thumbnail

Questionnaire: Emigration to America

Abstract Questionnaire and collected material on the subject of Irish emigration to America. Compiled by Arnold Schrier in collaboration with Seán Ó Súilleabháin of the Irish Folklore Commission.

In collection

Date
1955
Extent
42 items
Location of original
Original items located in UCD Delargy Centre for Irish Folklore and the National Folklore Collection.
Repository
UCD Delargy Centre for Irish Folklore and the National Folklore Collection
Irish Virtual Research Library and Archive
Language
English ; Irish
Scope and Content
In 1955 a questionnaire on the subject of Irish emigration to America was compiled by Arnold Schrier, in collaboration with Seán Ó Súilleabháin, archivist of the Irish Folklore Commission. The questionnaire was distributed by the Commission to its various full-time and part-time collectors, and to its network of respondents around Ireland. The information returned was used as source material for a book by Schrier entitled Ireland and the American Emigration 1850-1900 (Minneapolis 1958). Schrier notes:
"In all, a total of twenty-one interviewers located in sixteen different counties returned twenty-six 100 page notebooks more or less completely filled. During 1955 questionnaires were distributed in and notebooks received from all counties of above average emigration intensity, with the exception of Limerick, as well as from representative counties in each of the four provinces".
The questions encompassed the following areas: -- 1. Who emigrated? -- 2. What were the reasons for emigrating? -- 3. Describe 'American Wakes'. Who attended them? -- 4. Who were these 'Wakes' held for? When did the custom stop? -- 5. What songs, stories or ballads existed concerning emigration? -- 6. Did any expressions or sayings taken from American letters home become traditional when referring to America? -- 7. Were American letters regarded sarcastically? -- 8. How were American letters read? Aloud? Communally? In church etc.? -- 9. Were gifts of money/remittances sent home from America? How was the money spent? -- 10. What of the returned emigrants? -- 11. Why did some emigrants return to Ireland to stay? Did they try to introduce American ways etc? -- 12. Do any of the American letters still exist? If so might they be used for research? -- 13. Any additional comments or material?.
Arrangement
Material returned by individual collectors and contributors is collated and bound in five manuscripts: one each for the provinces of Munster, Leinster, Connacht and Ulster, and a further volume containing material from several counties and provinces. Material is arranged by county and civil parish.
The material bound in each manuscript also includes cover sheets and covering letters from collectors and respondents. A date-stamp from "Coimisiún Béaloideasa Éireann" (Irish Folklore Commission) normally appears at the beginning of each contributor’s material.
Each bound manuscript has its own continuous pagination, irrespective of any original numbering. The first manuscript in the series (Munster) contains a list of the questions set out in the questionnaire and an explanatory note by archivist Seán Ó Súilleabháin.
Subjects
Irish--United States
Ireland--Emigration and immigration
United States--Emigration and immigration
Ireland--Social conditions--19th century
Ireland--Social life and customs--19th century
Ireland--History--19th century
Questionnaires--Ireland

Bibliography
Schrier, Arnold. "Ireland and the American Emigration 1850-1900", Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1958.
Schrier, Arnold. "Ireland and the American Emigration 1850-1900", Chester Springs, Penn.: Dufour Editions, 1997.

Record source
Finding aid encoded in EAD by the Irish Virtual Research Library and Archive (IVRLA) - A.C., 11 June 2007.

Finding aid author
Irish Virtual Research Library and Archive (IVRLA)

1. Information returned from Munster: Counties Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford.

2. Information returned from Leinster: Counties Kildare, Westmeath, Wexford and Meath.

3. Information returned from Connacht: Counties Mayo, Galway, Roscommon and Leitrim.

4. Information returned from Counties Mayo, Cavan and Meath.

5. Information returned from Ulster: Counties Donegal and Antrim.

A. Information collected by Conall C. Ó Beirn, Malin Town, Co. Donegal.

I. Notebook 1

II. Notebook 2

III. Notebook 3


1.   Information returned from Munster: Counties Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford.

1 [List of questions on Irish emigration to America / compiled by Arnold Schrier, in collaboration with Seán Ó Súilleabháin of the Irish Folklore Commission.]   [View...]
2 [Information collected by Tadhg Ó Murchadha, Waterville, Co. Kerry.]   [View...]
3 [Information collected by Dermot O'Sullivan, Lehud N. S., Tuosist, Kenmare, Co. Kerry.]   [View...]
4 [Information collected by Seán Ó Dúbhda, Ballynagall, Dingle, Co. Kerry.]   [View...]
5 [Letter from Seán Ó Caoimh to Seán Ó Súilleabháin of the Irish Folklore Commission.]   [View...]
6 [Information collected by J. O'Keeffe, "a Decies man".]   [View...]
7 [Information collected by Séamus Ó Maolchatha, Grange, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.]   [View...]

2.   Information returned from Leinster: Counties Kildare, Westmeath, Wexford and Meath.

8 [Information collected by Pádraig Ó Conchubhair, Derinturn B. N. S., Carbury, Co. Kildare.]   [View...]
9 [Information collected by Joseph Wade, Crookedwood, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.]   [View...]
10 [Information collected by James G. Delaney, 50 Parnell Street, Wexford.]   [View...]
11 [Information collected by Matthew O'Reilly, Kilbride, Trim, County Meath.]   [View...]

