Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
General material designation
- Textual record
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on contents of collection
Level of description
Repository
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
1920 - 1963 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
6 cm textual record
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Monsignor Joseph Edward O'Brien (1884-1986) was born in Carbonear to John and Ellen (Cahill) O'Brien. He was educated at St. Bonaventure's College and All Hallow's College, Ireland. O'Brien studied for the Roman Catholic priesthood in Dublin and was ordained in 1910. Upon his return to Newfoundland, O'Brien took up parish duties at Tilting on Fogo Island. In 1914 he was transferred to the parish of Northern Bay, which was then responsible for Labrador. He made his first visit to North West River/Sheshatshiu in 1921, and thereafter spent more than 20 summers with the Innu of Sheshatshiu and Davis Inlet, to whom he was affectionately known as Father Whitehead because of his prematurely gray hair. His priesthood in Labrador was marked by tireless work for the poor. With financial assistance from the Knights of Columbus in St. John's he provided clothing and supplies. He also arranged for the Hudson's Bay Company to give food to families on government account. In 1946, Labrador was separated from the diocese in Harbour Grace, but O'Brien continued to serve at Northern Bay, retiring in 1970. He was a keen photographer, and his pictures of Innu life were donated to the National Film Archives. O'Brien died at the age of 101, being the oldest Roman Catholic priest in Canada at the time.
Custodial history
Scope and content
Collection consists of correspondence, receipts, invoices, telegrams, questionnaire results, petition, and newspaper clippings between 1920 and 1963. The correspondence is written to and by Father O'Brien during the years he served as a Missionary to the Innu in North West River and Davis Inlet regarding the establishment and maintenance of the Mission.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Donated by the family of monsignor O'Brien, circa 1982
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Photocopies and typewritten copies at THEM DAYS. Originals stored elsewhere.
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
No restrictions
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Much material in THEM DAYS Archives has copyright protection. Researchers must obtain permission from copyright holders before publication in any form
Finding aids
File lists and subject indexes are available
Associated materials
THEM DAYS Vol.10.3; photograph collection
Accruals
No further accruals are expected
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
- exploration
- lifestyle
- Montagnais Innu
- Naskapi Innu
- Indians
- Labrador Indian Catholic Mission
- Hudson's Bay Company
- missionary
- S.S. Kyle
- North Labrador Live Fox Depot
- fur trade
- starvation
- ethnology
- charity
- The Evening Telegram
- illness
- theft
- fire arms
- finances
- death
- epidemic
- nomadic Indians
- alcohol
- farming
- Aviation
- clothing
- Rangers
- relief
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Control area
Description record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules or conventions
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
2016-03-04
Language of description
- English