The Padraic and Mary Colum Collection

Collection

Identifier: BUSC-1977-001

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Most of Padraic Colums plays appear in this collection in manuscript form, some in a number of drafts made over the years. Typed manuscripts includes essays and poems. Published material includes page proofs from Mary Colum's Life and the Dream as well as reviews and articles by and about Padraic and Mary Colum.

The letters in the collection represent correspondence from many great names in Irish and American literature, as well as Irish history. The photographs as well as letters bearing undecipherable signatures were identified by Padraic Colum himself.

Dates

Creation: 1890-1997
Creation: Majority of material found in 1938-1964
Creation: nd

Language of Materials

English

Extent

42.00 Linear Feet

Additional Description

Abstract

Collection of writings, correspondence, photographs, and other materials of Irish author, Padraic Colum (1881–1972) and his wife, Irish author, Mary Colum (née Maguire, 1884-1957). Padraic Colum was a poet, novelist, dramatist, and playwright and was one of the leading figures of the Irish Literary Revival. During his lifetime, Colum published more than 50 volumes of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and drama, children’s literature, and folklore. Mary Colum was also a prolific literary critic.

Arrangement of Materials:

Materials have been arranged so that the correspondence series appears first, followed by typed manuscripts, play manuscripts, galley proofs and page proofs, published material, photographs, and notebooks. At the end of the collection are three boxes containing photocopies of certain original materials within the collection. There are also two boxes of research materials and manuscript copies that were compiled and produced by Zack Bowen, in studies about Padraic Colum, James Joyce, and Mary Lavin.