulk 1953-1994).
Description: 16.5 linear ft. (16 boxes).
Notes: Access restricted until completion of processing.
Summary: Composed primarily of research files of Galvin relating to the history of Boston. Also includes manuscripts, publications,
photographs, and correspondence. Much of the material
deals with city politics and political figures like James
Michael Curley. In addition, there are some items produced
by and related to the Boston Citizen Seminars.
Biog/Hist Note: Businessman, historian and author. Galvin graduated from Boston College in 1937 and served in the Navy during World
War II. He worked in public relations and was a member of
various civic and charitable associations. The author of
numerous articles on Boston history and politics, Galvin was
also co-founder and chairman of the Boston Citizen Seminars.
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- Title: Halliday's Collection of Photographs of New England Historic Buildings and Colonial and Provincial Homes, 1628-1700; Volume 3, 1903.
Description: 1 v. (59 photographs) 27 x 33 cm.
Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by municipality.
Finding aids: The volume includes a listing of the photographs.
Summary: The album contains fifty-nine black and white photographs of New England buildings (mostly dwellings) constructed from 1640 through 1700. The photographs were shot circa 1902.
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- Title: William E. Kerrish scrapbook, 1926 - [ca. 1941?] .
Description: 1 v.
Summary: The scrapbook contains newspaper clippings and two typed letters. The clippings are both letters to newspaper editors written by Kerrish and articles about Kerrish's public speaking activities.
Biog/Hist Note: Lecturer. William E. Kerrish was a Massachusetts based lecturer affliated with the Catholic Truth Guild of Boston. He was a convert to Catholicism and gave public lectures dealing with religious and anti-communist topics.
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- Title: Amelia Landais Correspondence, 1823-1830
Description: 6 items (1 box)
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically.
Notes: Translations of the letters and one item available in English.
Summary: Consists of correspondence between Landais and several
Catholic priests in Boston. The major correspondent is John
Cheverus, who served successively as Bishop of Boston,
Montaubon and Bordeaux (France). The letters primarily
discuss Landais and her family and friends.
Biog/Hist Note: Catholic layperson. Landais eventually married into the
McIntyre family.
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- Title: George Byron Lord Correspondence, 1862-1866
Description: 15 items (1 box)
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically.
Summary: Comprised of letters from Lord to friends in Boston. The
letters discuss the war and various personal matters.
Biog/Hist Note: Soldier. Lord served in Massachusetts Volunteer regiments
stationed in Louisiana during the Civil War.
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- Title: James T. Sheehan Collection, 1916-1990.
Description: Ca. .5 linear ft. (1 box).
Finding Aids: Inventory available. Folder level control.
Summary: The materials include newspaper clippings, photographs, certificates, correspondence and an unpublished biography of Sheehan written by his daughter Sr. Helen Thomasina Sheehan, S.N.D. The collection also includes a letter written to Sheehan by J. Edgar Hoover.
Biog/Hist Note: James T. Sheehan was born in 1893 and joined the Boston Police Department in 1920. Sheehan had a successful career in law enforcement and ultimately earned the rank of Deputy Superintendent. He died in 1954.
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- Title: Charles Sumner Collection, [not after 1874 March 11].
Description: 14 items (1 box).
Summary: Consists of handwritten drafts of resolves and other items written by Sumner while serving in the United States Senate. Several items are written on scraps of paper and envelopes.
Biog/Hist Note: United States Senator from Massachusetts.
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- Title: Maurice Tobin Collection, 1928-1953. (bulk 1937-1953)
Description: Ca. 1 linear ft. (4 boxes)
Summary: Composed mainly of clippings relating to Tobin and his
political career in Boston and Massachusetts. Also includes
some speeches delivered by Tobin during his terms as mayor
and governor.
Biog/Hist Note: Politician. Born in Roxbury MA. in 1901, Tobin served in the
Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Boston School
Committee before being elected Mayor of Boston in 1937. In
1944 he became governor and in 1948 was appointed Secretary
of Labor. He died in 1953.
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- Title: Town of Weymouth Assessor's Reports, 1789-1793
Description: 3 items (1 box)
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically.
Summary: Consists of assessor's reports from 1789, 1791 and 1793.
URL:http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/ulib/Burns/bostareams.html
John J. Burns Library, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3801
Updated: August 1, 2002
Questions or comments contact Burns Staff