3.   Information returned from Connacht: Counties Mayo, Galway, Roscommon and Leitrim.

12 [Information collected by Ciarán Bairéad, c/o J. B. Kearney, Beechmount House, Turloughmore, Co. Galway: Notebook 1.]   [View...]
13 [Information collected by Thomas Moran, Newfield, Rosturk, Westport, Co. Mayo.]   [View...]
14 [Information collected by Ciarán Bairéad, c/o J. B. Kearney, Beechmount House, Turloughmore, Co. Galway: Notebook 2.]   [View...]
15 [Information collected by Proinnsias De Búrca, Corr na Mónadh, Co. Galway.]   [View...]
16 [Information collected by James J. O'Donnell, Castle Plunkett, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon.]   [View...]
17 [Information collected by Liam Ó Briain, Tullaghow, Co. Leitrim.]   [View...]

4.   Information returned from Counties Mayo, Cavan and Meath.

18 [Information collected from the Barony of Erris by Mícheál Mac Énrí, Bangor Erris, Co. Mayo.]   [View...]
19 [Information collected by Michael Corduff, Rossport, Ballina, Co. Mayo.]   [View...]
20 [Information collected by P. J. Gaynor, Bailieboro', Co. Cavan.]   [View...]

5.   Information returned from Ulster: Counties Donegal and Antrim.

A.   Information collected by Conall C. Ó Beirn, Malin Town, Co. Donegal.

I.   Notebook 1

21 [Cover letter from Conall C. Ó Beirn to Seán Ó Súilleabháin; and response from James Gubban, Ardagh, Ballyliffin, Co. Donegal.]   [View...]
22 [Response from Annie McColgan, Pollan, Ballyliffin, Co. Donegal.]   [View...]
23 [Response from Mrs. B. Douglas (née Crampsey), Carthage Mountain, Malin, Co. Donegal.]   [View...]
24 [Response from Mrs. Mary Douglas, Ballyhellion, Malin Head, Co. Donegal (formerly of the Isle of Doagh).]   [View...]
25 [Response from Mrs. Sarah Doherty, Beagh, Malin, Co. Donegal.]   [View...]

II.   Notebook 2

26 [Response from Charles Rawdon, Moville, Co. Donegal.]   [View...]
27 [Response from Mrs. George Sweeney, Glenagivney, Moville, Co. Donegal.]   [View...]
28 [Response from Mrs. Dan McMullan, Mossyglen, Glenagivney, Moville, Co. Donegal.]   [View...]
29 [Response from John Byrne, Malin Town, Co. Donegal.]   [View...]

III.   Notebook 3

30 [Response from Mrs. John Byrne, Malin Town, Co. Donegal.]   [View...]
31 [Response from Mrs. Michael McLaughlin, Millbrook, Malin Town, Co. Donegal.]   [View...]
32 [Response from John Davis, Lagg, Malin, Co. Donegal.]   [View...]
33 [Response from Patrick Lynch, Carndonagh, Co. Donegal.]   [View...]
34 [Letter from Seán [Ó hEochaidh] to Seán [Ó Súilleabháin], enclosing a letter by Micheál Óg Mac Phaidín.]   [View...]
35 [Information collected by Seán Ó hEochaidh.]   [View...]
36 [Letter from Michael J. Murphy, Farusklin, Glenariffe, Co. Antrim to Seán [Ó Suilleabháin] of the Irish Folklore Commission, regarding emigrant letters he possesses.]   [View...]
37 [Letter from Michael J. Murphy, Farusklin, Glenariffe, Co. Antrim to Seán [Ó Suilleabháin] of the Irish Folklore Commission, enclosing an emigrant letter by Mary Malone, of Glenmore, Co. Waterford; and giving details of same.]   [View...]
38 [Cover letter from Michael J. Murphy, Farusklin, Glenariffe, Co. Antrim to Seán [Ó Suilleabháin] of the Irish Folklore Commission; and title page of information collected from the Glens of Antrim.]   [View...]
39 [Information collected from Michael Leech, The Bay, Glenariffe, Co. Antrim by Michael J. Murphy, Farusklin, Glenariffe, Co. Antrim.]   [View...]
40 [Information collected from Mrs. Stone (née Malone, of Glenariffe), Shore Street, Cushendall, Co. Antrim by Michael J. Murphy, Farusklin, Glenariffe, Co. Antrim.]   [View...]
41 [Information collected from Rosie Emerson, Ballyeamon, Glenaan, Co. Antrim by Michael J. Murphy, Farusklin, Glenariffe, Co. Antrim.]   [View...]
42 [General data regarding emigration to the United States from Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim / by Michael J. Murphy, c/o the Post Office, Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim.]   [View...]

Conditions Governing Access to Original Materials The UCD Delargy Centre for Irish Folklore and the National Folklore Collection welcomes visitors to the archives during public opening hours and will offer any assistance, subject to time and space considerations. Visitors are asked to complete an application form before using the archives. Access to certain materials may from time to time be affected by conservation, processing of documents or other archival requirements.

For further information on accessing original items in this collection, please contact the Delargy Centre for Irish Folklore and the National Folklore Collection directly.

Conditions Governing Access to Digitised Materials Digital surrogates are made available by the Irish Virtual Research Library and Archive (IVRLA), subject to the terms and conditions outlined on this website.

Conditions Governing Use of Original Materials Restrictions may vary depending upon the particular item. Please contact the Delargy Centre for Irish Folklore and the National Folklore Collection for further information.

Conditions Governing Use of Digitised Materials Digital surrogates may only be used in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Irish Virtual Research Library and Archive (IVRLA).