A collection of material related to the Easter Rising 1916 from the IBVM (Loreto) Institute & Irish Province Archives, including contemporaneous accounts of the Rising as observed by the Loreto Sisters at St Stephen’s Green Dublin and Loreto Abbey Rathfarnham. The material is collated from three separate Loreto archival collections: the community archives of Loreto Abbey Rathfarnham; Loreto College, 53 St Stephen’s Green; and M. Michael Corcoran IBVM, Superior General 1888 – 1918. The collection comprises of two manuscript community annals, a military permit, picture postcards from Loreto Abbey Rathfarnham and Loreto College, 53 St Stephen’s Green, and a typed letter from M. Michael Corcoran IBVM, Superior General 1888 – 1918.

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.

Postcard a view of the grounds of Loreto College, 53 St Stephen’s Green. Commercially produced c. 1930’s, but building was little altered from 1916.

Postcard of Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham, depicting the front lawn, a pupil playing with a dog, and farm workers mowing and saving hay on the back lawn.

Postcard of the grounds and tennis courts of Loreto College, 53 St Stephen’s Green. The postcard was commercially produced c. 1930’s, but the grounds were little altered from 1916.

Postcard of the senior classroom in Loreto College, 53 St Stephen’s Green. Commercially produced c. 1930’s, but building was little altered from 1916.

Postcard of the terrace in the grounds of Loreto College, 53 St Stephen’s Green. The postcard was commercially produced c. 1930’s, but the grounds were little altered from 1916.

Postcard sized photograph of young boarders in school uniforms, holding tennis racquets. On the verso of the photograph is written 'Loreto Archive, pupils Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham'.

Postcard of the library in Loreto College, 53 St Stephen’s Green. The postcard was commercially produced c. 1930’s, but the building was little altered from 1916.

Postcard of the view from Loreto College, 53 St Stephen’s Green. The postcard was commercially produced c. 1930’s, but the building was little altered from 1916.

Postcard of the hard tennis court in the grounds of Loreto College, 53 St Stephen’s Green. The postcard was commercially produced c. 1930’s, but the grounds were little altered from 1916.

Postcard of a reception room in Loreto College, 53 St Stephen’s Green. The postcard was commercially produced c. 1930’s, but the building was little altered from 1916.

Postcard of the grounds of Loreto College, 53 St Stephen’s Green. The postcard was commercially produced c. 1930’s, but the grounds were little altered from 1916.

Postcard of the entrance hall in Loreto College, 53 St Stephen’s Green. The postcard was commercially produced c. 1930’s, but the building was little altered from 1916.

Postcard of the concert hall in Loreto College, 53 St Stephen’s Green. Commercially produced c. 1930’s, but building was little altered from 1916.

Postcard of the pupils' dining hall in Loreto College, 53 St Stephen’s Green. Commercially produced c. 1930’s, but building was little altered from 1916.

Postcard of the altar in Loreto College, 53 St Stephen’s Green. The postcard was commercially produced c. 1930’s, but the building was little altered from 1916.

A corridor in Loreto College, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin. The corridor is mentioned in the Annals Loreto College 53 St Stephen’s Green 1914 - 1918 (SSG/3).

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'.

Unidentified beach. Two women sit in a stationary buggy drawn by a small pony, one an unidentified Sister, sits with hands clasped, the other an unidentified lady with straw hat and horse whip raised in hand. The unidentified lady leans towards the Sister. An unidentified girl, in dark clothing, white collar and straw hat stands at the horse's head. Sand dune in rear, seaweed strewn rocks in foreground. The date 1906 – 1907 has been attributed to this photograph, as M. Michael took many photographs of the beach in Balbriggan, adjacent to Loreto Convent Balbriggan, during her sojourn there from 1906 – 1907.

Lucknow, India. Elephant kneeling down, with ornamental markings on ears, forehead and below eye, man sits behind his ears, second man stands beside ladder for access to seating platform on elephants' back. Man on elephant wears turban and long coat, man standing beside ladder wears short trousers and long sleeved top, barefoot with hat. Sister sits on elephant's back, on seating platform, second sister stands beside elephant, hand on ladder, looking towards camera and holds piece of paper in her hand. Sister on ground has train of her habit hooked into waist of habit, trees in background.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hand coloured portrait of M. Michael Corcoran.

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.

Lucknow, India. Two sisters standing outdoors, in area with trees, with man wearing turban riding camel and leading a second camel to their left. One sister holds her hand up to her eyes, shielding from sun, second sister face downcast, trains of habit hooked into waist bands and second sister has long, narrow pouch hanging from her wrist/waist.

Rome, Italy. Full length portrait of M. Michael Corcoran IBVM, standing in the ruins of what appears to be ancient Rome. She stands behind a balustrade, the remains of a column to her left, further ruins of building and column in the background. This image can also be found in her photograph albums: MC/PHO/02 and MC/PHO/03.

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.

Hornsby, Australia. Two sisters, outdoors, one in foreground, one in background stand along muddy path, with rocky outcrop behind them. Both stand in side profile, looking away from camera. Sister in foreground, grasps umbrella and large straw sun hat with dark edging, train of habit is hooked into waist of habit. Sister in background stands with hand on wooden post looking out into distance.

Lucknow, India. Two sisters walking outdoors, amongst palm trees, one carrying white/light coloured umbrella, and appears taller than the second figure.