Finding Aid for the Thomas J. Carroll Papers, 1938-1971


Overview of the Collection
Repository:	John J. Burns Library of Rare Books and Special Collections, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Creator:	Carroll, Thomas J.
Title:	Thomas J. Carroll Papers
Dates:	1938-1971 (bulk 1943-1959)
Quantity:	1.5 linear ft (3 boxes)
Abstract:	The collection documents the life and work of Reverend Thomas J Carroll. It includes correspondence, manuscripts, photographs, postcards, and published works.
Identification:	MS2003-14
Language:	The materials found in this collection are primarily written in English. It also contains some German and Latin language materials.

Biographical Note

Reverend Thomas J. Carroll was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, on 1909 August 6. He graduated from Gloucester High School in 1928 and went on to study Greek, Latin, and Philosophy at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. After graduation in 1932, Carroll decided to become a Roman Catholic priest. He studied at St. John's Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts and was ordained in 1938.

Carroll's first assignment in the Boston archdiocese was as Assistant Director of the Catholic Guild for the Blind. Remaining assistant director of the guild, he also served as an auxiliary chaplain at Avon Old Farms Convalescent Hospital in Connecticut and at the Valley Forge General Hospital in Pennsylvania from 1944 to 1949. In 1947, he became Director of the Catholic Guild for the Blind.

As director of the guild, Carroll initiated several programs to improve services for the blind. One of Carroll's concerns was that of safety. Having worked with Dr. Richard Hoover, the developer of the long cane, Carroll brought the idea of using a "safe traveling" long cane to the Guild in 1952 and in 1954, he established St. Paul's Rehabilitation Center for the Blind. In 1961, he published his book, Blindness: What it is, What it Does, and How to Live with It. In 1963, he founded the American Center for Research and Blindness and in 1965 he established St. Raphael's Geriatric Adjustment Center. St. Raphael's and St. Paul's merged in 1973 due to lack of funding. Carroll served as a member of the National Advisory of Neurological Diseases and Blindness Council from 1964 to 1971 and as a member of the Department of Health Education, Welfare, and National Advisory Council on Vocational Rehabilitation from 1959 to 1963. Carroll received many awards for his work with the blind. He also wrote several articles about blindness, contributing especially to the periodical Listen.

In addition to his responsibilities as Director of the Catholic Guild for the Blind, Carroll was very active within the Archdiocese of Boston and the National Liturgical Conference. Carroll was also a member of the board of directors for the Sacramental Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Boston from 1947 to 1965, and a delegate of the International Congress on Pastoral Liturgy in 1956.

The Reverend Thomas J. Carroll died suddenly on 1971 April 24. The Catholic Guild for the Blind was renamed The Carroll Rehabilitation Center for the Visually Impaired in Carroll's honor in 1972.

Scope and Content Note

The Reverend Thomas J. Carroll Papers pertain to the life and work of Reverend Thomas J. Carroll. The bulk of the materials are from the 1940s and 1950s. The collection consists primarily of the incoming and outgoing correspondence of Father Carroll. Many of the letters discuss aspects of the liturgical weeks, the liturgical movement, and work with the blind. The collection also includes letters and photographs from Reverend Dekan George Nilges of Frankfurt, Germany. The materials from Nilges relate to the general condition of Frankfurt, Germany, including the city's religious life after World War II.

Series Description

The collection is arranged by into five series:

Series I. Correspondence, 1940-1965

Series II. Manuscripts, 1953-1971

Series III. Published Works, 1949-1971

Series IV. Certificate, undated

Series V. Photographs and Postcards, 1940-1957

Series I. Correspondence: The Correspondence series is the largest series of the collection. It consists of Carroll's professional and personal correspondence, the bulk of which relates to his work at the Catholic Guild for the Blind and the National Liturgical Conference. The records in this series contain letters and telegrams sent and received by Carroll, who corresponded with religious women, fellow clergymen, and seminarians. The folders are arranged alphabetically by the correspondent's last name. Notable correspondents include Reverend Robert Carolyn, Seminarians, and Reverend George Nilges. The contents of the folder "Seminarians" are arranged alphabetically by last name.

Series II. Manuscripts: Manuscripts includes a miscellaneous collection of works dealing with the Catholic Church and the military. It is divided into two sub-series: Writings by the Carroll and Writings by Others. Subseries A. The Writings by Reverend Carroll consists of four public addresses and a manuscript entitled, "How Christian Worship Works." It is arranged chronologically. Subseries B. Writings by Others consists of four unpublished manuscripts, including three written by women. This series is arranged alphabetically by author.

