Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1873-1990 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2 sub-series
Context area
Archival history
The original manuscripts of the McKeown Letters were sent by Elizabeth Cosgrove of Leeson Street, Belfast, to Dr. Arnold Schrier on 21 June 1955. Schrier later passed the letters on to his collaborator, Kerby A. Miller.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Materials based around 16 letters written by siblings Michael and Patrick McKeown, and Patrick's daughter Maggie, in Philadelphia to Michael and Patrick's sisters Sarah and Mary and nephew Andrew Cosgrove in County Antrim between 1873 and 1905. The McKeown family appears to have originated in Lisburn. Patrick is the author of the majority of the letters.
Per Bruce D. Boling: 'Patrick McKeown describes himself as a laborer, often in the 'trade' of street-paving. However, from now on he appears to be unemployed more often than employed, partly, he complains, because of competition from New Immigrants, esp. Italians... ...1902-1903: Spent 18 months in New Orleans. Went south to work for a contractor, but the job failed, he got sick, and was stranded for a long time before he could make it back to his family in Philadelphia.'
The series contains Kerby A. Miller's transcripts of the McKeown letters, Arnold Schrier's reproductions of the original manuscripts, and research on Patrick McKeown compiled by Boling and Miller.