Fonds P42 - The Thomas Noonan Collection

Identity area

Reference code

IE 2135 P42

Title

The Thomas Noonan Collection

Date(s)

  • c. 1912-1921, 2007, 2010 and 2015 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

33 items

Context area

Name of creator

(1891-1915)

Biographical history

Thomas Noonan was born on 23 December 1891 and lived with his parents Michael and Catherine Noonan together with his four older sisters and two younger brothers at Ballyguy, Barrington’s Bridge, Limerick. Thomas was educated at Murroe National School and later spent three years as an apprentice at McBirney’s Drapery Emporium in Limerick city. He was engaged in clerical work until May 1914, when the prospect of better opportunities, together with the added spur of relatives already there, encouraged his emigration to Sydney, Australia. In September 1914, he enlisted as a private in the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force. Attached to the 13th Battalion, he spent periods of training in Australia and Egypt. In April 1915, Noonan was wounded in the landings at Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula and was transferred to a military hospital in Cairo for treatment. In July, he was returned to front line duty in Gallipoli, where he was killed in action on 9 August 1915. He is buried at the 7th Field Ambulance Cemetery in Gallipoli.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Donated to the University of Limerick by Michael Noonan, nephew of Thomas Noonan, in two instalments on 28 May 2014 and 31 May 2019.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Diary, letters, campaign medals and other memorabilia relating to Thomas Noonan's military service in the First World War and his death in Gallipoli in August 1915.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

All records have been retained except for two items not connected with Thomas Noonan, which have been returned to the donor.

Accruals

No accruals are expected.

System of arrangement

The material has been divided into four series covering Thomas Noonan’s family background, his military service, his death and the commemoration of his death. The second series has been further sub-divided by form. Within each series and sub-series, the material has been arranged chronologically by date.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Unrestricted access to all items except P42/2/1/1, which is too fragile to be safely handled.

Conditions governing reproduction

Standard copyright regulations apply to all items. For photocopying or reproducing material, please consult with the staff.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Physical characteristics and technical requirements

    Mostly paper documents in good or fragile condition.

    Finding aids

    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

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    Name access points

    Genre access points

    Description control area

    Description identifier

    Rules and/or conventions used

    This description follows guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd edition (2000), Irish Guidelines for Archival Description (2009), National Council on Archives: Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names (1997) and EAP Guidance on Data Protection for Archive Services (2018).

    Status

    Level of detail

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        Sources

        Archivist's note

        Papers arranged and described by Kevin Russell in February 2015 under the supervision of Anna-Maria Hajba. Papers re-catalogued in June 2019 by Anna-Maria Hajba and revised in May 2021.

        Accession area