ADN 0002.004 John J. O'Connor papers, 1873-1928 (bulk 1900-1927) ADN 0002.004 Finding aid prepared by Maura Kenny

The Monsignor Field Archives & Special Collection Center

Walsh Library, 400 South Orange Ave, South Orange, NJ 07079

2009 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-09-24T11:38-0400 Describing Archives: A Content Standard 2012 Added information regarding use, access, acquisiton information, controlled access points, etc. John J. O'Connor papers ADN 0002.004 The Monsignor Field Archives & Special Collection Center 9.5 Linear feet 27 boxes Bulk, 1900-1927 1873-1928 (bulk 1900-1927) John J. O'Connor was born in Newark, NJ in 1855, attended Seton Hall College and the North American College in Rome. He was a priest of the Diocese of Newark, a professor at Seton Hall College, the Vicar General of the Diocese under Bishop Winand Wigger, and became Bishop of the Diocese of Newark upon the death of Bishop Wigger, in 1901. He served as bishop until his death in 1927. The John J. O'Connor papers include the personal and professional papers of Bishop O'Connor, primarily from his time as the Bishop of the Diocese of Newark; these materials include episcopal and legal documents, correspondence, visitation ledgers, and other materials. The collection also includes some professional papers of Bishop O'Connor's Vicar General, Rev. John Sheppard, and his Chancellor, Rev. Thomas Wallace. O'Connor, John J., (John Joseph) Related Archival Materials note

Michael A. Corrigan papers, 1870-1902, ADN 0002.002, in the Msgr. William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center.

Salt family letters, 1808-1917 (bulk 1850-1890), Mss 0035, in the Msgr. William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center.

Winand Wigger papers, 1864-1919, ADN 0002.003, in the Msgr. William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center.

Processing Information note

Collection was processed by Maura Kenny in 2009, finding aid created by Maura Kenny and Elizabeth O'Donnell in 2009, and HTML finding aid with minor edits to collection-level description created by Tracy M. Jackson, 2012.

Preferred Citation note

[Item], in the John J. O'Connor papers, ADN 0002.004, Monsignor William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center, Seton Hall University.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Materials were transferred to the Archives and Special Collections Center from the Archdiocese of Newark in 1986 and 2007. Accession numbers include 1986.004.ADN, 2007.01.19.RTW, and 2007.05.21.JJO.

Conditions Governing Use

All materials available in this collection (unless otherwise noted) are the property of the Monsignor William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center and Seton Hall University, which reserves the right to limit access to or reproduction of these materials. Reproduction of materials or content is subject to United States copyright restrictions and may be subject to federal or state privacy regulations. Permission to publish exact reproductions must be obtained from the Director of the Archives and Special Collections Center.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to researchers at the Msgr. William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center. Advance appointments are required for the use of archival materials.

Biographical/Historical note

John Joseph O'Connor was born in St. James parish, Newark on June 11, 1855. He was the son of Thomas and Catherine Farrell O'Connor who immigrated from Ireland. Thomas O'Connor was a contractor and builder. John attended St. James parish school then moved to Bernard Kearney's School, a private institution located near to St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedra, Newark, NJ. He continued his education at Seton Hall Preparatory School and Seton Hall College in South Orange, NJ from which he graduated in 1873. He then was sent by Bishop Wigger to the North American College in Rome to prepare for the priesthood. John was ordained at the age of 22 in 1877. He spent an additional year at the American College in Louvain, Belgium before returning to the Diocese of Newark to begin his priestly assignments.

Father O'Connor spent the next seventeen years at Seton Hall College where he taught Philosophy and Theology and eventually became the director of the Seminary. During this time he served as chaplain to St. Mary's Orphanage in Newark, NJ and helped at various parishes on weekends. In 1895 he was appointed pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Newark. At the same time he served as vicar general to Bishop Wigger.

Upon the death of Bishop Wigger, John Joseph O'Connor was appointed as the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Newark and was consecrated on July 25, 1901 by Archbishop Michael Corrigan of the Archdiocese of New York, formerly the second Bishop of the Diocese of Newark. Bishop O'Connor served the people of Newark for the next twenty six years until his death in 1927.

