Skip to main content

Ryan Family Papers 2

2011-141-0

 Collection
Identifier: 2011-141-0

Scope and Contents

Ryan Family Papers, 2011-141-0, includes papers from Thomas F. Ryan and his family.  Included are theatrical and minstrel programs, sheet music, photographs, photograph album illustrating "Song of the Brook," papers related to Bantam, Connecticut,  Frienship Album, Litchfield High School graduation programs, Litchfield County University Club meeting programs, brochure for Miss Hickox's School for Girls, newspaper clippings, portfolio for "Portraits of Twentieth Century Americans of Negro Lineage" by Louise E. Jefferson. An accruel to this collection, 2013-50-0, includes a published booklet titled, "Thomas Francis Ryan: A Biographical Sketch" published in 1918 and a bill from St. Mary's Hospital to Thomas F. Ryan relating to surgery and care of his daughter Margaret Agatha in 1914 (date taken from the backing paper of the frame - item was unframed for storage). Thomas Ryan (1872-1933) was born in Ireland and moved to the United States as an infant with his mother. He took up acting and singing, but embarked on a law career, studying in Torrington, Conn., and graduating from Yale Law School in 1897.  In 1899, he pursued mining in Arizona, California, and Mexico. After his fortunes failed, he returned to the stage. In 1904, he came back to Torrington and again took up law, finally settling in Litchfield in 1905. He served one term as a probate judge in the 1910s. In 1895 he married Mary Kelley of Torrington. They had four children, Mary Gertrude, Catherine Edna, Margaret Agatha, and Frances Mary. He died in 1933. Agatha, as she was commonly known, and Gertrude attended college. Agatha worked in her father's law office, the probate court, an insurance office, and served as secretary to the superintendent of schools in Litchfield. Frances worked as the school nurse.

Dates

  • created: 1898 - 1965
  • Other: Date acquired: 02/10/2012

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection are in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Biographical or Historical Information

Thomas Ryan (1872-1933) was born in Ireland and moved to the United States as an infant with his mother. He took up acting and singing, but embarked on a law career, studying in Torrington, Conn., and graduating from Yale Law School in 1897.  In 1899, he pursued mining in Arizona, California, and Mexico. After his fortunes failed, he returned to the stage. In 1904, he came back to Torrington and again took up law, finally settling in Litchfield in 1905. He served one term as a probate judge in the 1910s. In 1895 he married Mary Kelley of Torrington. They had four children, Mary Gertrude, Catherine Edna, Margaret Agatha, and Frances Mary. He died in 1933. Agatha, as she was commonly known, and Gertrude attended college. Agatha worked in her father's law office, the probate court, an insurance office, and served as secretary to the superintendent of schools in Litchfield. Frances worked as the school nurse. The papers generally relate to Agatha (1900-1986) and Thomas. Agatha's papers include correspondence, some of it to her sister Frances. Agatha was concerned with political issues, and some of her correspondence was with U.S. representatives and senators, including such members of the Connecticut delegation as Ella Grasso, Abraham Ribicoff, and Lowell Weicker, and Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Note written by

Extent

1.00 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Source of Acquisition

Robert W. Doyle

Method of Acquisition

Gift

Accruals and Additions

2013-50-0, a gift of Robert W. Doyle.

Existence and Location of Originals

multi-part note content

Related Materials

Ryan Family Papers 1. Postmaster Receipt Book.

Subject

Title
Ryan Family Papers 2
Author
Kathy Craughwell-Varda
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Litchfield Historical Society Repository

Contact:
7 South Street
P.O. Box 385
Litchfield CT 06759
860-567-4501
860-567-3565 (Fax)