- Creator
- Fitzpatrick, James Benedict, 1881-1964
- Call number
- MssCol 1019
- Physical description
- 4.4 linear feet (11 boxes)
- Language
- Materials in English
- Preferred Citation
James Benedict Fitzpatrick papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library
- Repository
- Manuscripts and Archives Division
- Access to materials
- Request an in-person research appointment.
James Benedict Ossory Fitzpatrick (1881-1964), an English author, teacher, journalist, and editor, worked for the London Daily Mail and wrote for various journals. His pro-Irish and anti-British views led to the publication of two histories of Ireland. His other works included historical studies, articles, book reviews, short stories, and plays. Collection consists of correspondence, writings, literary journals, notes, diary, photographs, printed matter, and estate papers. Correspondence, 1912-1963, is with colleagues, publishers and U.S. government officials concerning publication of his books. Typescripts of his writings include biography of Anne Boleyn, literary memoir, travel articles, book reviews, short stories, and other published and unpublished works. Also, literary journals written during the 1930s, notes for articles, 1901 diary, photographs of Fitzpatrick and his family and friends, printed reviews of his books, promotional materials, and papers relating to the estate of Cecilia Harrigan.
Biographical/historical information
James Benedict Ossory Fitzpatrick was born in Cumberland, England, in 1881, and died in New York City in 1964. He was educated at Ushaw College, England, and at the Universities of Durham, London, and Bonn, and spent his youth traveling on the continent where he learned the principal languages of Europe. After his return to England he worked as a foreign editor of the London Daily Mail and wrote for the Illustrated London News and other journals. It appears that at this time he developed strong pro-Irish and anti-British views which led to the publication in the 1920s of two histories of Ireland to which he ascribed great importance, Ireland and the Making of England and, Ireland and the Foundations of Europe, both of which dealt with the theme of Irish involvement and influence in the early middle ages. In 1931 he had two books published, a controversial biography, Frail Anne Boleyn and a study of Jesuit missionaries in French Canada, Donjon of Demons. He also wrote numerous articles, book reviews, short stories, and plays.
The papers reflect Fitzpatrick's work as author, historian, and biographer; but little material relates to his years as editor, teacher, and free-lance journalist. The correspondence covers the period 1912-1963. The bulk is for the years 1920-1943, 1956-1963 and is with publishers concerning the publication of his books, and later the possible republication of his Irish histories and the biography of Anne Boleyn. The papers include typescripts of Frail Anne Boleyn, Donjon of Demons, a memoir, A Literatus in Wonderland and other writings. There are also literary journals written during the 1930s, notes for articles, a diary kept in Germany and Spain in late 1901, photographs of Fitzpatrick, his wife, relatives, and friends, printed reviews of his books, promotional material, and correspondence and papers relating to the estate of Cecilia Harrigan.
Administrative information
Source of acquisition
June 30, 1964, Received from Mrs. James B. Fitzpatrick
Processing information
Accessioned by Richard Salvato, 2-23-1982
Key terms
Names
- Anne Boleyn, Queen, consort of Henry VIII, King of England, 1507-1536
- Fitzpatrick, James Benedict, 1881-1964
- Harrigan, Cecilia
- Jesuits
Subjects
Places
Occupations
Material types
Using the collection
Location
Manuscripts and Archives DivisionStephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328