Correspondence between John O'Donovan (1809-1861), and, principally, William Reeves (1815-1892): eighty letters (1832-1860) and twenty-six undated note fragments.

This collection of documents relating to Douglas Hyde comprises of Hyde's memoir and a collection of postcards. Hyde's memoir is in four parts, composed at various periods in 1918-19, mostly when he was ill and confined to bed. It looks back on various aspects of his career in the Irish language movement. The first part of the memoir is 9 pages long and in it Hyde writes of the politicisation of the Gaelic League and his subsequent resignation as President. Part 2 has 44 pages and discusses the Irish Language movement and the resignation of 'Sceilg', the columnist J. J. O'Kelly, at the 'Freeman's Journal'. Part 3 is 21 pages long and in it Hyde discusses the politicisation of the Coiste Gnóha or Executive Committee, the nature of this committee, and the gradual weakening of his own position. Part 4 is 19 pages long and recalls Hyde's first encounter with Thomas O'Neill Russell in 1877, O'Neill Russell's bitter attack on Michael Logan, editor of the American newspaper 'An Gaodhal', on points of grammar, his argumentative personality and his general lack of a sense of proportion. A collection of illustrated postcards with some miscellaneous items, in two sections: 1) Douglas Hyde: Some 60 items, mainly of correspondence, mostly illustrated postcards, in a variety of languages, dated mainly 1895-1938. The majority of items were sent to Hyde by scholars, students, Irish language activists, colleagues and friends in Ireland, the UK, US and continental Europe. Also included are two illustrated postcards sent by Hyde to Mrs Ethel Chance, Birmingham, a family friend, from San Francisco in February 1906. 2) Liam de Róiste: Some 30 postcards, mainly dated 1911-12, relating to his work as Secretary of Coláiste na Mumhan, the Irish College in Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh (Ballingeary), Co. Cork.

The Shan Van Vocht was a national monthly magazine founded in 1896 by two Belfast women, Alice Milligan and Anna Johnston (later Anna MacManus) following their departure from another journal, the Northern Patriot. The Shan Van Vocht contained literature, poetry, historical articles, and political commentary, as well as news and events of various cultural and political societies. Poetry and prose in Irish were included, occasionally with an English translation. As the centenary commemorations of 1798 approached, many issues included articles, short stories, oral histories, and poetry relating to the United Irishmen’s rebellion. Alice Milligan is listed as the editor and Anna Johnston as the secretary in most issues, but in practice the two are believed to have acted as co-editors. Both women also wrote for the journal; Anna Johnston, often under the name ‘Ethna Carbery’, and Alice Milligan, sometimes under the name ‘Iris Olkyrn’. James Connolly, Douglas Hyde, and Arthur Griffith were among those who contributed to the Shan Van Vocht. The journal also featured writings by P. J. McCall, Lionel Johnson, T.W. Rolleston, John MacNeill, William Rooney, Michael Cusack, Thomas Concannon, Alice Furlong, Nora Hopper, and Seumas MacManus under the pen name ‘Mac’. In 1899 the Shan Van Vocht ceased publication and the subscription lists were transferred to Arthur Griffith’s United Irishman.