During Bishop O'Connor's tenure the Catholic population of the Diocese increased from 290,000 to over 680,000. Churches, grammar and high schools, orphanages, homes for the aged, and hospitals increased in proportion. Approximately 122 parishes were started, of which 56 were national parishes to serve the growing immigrant communities. The numbers of priests and teaching sisters increased accordingly.

Bishop O'Connor died on May 27, 1927 at Bishop's House on the Seton Hall campus after having celebrated fifty years as a priest and more than twenty five years as the spiritual leader of the Catholics of the Diocese of Newark.

Scope and Contents note

O'Connor's papers are primarily from his tenure as Bishop of the Diocese of Newark. These papers are sketchy at best but do include letters to his family while he studied in Louvain, Belgium. Correspondence from Pope Pius X and copies of encyclicals are included in the collection. Visitation ledgers, legal documents relating to real estate transactions and bequests under wills, and episcopal documents relating to incorporation documents and letters concerning personnel questions are included. The papers of O'Connor's Vicar General, Rev. John Sheppard, and his Chancellor, Rev. Thomas Wallace are also in this collection.

Arrangement note

The collection is arranged into twelve series:

Episcopal documents Legal documents Correspondence Institutions and agencies Religious communities Visitation ledgers Invitations and announcements Petitions Personal Vicar General John Sheppard papers Chancellor Thomas Wallace papers Financial Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Newark (N.J.). O'Connor, John J., (John Joseph) Seton Hall University - History - Sources. Sheppard, John Wallace, Thomas A. Catholic Church--History--20th century. Catholic schools. Catholic universities and colleges. Catholics, Greek--New Jersey. Catholics--Newark (N.J.)--History Church growth--Catholic Church. Italian American Catholics--New Jersey Monasticism and religious orders for women--New Jersey--History. Episcopal documents Series I. Election of Diocesan administrator 1 1 1927 Analysis of new regulations regarding names proposed for episcopal office 1 2 1917 Priest conference topics 1 3 1903 - 1914 Sponsalia and Marriage - James Mooney 1 4 1908 Parish related - volume I church debt 1 5 1901 Collection book enclosures including parish assessment schedules 1 6 1903 - 1906; 1911; undated Parish related - establishment in Harrington Park 1 7 1901 Personnel matters - Conroy, Rev. T. A. 1 8 1901 Personnel matters - Fabriozio, Rev. Donato 1 9 1903 Personnel matters - Funcke, Fr. Gerard 1 10 1902 - 1903 Personnel matters - Kelly, Rev. John 1 11 1903 Personnel matters - Meyer, Fr. George 1 12 1903 Corporation records 9 1904-1925 Legal documents Series II. U S War Department regulations - teachers in Philippine Islands 1 13 no date Zabriskie, John J vs Magauran, Lydia Ann 1 14 1901 Revere, Paul will 1 15 1901 Roderer, Joseph will and codicile 1 16 1901 Newark - Central Avenue trolley line 1 17 1901 - 1902 Albano, Francesco vs Sansone, Vincenzo 1 18 1902 Church of St. Rock, Newark vs Congregadi San Rocco, Newark 1 19 1901 - 1902 Skraba, John vs St. Michael's Greek Catholic Church, Passaic 1 20 1904 Kerrington, Sarah will 1 21 1903 Gartlanr, Elizabeth will 1 22 1900 N J State Board of children's guardians 1 23 1901 Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Bayonne vs St. Mary Carmelite R. C. Polish Church 1 24 1900 