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Special Collections
The Cardinal Cushing Library retains a small Special Collection of rare publications from 
of Biblical commentaries, early Church writers, Church histories, Saints’ lives, Bibles, biographies, multi-volume sets of literary works, and a few early 20th century first editions, some signed by the author. This collection is for study purposes and the library does not actively collect or purchase rare books. The Special Collections strive to increase awareness of the rare publications for interested groups. Please feel free to explore the site and enjoy your visit. For access or a request to view an item in the Special Collections contact the archives.
Some Collection may contain content that may be difficult to view. The material spans the history of the United States through the 20th century, and it is our charge to preserve and make available these historical records. As a result, some of the materials presented here may reflect outdated, biased, offensive, and possibly violent views and opinions. In addition, some of the materials may relate to violent or graphic events and are preserved for their historical significance.
The Emmanuel College Archives is committed to working with staff, communities, and peer institutions to ensure difficult materials are historically contextualized.
Catholics and the American Revolution
Martin I. J. Griffin compiled this two-volume work from articles originally published in The American Catholic Historical Researchers between 1906 and 1907. It examines how Catholicism was viewed by the parties involved in the Revolution, and the role that Catholics played, both as supporting Patriots and dissenting Loyalists. A few article titles include "Anti-Catholic Declarations of the Continental Congress," "The Marquis de Lotbiniere, a Supporter of the American 'Rebels' . . . ," and "Catholic Hessians in the Revolution." There are also several articles on Catholicism in Canada during the American Revolution. The two-volume work was published by the author in 1907 and 1909.
| Volume 1 | Volume 2 |
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Centenary of the See of Boston, a Newspaper Man's Compilation of the Leading Events of the One Hundreth Anniversary of the Diocese of Boston
This book by William F. Kennedy details the events celebrating the Centenary of the See of Boston, as well as how the events were reported in local newspapers. Included are biographical sketches of important figures, such as Archbishop O'Connell, messages from leaders such as Pope Pius X and Theodore Roosevelt, and details of celebratory masses and parades. The Centenary occurred in 1908, and this book was published in 1909.
| Volume 1 | Volume 2 |
| Volume 3 |
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The Life of Cardinal Cheverus
Jean-Louis Lefebvre de Cheverus (1768-1836) was born in France, but became the first Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Boston in 1808. Despite being well-respected in America, Cheverus returned to France in 1823, where he became Bishop of Montauban, and later Archbishop and then Cardinal. This biography was originally written in French by J. Huen-Dubourg, translated to English by E. Stewart and published in 1839.
The Special Collections also holds an 1841 copy of the original French.
| Original French (1841) | English Translation (1839) |
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The Memorial History of Boston, Including Suffolk County, Massachusetts 1630-1880
This monumental four-volume work was edited by Justin Winsor and published in 1880-1881. Each section was written by a historian specializing in that period or area. In addition to General History, the series includes sections Natural History, Religious History, Literary History, and Linguistics of local Native American Languages, among other topics. Additionally, the series includes histories of notable neighborhoods, and many historical maps.
| Volume 1 | Volume 2 |
| Volume 3 | Volume 4 |
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The Spirit-Rapper; An Autobiography
Orestes Augustus Brownson (1803-1876), the author of this autobiography, was an intellectual, activist, and notable Liberal Catholic. He was born in Vermont and spent most of his working life in and around Boston, where he fulfilled a variety of roles from Catholic Priest to labor organizer. He is best known for his writing supporting Catholicism - at times taking controversial stances such as early support of emancipation, and supporting church above governmental authority.
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The Story of Massachusetts
In the Forward to the first volume, compiler William H. Clark says this work is titled "The Story" rather than "The History" of Massachusetts because it strives to include a wide variety of perspectives not typically included in historical works. For example, the first three volumes include sections on Geological Formation, Evolution of the Whaling Industry, and Transportation (1635-1936). The fourth volume includes "Personal and Family Histories" of notable Massachusetts residents. The four-volume set was edited by Daniel L. Marsh and published in 1938.
| Volume 1 | Volume 2 |
| Volume 3 | Volume 4 |
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The Story of the Irish in Boston
The first part of this book tells the history of Irish immigration and settlement in Boston, covering topics as diverse as the role of Irish soldiers in the Revolutionary War and accusations of witchcraft in Irish communities. The second half includes biographical sketches of notable men and women of Irish descent living in Boston. It was written by James Bernard Cullen and published in 1889.
