The M. Michael Corcoran’s Photograph Albums contain photographs taken by Mother Michael Corcoran IBVM (1846-1927), Superior General of the Loreto Sisters. M. Michael was a self-taught photographer who used her camera to capture religious sisters, ministries, pupils, employees and friends of Loreto communities in Ireland and across the world. In 1902, M. Michael became the first Superior General to undertake a visitation of the IBVM communities in India and Australia and her photographic collection consists mainly of images captured during this international visitation. The albums also include images of Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham taken in 1905 and images of Loreto Convent, Balbriggan taken between 1906 and 1907. Her albums should be of interest to anyone interested in M. Michael Corcoran IBVM as an educator or as IBVM Superior General, researchers interested in early 20th century photography, local history, early 20th century convent or school life in Ireland, and in foreign provinces.
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Aerial photograph of Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham showing the farm yard (upper right hand corner of photograph, marked with an x). The Annals Loreto Abbey Rathfarnham 1913-1916 refer to two workmen employed on this farm who participated in the rising. The height from which the photograph was taken is noted as 1,000 feet. The date and title are also written on the verso of the photograph, along with the following note 'farmyard to the right where Stonepark Abbey houses are being erected 1989-1990'.
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Medium sized, hard bound, green photograph album titled 'Ireland, India, Australia, etc, Early 1900's', containing 116 photographs (of assorted sizes), of Ireland, India, and Australia. Embossed on the album cover is 'Impressions of Places & People'. Note the title was attributed by a previous archivist, and cannot be attributed to the photographer, M. Michael Corcoran. The majority of the photographs are captioned, in the handwriting of M. Michael Corcoran.
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Large, hardbound, light brown photograph album, untitled, containing 140 black and white photographs (of assorted sizes), capturing aspects of life in Rathfarnham, Balbriggan, India, and Australia. Locations are generally not identified. Some of the photographs are captioned, many are not.
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Large, hardbound, green photograph album titled 'Ireland, India, Australia' containing 177 black and white photographs (of assorted sizes), capturing aspects of life in Australia, Spain, India, Colombo and Ireland. In 1903, whilst travelling from India to Australia their ship encountered difficulties, M. Michael and her travelling companion, M. Attracta Coffey IBVM, sought shelter with the Little Sisters of the Poor in Colombo. (Note the rear cover of the album has the following text embedded: 'Sunny Memories'.) Other miscellaneous photographs include a portrait photograph of a man captioned as 'A Cingalese'; unidentified pupil playing a violin and a photographic image of the 'Shroud of Turin'. Some of the photographs are captioned, many are not.
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Large, hard bound, light brown photograph album, containing 16 panoramic, black and white photographs, capturing buildings and grounds in Rathfarnham, and two sea views. Embossed on the front cover is 'Kodak Panorams'. This album should be viewed alongside M. Michael Corcoran's other images of Loreto Abbey Rathfarnham. Few of the photographs are captioned, most are not.
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Small, hard bound, green photograph album titled 'Rathfarnham 1904' containing 23 black and white photographs (of uniform size), mainly of the gardens, grounds, buildings, Sisters, pupils and staff in Loreto Abbey Rathfarnham. Some of the photographs are captioned, many are not. The title was attributed by a previous archivist, and cannot be attributed to the photographer, M. Michael Corcoran.
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Large, hardbound, brown and black photograph album titled 'India, Rathfarnham, Balbriggan' containing 96 black and white photographs (of uniform size), capturing aspects of life in Rathfarnham, Balbriggan and India. Note the title was attributed by a previous archivist, and cannot be attributed to the photographer, M. Michael Corcoran.
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