Callery, Catherine will and cemetery regulation act 1 25 1901; 1899 Shanley, John vs Gross, Henry A. 1 26 1906 Real estate correspondence with Kearns, William and Duffy, Msgr. John 1 27 1920 - 1925 Correspondence Series III. Papal, Bishop, Archbishop Meetings of Archbishops 1 28 1901 - 1904; 1907 - 1913 Leo XIII letters and encyclicals; Pius X letters and encyclicals 1 29 1902 - 1903 Pius X encyclical 1 30 1904 - 1905 Pius X encyclical 1 31 1907 Pius X letters 1 32 1906 - 1909 Bishops and Archbishops A - F 1 33 1901 - 1920 Bishops and Archbishops G - Gi 1 34 1901 - 1926 Bishops and Archbishops Gl - Mc 1 35 1901 - 1926 Bishops and Archbishops Me - Z 1 36 1901 - 1926 Appeals - Negro and Indian missions 1 37 no dates Pius X 1 38 1902 - 1907 Propaganda fide 2 1 1901 Propaganda fide 2 2 1902 Propaganda fide 2 3 1903 - 1905 Propaganda fide 2 4 1906 - 1908 Pastoral and circular General 2 5 1901 - 1906 General 2 6 1907 - 1911 General 2 7 1912 - 1916 General 2 8 1922 - 1925 Decree on First Communion for children 2 9 1910 Form letters 2 10 1911 - 1913 General A - M 2 11 1901 N - Z 2 12 1901 A - F 2 13 1902 G - Z 2 14 1902 A - C 2 15 1903 D - Z 2 16 1903 A - E 2 17 1904 F - J 2 18 1904 K - O 2 19 1904 P - Z 2 20 1904 A - Kea 2 21 1905 Kel - Z 2 22 1905 A - Z 2 23 1906 A - Z 2 24 1907 - 1910 A - Z 2 25 1911 - 1918 A - Z 2 26 1922 - 1926 Catholic Chinese mission 3 1 1917 Greek Catholics 3 2 1901 - 1904 Greek Catholics - letters and by-laws of St. Michael's, Passaic 3 3 1926 Greek Catholics 3 4 1905 - 1907; 1913 Wolf, Albert 3 5 1902 - 1910 Golden Jubilee of Diocese - preparation and program 3 6 1903 Testimonials; recommendations 3 7 Testimonials; recommendations 3 8 Testimonials; recommendations 3 9 Testimonials; recommendations 3 10 Testimonials; recommendations 3 11 General 3 12 1902 - 1928 Institutions and Agencies Series IV. Arlington protectorate 4 1 1901 - 1912 Arlington protectorate; St. Anthony's orphan asylum 4 2 1913 - 1914; 1910 - 1914 Society of St. Vincent de Paul; instructions for forming conferences 4 3 1911 Correspondence A - H 4 4 Correspondence I - M 4 5 Correspondence N - Z 4 6 Correspondence - Newark 4 7 Columbus Cadet Corp 4 8 1922 Pontifical College of North America 4 9 1906; 1910 Seton Hall College 4 10 1905 - 1925 Religious Communities Series V. Baptistine Sisters 4 11 1913 - 1917 Benedictine Sisters 4 12 1901 - 1927 Benedictine Sisters - Sister Theresa McCormick, OSB 4 13 1902 - 1903 Dominican Nuns of the Second Order of Perpetual Adoration 4 14 1901 - 1903 Dominican Nuns of the Second Order of Perpetual Adoration 4 15 1904 - 1927 Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary 4 16 1911 - 1914 Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary 4 17 1920 - 1927 Female orders: Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis; Sisters of Notra Dame; etc 4 18 1901 - 1905 Male orders: Franciscan; salesian; Passionists; Xaverian Brothers; etc 4 19 Sisters of Charity - Grey Nuns - report of Boston working girls home 4 20 1901 Sisters of St. Joseph, Erie, Pa. - Sr. Josephine or Seraphim renegade nun 4 21 1901 Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace - summary of activities prepared for silver jubilee 4 22 1903 - 1927 Visitation ledgers Series VI. Ledger - very fragile 5 1 1902 - 1913 Ledger - very fragile 5 2 1901 - 1903 Invitations and Announcements Series VII. Invitations 6 1 1903 - 1904 Invitations 6 2 1903 - 1904 Invitations 6 3 1903 - 1904 Invitations 6 4 1903 - 1905 Commencements, Ordinations 6 5 1905 - 1909 