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The Town of Roxbury
In the preface to this sketch of Roxbury, Francis S. Drake says that Roxbury has had a surprisingly large influence on the evolution of Massachusetts. Besides being the home to a large number of Militiamen during the American Revolution, the original settlers of Springfield and Worcester, MA, hailed from Roxbury, as did ten governors of Massachusetts. This book includes a history of Roxbury, and a detailed description of the town as it existed in 1905, the year of publication.
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A Brief Historical Review of the Archdiocese of Boston 1907-1923
This aptly-named volume described the activities of the Boston Archdiocese in the early 20th century. It includes sections on Diocesan Charities, the Diocesan School System, Diocesan Property, A Spiritual Survey (sacraments, Sunday schools, and St. John's Seminary), Propagation of the Faith (missionary and charity work), and the Diocesan Press. According to the Foreword by William Cardinal Cushing, most of the research for the book was conduced at St. John's Seminary in Boston.
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Campaigning for Christ
This work recounts the authors' Catholic missionary activities and proselytism across America. It also touches on their socialist political campaigning. It was written by David Goldstein and Martha Moore Avery and published in 1924.
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Cardinal Wiseman's Works
Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman (1802-1865) was the first Archbishop of Westminster after Catholicism was re-established in England in 1850. The Special Collections holds several collections of Cardinal Wiseman's lectures and essays, most published in 1873.
Lectures on the Principle Doctrines and Practices of the Catholic Church
| Volume 1 | Volume 2 |
Essays on Various Subjects
| Volume 1 | Volume 2 |
| Volume 3 | Volume 4 |
| Volume 5 | Volume 6 |
Other
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Catholic Churchmen in Science, sketches of the lives of catholic ecclesiastics who were among the great founders in science
Many Catholic priests and brothers have contributed significantly to science. These three books by James J. Walsh provide brief sketches of several, including Abbott (Gregor) Mendel, Guy de Chauliac, and Roger Bacon. The Special Collections holds all three, including a copy of series 3 signed by the author.
| View Series 1 (1906) | View Series 2 (1909) |
| View Series 3 (1917) |
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Commentarii in Canticum canticorum, auctore R.P. Cornelio Cornelii a Lapide e societate iesu
"Commentaries on the Song of Songs, by the author R.P. Cornelius Cornelius from the Stone of the Society of Jesus" -- Latin
The Special Collections holds over a dozen of Cornelio Cornelii's commentaries on the Bible, all printed in the 17th century by Iacobum Meursium. Our copy of "Commentarii in Canticum canticorum" was printed in 1680. Cornelio Cornelii was apparently a member of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits and well-known for their emphasis on education.
In the table below, the date reflects the copy held by the special collections; note the linked copy on Archive.org may be from a different year. Not all Commentaries held by the Special Collections are available online.
| in Iosue, Iudicum, Ruth, IV Libros Regum et II Paralipomenon (1676) | in Canticum canticorum (1680) | in Evangelium S. Lucæ et S. Ioannis (1681) | in omnes divi Pauli Epistolas pas secunda (unkown) |
| in Ecclesiasticum Pars 1 (unknown) | in Esdram, Nehemiam, Tobiam, Iudith, Esthet, et Machabæos (1679) | in Apocalypsin S. Iohannis Apostoli (1681) | in Epistolas Canonicas (1681) |
| in Ecclesiasticum pars secunda (unknown) | in Librum Sapientiæ (1680) | in Acta Apostolorum Epistolas Canonicas et Apocalypsin (1684) | |
| in Ecclesiasten (1680) | in Quatuor Evangelia (1681) | in omnes divi Pauli Epistolas (1679) |
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The Conversion of the Teutonic Race, or The First Apostles of Europe, conversion of the Franks and the English, volumes 1 and 2
This book covers the spread of Christianity in Europe in the early Medieval era, especially among the Frankish people (in modern-day France, Northern Italy, and Southern Germany) and in the British isles. The author is given only as "Mrs. Hope." Edited by Rev. John Bernard Dalgairns.
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Histoire L'Eglise Catholique
"History of the Catholic Church" -- French
This 28-volume history of the Catholic Church was written by Réné François Rohrbacher, first published between 1842 and 1849. The Catholic Encyclopedia describes is as follows: " Written from an apologetic point of view, the work contributed enormously to the extirpation of Gallicanism in the Church of France. Though at times uncritical and devoid of literary grace, it is of considerable usefulness to the student of history." The Special Collections holds a copy of the 3rd Edition (1857). Links below are to the Internet Archive.