Series III. Published Works: The Published Works series consists of five folders, containing two publications by Reverend William Busch, one publication by Sr. M. Francille, C.S.J., a copy of the publication Listen, and a publication by S. Mary Mark, I.H.M. The series is arranged alphabetically by author or title.

Series IV. Certificate: This series includes one certificate of testament given in memory of Annie J. Halloran by the Reverend Carroll as president of the Catholic Guild for the Blind.

Series V. Photographs and Postcards: Most of the photographs and postcards were originally located in the correspondence folder and were from Reverend George Nilges of Germany. One postcard pictures the cathedral and ancient city of Frankfurt before their destruction in WWII. Many of the pictures and postcards are labeled and written on in English, Latin, and German. These photos may be of interest to those studying post-WWII Catholicism in Germany and those interested in looking at pre-Vatican II priestly garb.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright interests have not been transferred to Boston College. For further information, see the section on copyright in the Burns Library's Rules for the Reading Room.

Index Terms

Carroll, Thomas J. -- Correspondence.

Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Boston (Mass.) -- Clergy -- Correspondence.

Catholic Church -- Liturgy -- History -- Sources.

Catholic Church -- United States -- Liturgy -- History -- 20th century -- Sources.

Catholic Guild for the Blind (Boston, Mass.) -- History -- Sources.

Blind -- Services for -- History -- Sources.

Liturgical movement -- Catholic Church -- History -- Sources.

Frankfurt am Main (Germany) -- Church history -- Sources.

Busch, William, 1882-1971.

Chevigny, Hector, 1904-1965.

Diekmann, Godfrey.

Ellard, Gerald, 1894-1963.

Leonard, William J.

McManus, Frederick R. (Frederick Richard), 1923-

Nigles, Dekan George.

Reinhold, Hans Ansgar, 1897-1968.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, Box Number, Folder Number, Thomas J. Carroll Papers, MS2003-14, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Acquisition Information

Gift from William J. Leonard, SJ.

Processing Information

Inventoried by Beth Ann Raymond, Spring 2004; finding aid edited and encoded by Kelli Bogan, Fall 2006.

Sources

The Carroll Center for the Blind [http://www.carroll.org]. March 2004.

Carroll, Thomas J. Blindness: What It Is, What It Does, and How to Live with It. Boston: Little, Brown & Company, 1961.

The New York Times Obituaries. Special to the New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Apr 25, 1971. p. 71.

Muldoon, John F., ed. Essays on Blindness Rehabilitation in honor of Thomas J. Carroll: a festschrift. New York: American Foundation for the Blind, c. 1990.

Detailed Description of the Collection


Series I. Correspondence, 1940-1965
		Series Description
		The Correspondence series is the largest series of the collection. It consists of Carroll's professional and personal correspondence, the bulk of which relates to his work at the Catholic Guild for the Blind and the National Liturgical Conference. The records in this series contain letters and telegrams sent and received by Carroll, who corresponded with religious women, fellow clergymen, and seminarians. The folders are arranged alphabetically by the correspondent's last name. Notable correspondents include Reverend Robert Carolyn, Seminarians, and Reverend George Nilges. The contents of the folder "Seminarians" are arranged alphabetically by last name.
Box	Folder
1	1	Berrigan, Thomas, 1956 May-September
	2	Busch, Reverend William, 1946 June-1954 April
	3	Carolyn, Reverend Robert, 1946 October-December
	4	Carolyn, Reverend Robert, 1947 January-October
	5	Carolyn, Reverend Robert, 1949 January-October
	6	Carolyn, Reverend Robert, 1958 March-August
	7	Carolyn, Reverend Robert, 1951 April 11
	8	Carolyn, Reverend Robert, 1963 June-December
	9	Caufield, Dr. Thomas E, 1963 Spring-Summer
	10	Chevingy, Hector, 1948 April-1951 December
	11	Chevingy, Hector, 1952 April-1959 March
	12	Dillion, Reverend Robert E, 1938 February-1952 March
	13	Ellard, Reverend Gerald SJ, 1943 October-1954 December
	14	Francille, Sr. M, CSJ, 1940 March-1965 July
	15	Gartland, Reverend Frank, CSC, 1948 January-February
	16	Geaney, Reverend Dennis, OSB, 1944 September-1951 February
	17	Godfrey, Reverend Diekman, OSB, 1945 September-1961 October
	18	Irizarry, Reverend Raul, 1943 February-1953 January
	19	Jordan, Reverend Max, 1953 March-June
	20	Kenney, Reverend Philip J, 1943 July-1952 February
2	1	Laukemper, Reverend Bernard, 1946 December-1949
	2	Leonard, Reverend William SJ, 1944 March-1959 March
	3	Letters to Men Religious, 1954 and 1960
	4	McManus, Reverend Fred, 1949 March-1960 February
	5	Nilges, Reverend George, 1947 January-1955 May
	6	Reinhold, Reverend Hans Oscar, 1947 January-1961 October
	7	Ryan, John J and Mary Perkins, 1946 September-1956 December
	8	Seminarians, Burke-Sellew, 1946 December-1948 May
	9	Stein, Stanley, 1947 October-1953 July
	10	Therrien, Alfred J, 1945 December-1958 May