Investitures 6 6 1903 Investitures, consecrations, anniversaries 6 7 1905 - 1909 Menus, anniversaries, dedications 6 8 1905 - 1909 Essex County election handbills; Ordinations etc 6 9 1906; 1905 - 1913 Ordinations; Commencements 6 10 1903 - 1905 Ordinations; Consecrations; etc 6 11 1905 - 1909 Seton Hall College 6 12 1902 - 1904 Seton Hall College 6 13 1905 - 1913 Seton Hall College 6 14 1905 - 1913 Petitions Series VIII. Passaic Catholics 6 15 1901 - 1902 Orange and Paterson Catholics 6 16 1907 McDowell, Rev John - Italian church At Madison 6 17 undated Fire insurance agents; Hungarian and Slavish priests; Holy Name Societies 6 18 1907; 1906; 1911 Newark, Bayonne, Elizabeth, Garfield, Jersey City, Hoboken Catholics 6 19 1901; 1902; 1911 Dispensations 6 20 1901 - 1919 Personal Series IX. Letters, notes, fragments 7 1 1904 - 1923 Letters to family from Louvain 7 2 1873, 1874 Letters to family from Louvain 7 3 1875, 1876, 1877 Consecration letter of appointment 7 4 June 21, 1901 Consecration - letters from Bishops, family, clergy, friends 7 5 1901 Diplomas, awards, recognitions 7 6 Silver Jubilee of Ordination - invitation responses 7 7 1902 Silver Jubilee of Ordination - invitations and programs 7 8 Dec 1902 Silver Jubilee of Ordination - invitation responses clergy - C - D 7 9 1902 Silver Jubilee of Ordination - invitation responses clergy E - H 7 10 1902 Silver Jubilee of Ordination - invitation responses clergy L - McE 7 11 1902 Silver Jubilee of Ordination - invitation responses clergy McG - O 7 12 1902 Silver Jubilee of Ordination - invitation responses clergy P - Z 7 13 1902 Silver Jubilee of Consecration - second meeting to formulate preliminary plans 7 14 1926 Silver Jubilee of Ordination news clips - very fragile 7 15 Dec 1902 Appointment to Assistant at the Pontifical Throne - letter of appointment 7 16 1910 20th anniversary of Episcopate 7 17 1921 Death - lists of attending Bishops; honorary pall bearers; resolutions 7 18 1927 Death - correspondence 7 19 1927 -1935 Death - mass cards, invitations, programs 7 20 1927 Estate - will, family correspondence, attorney correspondence 7 21 1927 Estate - correspondence 7 22 1927 - 1935 Estate - bank statements, insurance 7 23 1920 - 1928 St. Patrick's Cathedral - Vespers in honor of Blessed Virgin Mary 7 24 undated Breviary 8 Canon Missae - very fragile 9 Pontificale Romanum volumes II and III - fragile 10 Personal bank statements 27 1898 -1928 Wallet 27 Pocket notebook 27 Keys 27 Medallion - alumni of urban university: obverse - preach the gospel to all creatures in the universe; reverse - doctrine and faith (in Latin) from Tiffany and Company 27 Busts of John J. O'Connor, 28 undated News clips - very fragile Indians of today, Indian schools, Cocopah Indians 11 1 1900 - 1920 New race problems in South 11 2 1900 - 1920 Discovery of seedless navel orange, routes for wheelmen 11 3 1900 - 1920 Catholic demands religious education, suicide increasing 11 4 1900 - 1920 Immigration, contrast between Jesuit questions and Know-Nothing lines 11 5 1900 - 1920 Parochial and personal 11 6 1900 - 1920 Recall of judges 11 7 1900 - 1920 Biography 11 8 1900 - 1920 Excise and saloons; Gov. Forte and Atlantic City 11 9 1900 - 1920 Hatters' strike - envelope empty 11 10 January 10, 1909 Irish land bill; political prospects - envelope empty 11 11 1900 - 1920 Hatting industry - envelope empty 11 12 1900 - 1920 Seton Hall and St. Elizabeth's; Fr. Corrigan trial 11 13 1900 - 1920 Strong Protestant insult; Diocesan clergy and religious