Series 1 - Paper Documents

Identity area

Reference code

IE 2135 P37/1

Title

Paper Documents

Date(s)

  • c. 1887-c. 2002 (Creation)

Level of description

Series

Extent and medium

2 files and 14 items

Context area

Name of creator

(1874-19??)

Biographical history

Agnes Mary Gaffney was born in Limerick in 1874 to Thomas Gaffney and Agnes Mary née Clune and was educated at Laurel Hill Convent. She was her parents’ only surviving daughter, but had several brothers, many of whom became prominent figures in Irish public life. Among these were James Gaffney (1866-1933), who became a Crown solicitor for county Limerick; Joseph Gaffney (1868-1897), a prominent figure in municipal politics in Limerick and High Sheriff of the city during the year 1896; and Thomas St John Gaffney (1864-1932), who emigrated to America and served as US Consul General at Dresden and Munich in Germany from 1905 to 1915. A strong pro-Irish nationalist, he openly supported Germany during the First World War, which cost him his consular post.

Agnes Mary Gaffney divided her time between Ireland and America as a socialite and featured prominently in the cultural life of both countries. She also took an interest in women’s rights issues through the influence of her sister-in-law Frances Humphreys Gaffney née Smith, who was elected president of the National Council of Women in America in 1899. Agnes settled permanently in Ireland following her marriage to George Robert Ryan in 1900. Her subsequent life history is unknown.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

This series contains a scrapbook and paper documents loosely inserted between its pages.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The documents have been arranged chronologically by date.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • English
  • German

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Physical characteristics and technical requirements

    Finding aids

    Paper documents in good or fragile condition.

    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    Existence and location of copies

    Related units of description

    Related descriptions

    Notes area

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Access points

    Subject access points

    Place access points

    Name access points

    Genre access points

    Description control area

    Description identifier

    Rules and/or conventions used

    Status

    Level of detail

    Language(s)

      Script(s)

        Sources

        Accession area