John McCormack Tribute Volume

A bound volume containing letters, tributes, clippings, and photographs relating to John McCormack (1884-1945). The volume was compiled for a special feature on McCormack published in ‘The Capuchin Annual’ (1946-7). The volume includes letters from Fr. Sydney MacEwan, Dorothy Caruso, William Tisdall (Charlesfort, Kells, County Meath), Moira O’Scannlain, Michael Bowles, Compton Mackenzie, Walter Legge, Herbert Louis Moiselle, Edwin Schneider, Arthur H. Ryan (Queen’s University, Belfast), Rev. Ful

Details

Level of description
File
Date
1900-1953
Reference
43
Extent and medium
164 pp; 33 cm x 21 cm; bound volume, clipping, manuscript, typescript, printed, and photographic print
Scope and content
A bound volume containing letters, tributes, clippings, and photographs relating to John McCormack (1884-1945). The volume was compiled for a special feature on McCormack published in ‘The Capuchin Annual’ (1946-7). The volume includes letters from Fr. Sydney MacEwan, Dorothy Caruso, William Tisdall (Charlesfort, Kells, County Meath), Moira O’Scannlain, Michael Bowles, Compton Mackenzie, Walter Legge, Herbert Louis Moiselle, Edwin Schneider, Arthur H. Ryan (Queen’s University, Belfast), Rev. Fulton J. Sheen, Irene Curzon, 2nd Baroness Ravensdale, Sir Shane Leslie, Lily McCormack, James McCormack, Maud Aiken, Olive M. Taylor, Br. James Killcullen SC, and Fr. Damian Smith OSB. McCormack was a celebrated Irish tenor noted for his performances of operatic and popular song repertories. Born in 1884 in Athlone, County Westmeath, McCormack’s early musical skills were honed when he joined the Palestrina Choir at St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in Dublin where Vincent O’Brien was organist and choir director. McCormack would go on to become one of the most popular singers of the early twentieth century and one of the first artists to harness the opportunities offered by recordings of his performances on radio. He was well known for his renditions of the Irish ballads ‘It’s a Long Way to Tipperary’ as well as ‘Molly Bawn’ and ‘The Wearing of the Green’. He was particularly popular in the United States. McCormack donated thousands of dollars to the American effort during the First World War, after the country entered the conflict in 1917. He became a naturalised American citizen before returning to live in Ireland. He died in Dublin on 16 September 1945.
Physical characteristics
The volume is in poor condition. The end covers are frayed and some of the pages within the volume are torn. Careful handling of the volume is required.
General note
For biographical information on John McCormack (1884-1945) see https://www.dib.ie/biography/mccormack-john-francis-a5617
Publication note
See the tribute feature on John McCormack published in ‘The Capuchin Annual’ (1946-7) at pp 215-90. https://designrr.page/?id=315583&token=72805665&type=FP&h=2100
Repository
Irish Capuchin Archives
Context
Irish Capuchin Archives > Papers of 'The Capuchin Annual' and the Irish Capuchin Publications Office > Papers of Fr. Senan Moynihan OFM Cap. > Bound Photographic and Document Volumes

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Extracted Mentions

People, places, and terms identified via handwriting recognition and named entity recognition.

People

Places

Terms

Sample passages

  • McCORMACK
  • JOHN COUNT McCORMACK died at his residence, Glena, Booterstown, Co. Dublin, last night. His last illness began only this day week. He developed bronchial pneumonia on Friday, and C…
  • Count McCormack smiled and said: "I would prefer to be accompanist," and, accordingly, he played the piano for Mr. Rabaut while the latter sang "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling."
Full Transcript (OCR, 51 pages)

Machine-generated OCR transcript. Handwritten material may contain recognition errors.

Page 1

Glena, Booterstown, Dublin. April 17th 45 My Dear Father Seram Which of the third of the third I have made a kind of whole I would like to write about success. I enclose it. I have arrived every time serious. I have tried to make it hardly personal. I understand Father Ready is forming to write an article about the Lappelmeister & Brem. Vincent Bridled at the idea of Lappelmeister and wondered what Denny would think of the Serman disgration. Perhaps Dick Malcath might see the Egypt to Sargentia sticking out. " It is a fragrance place!! Well for note for me for the exident. Perhaps I shall love you for your study of the Serman.

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