Nicholas Aloysius Weber. “Réné François Rohrbacher.” In Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. Volume 13. New York: The Encyclopedia Press, Inc., 1907. Wikisource.
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History of the Catholic Church in the United States
According to the Preface to the first volume, although John Gilmary Shea is the primary author of this four-volume work, the underlying research was a labor of love for many Bishops and Catholic historians across the nation and relied heavily on primary sources. The work covers the history of Catholicism in the United States c. 1600-1866, though the first volume, "Colonial Days," includes sections on French and English colonies not part of the modern U.S. It was first published between 1886 and 1892.
| Volume 1 (Colonial Days) | Volume 2 (1763-1815) |
| Volume 3 (1808-1843) | Volume 4 (1844-1866) |
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History of the Church from its First Establishment to Our Own Times
A detailed history of the Catholic Church, first published in 1888. It was written by Rev. Jodocus Adolph Birkhaeuser, a professor of Church History at the Saint Francis de Sale Seminary in Wisconsin. The special collections holds a copy of the 19th edition.
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History of the Society of Jesus, from its Foundation to the Present
This work details the history of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. It includes biographical details of its founder, St. Ignatius Loyola, descriptions of Jesuit mission work, and analysis of conflict within the society. It is organized chronologically, with each section named for the leader of the Society at the time. The work was originally written in French by J.M.S. Orliac, and translated into English by James Clements. The edition held by the Special Collections was published in 1865.
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Il Vaticano Descritto ed Illustrato
"The Vatican Described and Illustrated" -- Italian
This eight-volume work, written by Erasmo Pistolesi and illustrated with paintings by Tommaso de Vivo, is an extremely detailed description of Vatican City. The many illustrations depict famous art and sculpture found in the Vatican, as well as architecture, city plans, and other helpful diagrams. The work was originally published in 1829. The volumes held by the Special Collections appear to have their original binding.
The work is written in Italian.
| Volume 1 | Volume 2 |
| Volume 3 | Volume 4 |
| Volume 5 | Volume 6 |
| Volume 7 | Volume 8 |
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The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents
This monumental 73-volume work reprints original documents created by Jesuit missions in North America c. 1610-1781. The first volume also includes a brief historical overview, and each volume contains a preface with a synopsis of the documents within. Documents that were not initially written in English are printed both in the original French, Latin, or Italian, and in English translation. The work was edited by Reuben Gold Thwaites and Emma Helen Blair, and translated by John Cutler Covert (French), William Frederic Giese and John Dorsey Wolcott (Latin), and Mary Sifton Pepper (French and Italian). It was published between 1896 and 1901. The Special Collections holds all 73 volumes; volumes 1-67 can be found at Hathitrust, below.
View Volumes 1-67 on Hathitrust
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The Lives and Times of the Popes, Including the Complete Gallery of the Portraits of the Pontif
In this monumental ten-volume work provides biographical information about every Pope from Saint Peter (papacy began c. A.D. 42) to Pius X (papacy 1903-1914), as well as historical context. It was translated and updated from Alexis François' original French by Chevalier Artaud de Montor. The Special Collections holds Volumes 1-7 of an edition from 1911. The links below are from Archive.org.
| Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3 | Volume 4 |
| Volume 5 | Volume 6 | Volume 7 | Volume 8 |
| Volume 9 | Volume 10 |
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The Life of Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Charles Carroll (1737-1832) was an Irish-American planter and politician. He is best known as the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, but also served as Maryland senator for almost two decades. He was also one of the wealthiest men of his era in North America. This biography, written by Lewis A. Leonard, was published in 1918. The Special Collection's edition is is good condition, with only slight wear and tear.
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The Battle Fields of Ireland
This work focuses on the Jacobite war in Ireland (1688-1691), including historical background and causes, important battles, and Irish leadership during the war. It was written by John Boyle and originally published by Robert Coddington in 1867. The Special Collections holds a copy of the 4th edition, published in 1879.
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The Confederation of Kilkenny
Following the Irish Rebellion of 1641, Ireland was governed by a confederation of Irish Catholic nobles, landed gentry, and clergy based in Kilkenny. This period, 1642-1649, is known as "Confederate Ireland" or "The Confederation of Kilkenny." This book by Rev. C. P. Meehan examines the historical and political background leading to the Confederation, as well as a detailed history of Ireland during the Confederation. It was originally published in 1846. The Special Collections holds a later edition, printed in 1873.
