Papers of the O’Brien’s and related families

Repository: Trinity College Dublin

Identity Statement

TitlePapers of the O'Brien's and related families
Archive ReferenceIE TCD MS/4986-5117
Web Link to this Entryhttps://iar.ie/archive/papers-obriens-related-families
Creation Dates1797-1964
Extent Medium53 archives boxes

Context

Creator(s): Vere O'Brien, Robin (Robert) Vere O'Brien, Florence, née Arnold Forster Forster, Hugh Oakeley Arnold- (1855-1909), author and politician Vere, Sir Stephen Edward De (1812-1904) 4th Baronet MP Vere, Sir Aubrey De (1788-1846) Knight Poet Forster, William Edward (1818-1886) Statesman

  • Administrative History ↴

    Robin Vere O'Brien's father was Hon. Robert O'Brien, son of Sir Edward O'Brien bt., and Elinor de Vere, - hence the older O'Brien and de Vere papers in the collection. Besides acting as land agent for a number of estates (including Lord Inchiquin's and the de Vere's) he was clerk of the crown and peace for Co. Clare. His wife Florence was a daughter of William Delafield Arnold, a son of Dr. Thomas Arnold of Rugby, and when her father died she was brought up by her aunt Jane Martha, the wife of William Edward Forster and with her brothers, Edward and Hugh Oakley, and her sister, Frances Egerton adopted the surname Arnold Forster.

  • Archival History ↴

    The collection of papers was previously in the custody of the family. Presented between 27 February 1970 and 19 April 1971 by Mrs Elinor Wiltshire, née O'Brien and Mrs Veronica Rowe, née Hardy, Glenfarn, Sandyford, Co. Dublin, from the papers of their grandparents Robin [Robert] and Florence Vere O'Brien of Ballyalla, Ennis, Co. Clare.

  • Immediate Source Acquisition ↴

    Donation

Content & Structure

  • Scope & Content: Vere O'Brien, Robin (Robert) Vere O'Brien, Florence, née Arnold Forster Forster, Hugh Oakeley Arnold- (1855-1909), author and politician Vere, Sir Stephen Edward De (1812-1904) 4th Baronet MP Vere, Sir Aubrey De (1788-1846) Knight Poet Forster, William Edward (1818-1886) Statesman ↴

    The collection consists of the papers of various ancestors of Robin and Florence (née Arnold Forster) Vere O’Brien. The vast majority of material consists of correspondence between family members and also scrapbooks, photographs and family miscellanea such as poem books and autograph albums. The papers of Aubrey de Vere includes copies of letters from prominent correspondents such as Thomas Carlyle, Matthew Arnold, William Gladstone, John Stuart Mill, Coventry Patmore and William Holman Hunt. Other material in the collection reflects the careers of the politicians in the family, William Edward Forster, (Hugh Oakeley) Arnold Forster and Sir Stephen de Vere.

  • Appraisal Destruction ↴

    Permanent Retention

  • Arrangement ↴

    The collection is arranged by subject and is broadly arranged as follows:
    4986-4991 William Edward Forster papers, including correspondence, speech notes, scrapbooks, lecture extracts
    4992-4999 Jane Martha Forster (née Arnold) papers, wife of W.E Forster, including correspondence, poem books
    5000-5006 Hugh Oakeley Arnold Forster papers (known as Arnold Forster), including correspondence with wife Mary and sisters Florence Vere O’Brien and Frances Egerton Arnold Forster
    5008-5052 Florence and Robin Vere O’Brien papers
    5053-5083 Sir Stephen de Vere 3rd bt. papers, including correspondence with Aubrey de Vere and Robin Vere O’Brien, also press cuttings
    5055 a-e Aubrey de Vere letter to him from correspondents 1838-1896 (copied)
    5084-5096 De Vere family papers containing material from Aubrey de Vere, Grace O’Brien, Elinor Vere O’Brien, Hon. Robert O’Brien
    5097 O’Brien Estate papers
    5098 O’Brien miscellanea
    5102-5106 Arnold family, papers of descendants of Dr. Arnold of Rugby, including correspondence and miscellanea, photographs, engraving, paintings
    5107 Forster family, papers of relatives of WE Forster including scrapbook, autograph album of poems and drawings

Conditions of Access & Use

Access Conditions Please contact mscripts@tcd.ie in advance of your visit
Conditions Governing ReproductionPlease contact mscripts@tcd.ie for guidance
Creation Dates1797-1964
Extent Medium53 archives boxes
Material Language ScriptEnglish
Finding Aids A full descriptive list is available for consultation in the Manuscripts & Archives Research Library at Trinity College Library Dublin Archive Web Link →

Allied Materials

There are no Allied Materials

Descriptive Control Area

Archivist NoteAdapted by N Milne
Rules/ConventionsISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottawa: International Council on Archives, 2000. National Council on Archives: Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names. Chippenham: National Council on Archives, 1997.
Date of Descriptions42036