orders 11 14 1900 - 1920 Original character of Union; 1900 census 11 15 1900 - 1920 The law, individual liberty, and mob spirit 11 16 1900 - 1920 Social settlements use of alcohol 11 17 1900 - 1920 Flyers - Association for Promoting Good Workers 11 18 1900 - 1920 AOH items - envelope empty 11 19 1900 - 1920 President Roosevelt to Holy name Society; warning to boys - Graham Hood 11 20 1900 - 1920 Death related 12 1 1927 Consecration as Bishop 12 2 1900 Shanley 12 3 Ordination, visitations 12 4 No heading 12 5 Death of Mrs Bawo - sister of Bishop 12 6 Federation 12 7 Reception by Y M C A 12 8 Leo XIII silver jubilee 12 9 Death of President McKinley 12 10 Unidentified 12 11 George Doane O'Neill 12 12 Jubilee of Plainfield church 12 13 Consecration of Bishop Fox of Green Bay 12 14 Typographical union oath 12 15 Wallace named Chancellor 12 16 U S Government and Vatican 12 17 Empty envelopes 12 18 Vicar General John Sheppard papers Series X. Office notes 13 1 1908 - 1921 Correspondence 13 2 1901 - 1908 Correspondence 13 3 1909 - 1918 Correspondence 13 4 1919 - 1922 Correspondence 13 5 1923 Correspondence 13 6 January - April 1924 Correspondence 13 7 May - October 1924 Correspondence - Bishop James A. McFaul 13 8 1901 - 1909; 1914 Cathedral insurance 13 9 1904 Cathedral insurance 13 10 1904 Cathedral insurance 13 11 1904 Circulars 13 12 1919 - 1923 Contributions 13 13 Lodi - St. Joseph's Church 13 14 1924 Correspondence - "The Menace" 13 15 July - December 1913 Correspondence - "The Monitor" 13 16 1909 Correspondence - "The Monitor" 13 17 February - March 1909 Mountainview, N J - petition for church 13 18 1923 - 1924 Newark - St. Francis Xavier 13 19 1923 - 1924 Newark - St. Mary's orphan asylum 13 20 May 27, 1913 Morris Plains - N J State Hospital 13 21 November 1912 Morris Plains - N J State Hospital 13 22 December 1912 - April 1913 Rockaway - St. Cecilia and Sacred Heart petitions 13 23 1923 - 1924 Springfield - St. James petitions 13 24 1923 News clips - Msgr Sheppard on Newark great anti-profanity parade 13 25 Chancellor Thomas Wallace papers Series XI. Circulars and form letters 14 1 1901 - 1907 Correspondence A - C 14 2 1903 - 1905 Correspondence D - H 14 3 1903 - 1905 Correspondence I - Mc 14 4 1903 - 1905 Correspondence Me - R 14 5 1903 - 1905 Correspondence S - Z 14 6 1903 - 1905 Chancery receipts ledger 14 7 1902 - 1906 Chancery receipts ledger 14 8 1906 - 1910 Chancery receipts ledger 14 9 1910 - 1914 Financial Series XII. Insurance Reports 15 1 1904 - 1905 Reports 15 2 1905 Reports 15 3 1906 Policy payment receipts 15 4 1907 - 1909 Reports 15 5 1907 Reports 15 6 1908 Reports 15 7 1909 Reports 15 8 1910 Reports 15 9 1911 Reports 15 10 1912 Reports 15 11 1913 Reports 15 12 1914 Reports 15 13 1916 Reports 15 14 1917 Reports 15 15 1926 Reports 15 16 1927 Premium reports 15 17 1927 Premium reports 15 18 1928 Correspondence 15 19 1923; 1926; 1928 Ledgers Ledger 16 1 1901 - 1921 Cash book - very fragile 16 2 1901 - 1926 Cash book - very fragile 16 3 1901 - 1927 Enclosures 16 4 1901 - 1904 Day book - very fragile 17 1 1901 - 1921 Day book 17 2 1922 - 1927 Check stubs Stubs 17 3 1905 - 1907 Stubs 18 1 1906 - 1907; 1912 - 1915 Stubs 18 2 1913 - 1916 Stubs 18 3 1916 - 1919 Stubs 18 4 1916 - 1923 Stubs 18 5 1904 - 1906 Stubs 18 6 1912 - 1915 Stubs 19 1 1915 - 1919 Stubs 19 2 1915 - 1919 Stubs 19 3 1919 - 1921 Stubs 19 4 1919 - 1921 Stubs 19 5 1921 - 1923 Stubs 19 6 1923 - 1925 Checks Checks 25 1903 - 1919 Checks 26 1920 - 1928 Bills for Bishop's House 20 