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History of the City of Dublin
This two-volume work includes both ancient and modern (for the time) history of Dublin. The ancient history was researched using primary documents collected by J. Warburton, then Keeper of the Records at the Castle of Dublin. The modern history was researched primarily with first-hand accounts collected by Rev. Robert Walsh. The work was published in 1818.
| Volume 1 | Volume 2 |
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A History of Ireland, From its First Settlement to the Present Time
Written and published by Thomas Mooney in 1845, the preface states that this two-volume series was inspired by a lack of works on Irish history available in America. In addition to an extensive history of Ireland, this work includes sections on The Irish Language, Irish Music, Irish Melodies, Irish Poetry, Architecture, Religion and Literature, Irish Historians, Great Men of Ireland, and Historical Views of Other Nations.
| Volume 1 | Volume 2 |
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A History of the Irish Settlers in North America, From the Earliest Period to the Census of 1850
This impressive work details the settlement of Irish immigrants across North America, from coastal New England to the Midwest, Deep South, Canada, and everywhere in between. It was written by Thomas D'Arcy McGee (1825-1868), notable Irish-Canadian politician and journalist. The Special Collections holds a copy of the 6th Edition, published in 1855.
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The Life and Times of the Most Rev. John MacHale, Archbishop of Tuam and Metropolitan
The Most Rev. John MacHale (1789-1881) was ordained at a tumultuous time. As an Irish Roman Catholic priest, MacHale supported Catholic Emancipation: reducing and removing the restrictions on Catholicism in Great Britain and Ireland imposed in the 17th century. Notably, MacHale favored preaching in the Irish Language. The Special Collections holds a well-used edition of this biography, written by Rev. Ulick J. Canon Bourke and published in 1882.
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The Life of John Redmond
John Redmond (1856-1918) was a prominent Irish-nationalist politician. He is best known as a strong supporter of Irish Home Rule, that is, Irish self-government by a Parliament that represented the Catholic majority rather than an Anglo-Protestant minority. Redmond helped achieve Home Rule during his lifetime, though by his death many Irish supported full independence from the United Kingdom (under Home Rule, Ireland was still part of the UK). This biography focuses on Redmond's political activities and achievements, but also includes sections on his early life and education. It was written by Warre B. Wells, a notable Irish political historian, and published in 1919.
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Lives of the Irish Saints: with special festivals, and the commemorations of holy persons
This nine-volume work begins with a brief history of Irish hagiology - the study of the lives and legends of Saints - then contains extensive sections on hundreds of Irish saints, organized by associated Saints Day. Sections on individual saints often include biographies, descriptions of associated miracles, and appropriate prayers and other commemorations to honor their Saints Day. The work was written by Rev. John O'Hanlon and probably published in 1875. The Special Collections holds volumes one through eight of nine.
| Volume 1 | Volume 2 |
| Volume 3 | Volume 4 |
| Volume 5 | Volume 6 |
| Volume 7 | Volume 8 |
| Volume 9 |
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Memoirs, Journal, and Correspondence of Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore (1779-1852) was an Irish writer, poet, and lyricist. He is best known for putting English-language lyrics to traditional Irish tunes in his work Irish Melodies. This eight-volume set, edited by Lord John Russell, compiles Moore's personal writings and correspondence. It was published in 1853.
| Volume 1 | Volume 2 |
| Volume 3 | Volume 4 |
| Volume 5 | Volume 6 |
| Volume 7 | Volume 8 |
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Songs, Legends, Ballads
This work by John Boyle O'Reilly collects Irish songs, legends, and ballads. The Special Collections holds a copy of the 4th Edition, published in 1882.
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American Statesmen
This 32-volume set of biographies of early American politicians was published by Houghton, Mifflin and Company from 1899 - 1900. Notable historians and authors who contributed to the series include Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, and John T. Morse, Jr.
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A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Henry More
Henry More (1614 - 1687) was an English philosopher. He was heavily influenced by René Descartes. A prolific writer, More appears to have edited this collection himself. It was published in 1662.
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Midstream: My Later Life
This is Helen Keller's (1880 - 1968) second autobiography, published 26 years after her more famous The Story of My Life. This second work recounts her life after graduating from Radcliffe College, including political activities and activism. The Special Collections holds a signed copy, published in 1929.
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