Arthur Griffith Papers

Repository: National Library of Ireland

Identity Statement

TitleArthur Griffith Papers
Archive ReferenceIE DuNL MS/ 49,530
Web Link to this Entryhttps://iar.ie/archive/arthur-griffith-papers
Creation Dates1894-1966
Extent Medium2 boxes; 10 vols. of newspapers; 43 books

Context

Creator(s): Griffith, Arthur, 1872-1922

  • Administrative History ↴

    Griffith, Arthur, 1872-1922, journalist and politician. Griffith was a founder of the United Irishman newspaper, member of the Irish Volunteers, and a member of Sinn Féin. He led the Irish delegation in the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations in 1921.
  • Archival History ↴

    The collection was donated to the National Library of Ireland in 2012
  • Immediate Source Acquisition ↴

    Donation

Content & Structure

  • Scope & Content: Griffith, Arthur, 1872-1922 ↴

    The collection contains correspondence and related documentation that shed light on aspects of Griffith’s political career and public life and his personal relationships with his family and friends. Among the papers is his private correspondence with his wife Maud and son Nevin, written during periods of imprisonment (1916-21) and during the course of the Treaty negotiations when he was based in London, and his final statement written in 1922. Also included are photographs (both private family photographs, alongside studio portraits and news agency photographs of Griffith and other Irish political figures attending public events and meetings and the funerals of Griffith and Michael Collins), posters (largely commemorative items published following his death in 1922), portraits of Griffith in both pencil and in oils, books from his library, many of which contain ownership signatures and inscriptions dating from his imprisonment in Reading and Gloucester jails and his time as President, newscuttings, and his own copies of the newspapers he edited, notably ‘The United Irishman’, ‘Scissors and Paste’, ‘Nationality’, ‘Éire Ireland’ and ‘Sinn Fein’.

  • Appraisal Destruction ↴

    Permanent Retention
  • Arrangement ↴

    The collection is arranged as follows: I. Private paper and correspondence. II. Political Papers. III. Photographs and Postcards. IV. Posters, portraits and sketches. V. Books. VI. Newspapers. VII. Miscellaneous material.

Conditions of Access & Use

Access Conditions Access with a valid National Library of Ireland Readers Ticket.
Conditions Governing ReproductionReproduction rights owned by the National Library of Ireland.
Creation Dates1894-1966
Extent Medium2 boxes; 10 vols. of newspapers; 43 books
Material Language ScriptEnglish
Finding Aids An item level catalogue is available online Archive Web Link →

Allied Materials

Related MaterialFurther material is held at the National Library of Ireland: Arthur Griffith Additional Papers MS 49,666

Descriptive Control Area

Archivist NoteDeirdre Collins
Rules/ConventionsISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottawa: International Council on Archives, 2000, adapted from MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data.
Date of Descriptions41766