Series II. Manuscripts, 1953-1971, undated
		Series Description
		Manuscripts includes a miscellaneous collection of works dealing with the Catholic Church and the military. It is divided into two sub-series: Writings by the Carroll and Writings by Others. Subseries A. The Writings by Reverend Carroll consists of four public addresses and a manuscript entitled, "How Christian Worship Works." It is arranged chronologically. Subseries B. Writings by Others consists of four unpublished manuscripts, including three written by women. This series is arranged alphabetically by author.
	Subseries A. Writings by Carroll, 1953-1971, undated
	11		Address--"Pope Pius XII Envisions the Future," 1953 August
	12		Addresses to the Blinded Veteran's Association, 1969 and 1970
	13		Address--"A Look at Aging," 1971 March 25
	14		Manuscript--"How Christian Worship Works," undated
	Subseries B. Writings By Others 1963, undated
	15		Agusta, Sr. Marie: Change in the Church: the Boston Case, 1963
	16		Francille, Sr. M, CSJ "Corporate Worship Affecting the School," undated
	17		Perkins, Mary "Our Task as Parents--Heaven Help Us," undated
	18		Ryan, John Julian "A Manual of the Psychology of Military Leadership," undated


Series III. Published Works, 1949-1971
		Series Description
		The Published Works series consists of five folders, containing two publications by Reverend William Busch, one publication by Sr. M. Francille, C.S.J., a copy of the publication Listen, and a publication by S. Mary Mark, I.H.M. The series is arranged alphabetically by author or title.
	19	Busch, Rev. William-- Family Papers, 1949 May
	20	Busch, Rev. William-- Secularism in Church Architecture, 1955 November-December
	21	Francille, Sr. M, CSJ-- History of Salvation, 1963 March
	22	Listen, Volume XXIII, No. 1, 1971 summer
	23	Mark, Sr. Mary, IHM-- Teaching Piano to Blind Children, 1960


Series IV. Certificate, undated
		Series Description
		This series includes one certificate of testament given in memory of Annie J. Halloran by the Reverend Carroll as president of the Catholic Guild for the Blind.
	24	Catholic Guild of the Blind Certificate to Annie J. Halloran, undated


Series V. Photographs and Postcards, 1940-1957, undated
		Series Description
		Most of the photographs and postcards were originally located in the correspondence folder and were from Reverend George Nilges of Germany. One postcard pictures the cathedral and ancient city of Frankfurt before their destruction in WWII. Many of the pictures and postcards are labeled and written on in English, Latin, and German. These photos may be of interest to those studying post-WWII Catholicism in Germany and those interested in looking at pre-Vatican II priestly garb.
3	1	Chapel, 1944/1946
	2	Outdoor mass, postcard, 1946
	3	Outdoor mass, postcard, 1947
	4	Prayer-card in German, 1947
	5	Frankfurt--Opernhaus, postcard, 1948 April
	6	Nilges, candid photo outdoors, 1948 July
	7	Nilges, candid photo with priests, 1948 November
	8	Nilges, portrait in library, 1949 August
	9	with Bishop Kempf and priests, 1949 November
	10	Bishop Kempf in youthful crowd, 1949 November
	11	Nilges, with priest standing nest to altar, 1951
	12	Nilges, procession, 1952
	13	Nilges, portrait, 1954 December
	14	Church, photograph, 1957 July
	15	Nilges, small portrait photograph, [1940?]
	16	Nilges, procession, [1946?]
	17	Nilges, boys class photo, undated
	18	Nilges, girls class photo, undated
	19	Bishop of Munich in Procession, undated
	20	Nilges with Bishop Dr. Kempf, undated
	21	Frankfurt church Heilig-Kreuz in Frankfurt, undated
	22	Church Heilig-Kreuz, postcard, undated
	23	Interior of Heilig-Kreuz Kirche in Frankfurt, undated
	24	Cathedral and city before WWII, postcard, undated
	25	Note card with girls and flowers, undated
	26	Alfred J Therrien, portrait photograph, undated

		Copyright notice: This finding aid was created in the John J. Burns Library of Boston College and is copyrighted by the Board of Trustees of Boston College. It may be reproduced in whole or in part with proper attribution: Title of finding aid, Archives & Manuscripts, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.
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