Graves Collection

Context

Creator(s): John O’Donovan, 1806-1861Rev. James Graves, 1815-1886Rev. Charles Graves, 1812-1899

• Administrative History ↴

  The Graves Collection is an amalgamation of three separate, but related, correspondence collections of three prominent Irish antiquarians; John O’Donovan, Rev. James Graves and Rev. Charles Graves. John O’Donovan was an Irish scholar, born in Co. Kilkenny in 1806. His early study of Latin and Irish commenced under Richard Monck and continued at a Latin school in Dublin until 1827. Following the abandonment of initial plans to become a Catholic priest he was employed by James Hardiman to copy Irish manuscripts and legal documents and he subsequently conducted similar work for Myles John O’Reilly. In 1830 he secured a position as an orthographer with the Ordnance Survey, working for his former pupil Thomas Larcom. Throughout the 1830s he was engaged in fieldwork for the Ordnance Survey, assisted by his brother-in-law, Eugene O’Curry, George Petrie and others, during which time he travelled throughout the island collecting historical information and folklore which was transmitted to the survey by way of letters. He edited and published texts for the Irish Archaeological Society and the Celtic Society during the 1840s, including Leabhar na gceart and also published a Grammar of the Irish language in 1845. In 1847 he was elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy and a year later was awarded the prestigious Cunningham medal. In 1849 he was appointed professor of Celtic languages in Queen’s College Belfast. He was keenly interested in the family pedigrees of the ‘native Irish’ or ‘Old-English’ families including his own family, many of whom had seen their wealth and position dwindle following the Cromwellian confiscations - many of the letters in this collection relate to this pursuit. O’Donovan’s edition of the Annals of the Four Masters was published between 1848 and 1851. In 1852 the Brehon Law Commission was established to oversee the collection and publication of the ancient laws of Ireland – Rev. Charles Graves had a prominent role in the commission. O’Donovan and O’Curry were appointed co-editors but a weakening of their relationship and other difficulties resulted in long delays and both men died before the final publication of, what is judged to be, the ‘unreliable’ Ancient laws of Ireland. O’Donovan suffered from poor health throughout his life which was exacerbated by over-work. He died in 1861 and was buried in Glasnevin cemetery. Rev. James Graves, antiquarian, was born in Kilkenny city in 1815. He occupied various positions in the diocese of Ossory during his career as a Church of Ireland clergyman. In 1849 he founded the Kilkenny Archaeological Society with John Prim and remained actively involved in the society during his lifetime, acting as secretary and treasurer. As well as regularly contributing to the influential journal of the society he also edited this journal and the Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland7.While his initial focus centred upon the archaeology and antiquities of Co. Kilkenny, the reputation forged by his society resulted in correspondence from all parts of the Ireland and occasionally from overseas. This is particularly evident from the correspondence in this collection – of particular interest are the descriptions and sketches of archaeological features and artefacts that were sent to him by fellow antiquarians and enthusiasts from all parts of the island. He also engaged in historical research and was granted access to the Ormond archives in Kilkenny Castle and later published a history of the first Duke of Ormond. He had a particular interest in St Canice and St Canice’s cathedral in Kilkenny and co-wrote The history and antiquities of the cathedral church of St. Canice and advised on its restoration. He was elected as a member of the Royal Irish Academy in 1860. He died in 1886 and was laid to rest at St Canice’s. Rev. Charles Graves, Church of Ireland Bishop, antiquarian and mathematician was born in 1812 in Dublin. While at Trinity College Dublin he excelled at mathematics and was appointed professor of mathematics in 1843, a post he held until 1862. An interest in history led him to identify the need to research and publish the ancient laws of Ireland and he was a member of the Brehon Law Commission from its inception until his death – the documents in this collection mainly relate to this work. He was also interested in archaeology, in particular ogham inscriptions and the collection contains a small number of letters and sketches relating to this subject. He became a member of the Royal Irish Academy in 1837 and acted as secretary in 1856 and president in 1861. The collection also contains documents, correspondence and printed articles connected to his work with the Endowed Schools Commission mainly dating from the period 1855 to1865. In 1866 he became Bishop of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe and supported the work of the Irish speaking clergymen and mission society in his diocese. He leased an estate at Parknasilla, Co. Kerry. He died in 1899 and was buried in Limerick Cathedral.

• Archival History ↴

  While it is reasonable to assume that O’Donovan amassed his own correspondence, it is not clear how these papers were acquired by the RIA, although the likely source is James Henthorn Todd, MRIA and President of the RIA. Todd bought O’Donovan’s letters from his widow in 1867 and subsequently extracted both his and Sir Thomas Larcom’s letters from the collection. He sold the Larcom letters to Larcom himself and these letters are now in the National Library of Ireland. The correspondence spans a long period and contains what might be termed personal correspondence (e.g. research into his own genealogy) mixed with official correspondence (e.g. Ordnance Survey letters and drafts). It is likely that draft material by John O’Donovan arising from his work with the Brehon Law Commission was collected by the Charles Graves in his capacity as a commissioner – this O’Donovan material can be found in the Charles Graves series alongside O’Curry’s transcripts and translations.

• Immediate Source Acquisition ↴

  Unknown