Jim Kemmy Papers

Identity Statement

Content & Structure

• Scope & Content: Kemmy, Seamus (Jim) (1936-1997) ↴

  Membership lists, correspondence, account books, financial reports, minutes, statements and press releases relating to The Ancient Guild of Incorporated Brick and Stonelayers’ Trade Union, Woodworkers and Plasterers’ Trade Union, Construction Industry Federation, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Limerick Building Trades Group, SIPTU and other trade unions and union activities (1962-1998); rules, correspondence, bills, receipts and financial reports relating to the Mechanics’ Institute (1882-1996); constitutions and policy statements, press statements, speeches, membership lists, minutes, financial statements, election manifestos, correspondence, pamphlets and posters relating to the Democratic Socialist Party (1980-1994); minutes, reports, statements, accounts and correspondence relating to the Labour Party (1965-1997); electoral material and correspondence relating to Kemmy’s Dáil terms and electoral campaigns (1977-1997); correspondence, speeches, press releases, minutes and appointment diaries relating to Kemmy’s activities as Alderman and Mayor (1974-1997); appeals, petitions and other correspondence relating to Kemmy’s constituency work (1967-1997); articles and draft articles, research material (including nineteenth-century documents) and correspondence relating to Kemmy’s historical and literary activities; and photographs, artwork, correspondence and a small number of other items of personal nature.

• Appraisal Destruction ↴

  Duplicates and some ephemera have been destroyed.

• Accruals ↴

  Further accruals are not expected.

• Arrangement ↴

  Material has been arranged into five series reflecting Kemmy’s major activities over the years:
  Section A relates to Kemmy’s union activities, particularly his role as secretary of the Ancient Guild of Incorporated Brick and Stonelayers’ Trade Union. Material relating to other trade unions is arranged alphabetically by union. General labour and trade union issues have been arranged under the headings of Apprenticeship, Employment, and Strikes and Disputes. Material relating to the Mechanics Institute has also been included in this section.

  Section B relates to Kemmy’s political activities and contains material on the formation and development of the Democratic Socialist Party, its subsequent amalgamation with the Labour Party, Kemmy’s election campaigns, his Dáil terms, and issues prominent in his political career.

  Section C relates to Kemmy’s constituency work and has been alphabetically divided into 17 categories, ranging from Arts to Sports. Administrative material relating to Limerick Corporation and Kemmy’s roles as Alderman and Mayor have also been included in this section.

  Section D relates to Kemmy’s historical interests and literary pursuits. Material relating to his books is arranged chronologically by publication. Correspondence relating to historical and literary matters has been included in this section, with the exception of correspondence with or relating to writers (most notably Frank McCourt and Jerry O’Neill), which can be found in

  Section C under Arts, Culture and Built Heritage (Literature). Kemmy’s particular interests, Michael Hogan, Limerick Jews, Labour History and the Park Danes, have all been grouped under their own headings. Research material collected by Kemmy has also been retained as it may help to identify some of the sources he used for his research, rarely footnoted in his articles.

  Section E contains personal material, including photographs, letters from friends, and ephemera. Thank you letters Kemmy received throughout his life have been included in this section, as it was often impossible to ascertain whether they were sent to him by friends or constituents. For clarity, all receipts and financial material have also been included in Section E, even when they relate to Kemmy’s Dáil terms or constituency work. The lack of personal items is illustrative of the fact that for Kemmy, his work equalled his life, and there was little distinction between his public and private persona.

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