1 1901 Bills 20 2 1900 - May 1901 Bills 20 3 June 1901 - December 1901 Bills 20 4 January - May 1902 Bills 20 5 June - December 1902 Bills 20 6 January - July 1903 Bills 20 7 August 1903 - February 1904 Bills 20 8 February - March 1904 Bills 20 9 April 1904 Bills 20 10 May 1904 Bills 20 11 June - July 1904 Bills 20 12 August - October 1904 Bills 20 13 October - December 1904 Bills 20 14 January - February 1905 Bills 20 15 March - April 1905 Bills 20 16 May - June 1905 Bills 20 17 July - September 1905 Bills 20 18 October - November 1905 Bills 21 1 December 1905 - January 1906 Bills 21 2 February - March 1906 Bills 21 3 April - May 1906 Bills 21 4 June - July 1906 Bills 21 5 August - September 1906 Bills 21 6 October - November 1906 Bills 21 7 December 1906 - January 1907 Bills 21 8 February - March 1907 Bills 21 9 April - May 1907 Bills 21 10 June - July 1907 Bills 21 11 August - September 1907 Bills 21 12 October - December 1907 Bills 21 13 January - February 1908 Bills 21 14 March - April 1908 Bills 21 15 May 1908 Bills 21 16 June - July 1908 Bills 21 17 August - September 1908 Bills 21 18 October - November 1908 Bills 21 19 December 1908 - February 1909 Bills 21 20 March - May 1909 Bills 21 21 June - August 1909 Bills 21 22 September - October 1909 Bills 21 23 November - December 1909 Bills 21 24 1910 Bills 21 25 January - March 1911 Bills 21 26 April - May 1911 Bills 21 27 June - August 1911 Bills 21 28 September - October 1911 Bills 21 29 November - December 1911 Bills 21 30 January - February 1912 Bills 22 1 March - April 1912 Bills 22 2 May - June 1912 Bills 22 3 July - August 1912 Bills 22 4 September - October 1912 bills 22 5 November - December 1912 Bills 22 6 January - February 1913 Bills 22 7 March - April 1913 Bills 22 8 May 1913 Bills 22 9 June - July 1913 Bills 22 10 August - September 1913 Bills 22 11 October - November 1913 Bills 22 12 December 1913 Bills 22 13 January - February 1914 Bills 22 14 March - April 1914 Bills 22 15 May - June 1914 Bills 22 16 July 1914 Bills 22 17 August - September 1914 Bills 22 18 October - November 1914 Bills 22 19 December 1914 Bills 22 20 January - February 1915 Bills 22 21 March - April 1915 Bills 22 22 May - June 1915 Bills 22 23 July - August 1915 Bills 22 24 September - December 1915 Bills 22 25 January - March 1916 Bills 22 26 April - May 1916 Bills 22 27 June - July 1916 Bills 22 28 August - October 1916 Bills 22 29 November - December 1916 Bills 23 1 January - February 1917 Bills 23 2 March - May 1917 Bills 23 3 June - August 1917 Bills 23 4 September - December 1917 Bills 23 5 January - May 1918 Bills 23 6 June - August 1918 Bills 23 7 September - December 1918 Bills 23 8 January - March 1919 Bills 23 9 April - June 1919 Bills 23 10 July - December 1919 Bills 23 11 January - May 1920 Bills 23 12 June - August 1920 Bills 23 13 September - October 1920 Bills 23 14 November 1920 - February 1921 Bills 23 15 March - April 1921 Bills 23 16 May - July 1921 Bills 23 17 August - December 1921 Bills 23 18 January - June 1922 Bills 23 19 July - December 1922 Bills 23 20 January - May 1923 Bills 23 21 June - December 1923 Bills 23 22 January - May 1924 Bills 23 23 June - August 1924 Bills 23 24 September - December 1924 Bills 23 25 January - May 1925 Bills 23 26 June - September 1925 Bills 23 27 October 1925 - September 1926 Bank statements Statements 24 1 1915 Statements 24 2 1920 Statements 24 3 1921 Statements 24 4 1922 Statements 24 5 1923 Statements 24 6 1924 Statements 24 7 1925 Statements 24 8 1928