Identity Statement
| Title | Papers of M. Michael Corcoran, 4th Superior General, Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto), Irish Branch, 1888 - 1918 |
| Archive Reference | IE LA/MC |
| Web Link to this Entry | https://iar.ie/archive/papers-of-m-michael-corcoran-4th-superior-general-ibvm-1888-1918 |
| Creation Dates | c. 1884 – c. 1927 |
| Level of Description | Sub Fonds (subdivision of a fonds containing a body of related records corresponding to administrative subdivisions in the originating agency or organization or, when that is not possible, to geographical, chronological, functional, or similar groupings of the material itself. When the creating body has a complex hierarchical structure, each sub-fonds has as many subordinate sub-fonds as are necessary to reflect the levels of the hierarchical structure of the primary subordinate administrative unit. (Sometimes contiguous with an archives ‘collection’ ). |
| Extent Medium | 8 Archival Boxes |
Context
Creator(s): M. Michael Corcoran, 4th Superior General & Community of Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto), Irish Branch
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Administrative History ↴
Frances Corcoran was born on 5 July 1846, one of four children born to Michael Corcoran, barrister and Anna Maria Magan. Frances and her sister were boarding pupils at Loreto 43 North Great George’s Street, and in 1863 she spent a year in Belgium, completing her education. In 1865, Frances entered Loreto Abbey Rathfarnham and became known in religion as M. Michael, making her final profession in 1867. M. Michael was appointed Mistress of Schools for a time, and Assistant to M. Scholastica Somers, Superior General in 1875. Three years later in 1878 she was appointed Mistress of Novices, and was elected to the General Council two years later in 1880. M. Michael was elected Superior General for five terms, with elections occurring in 1888, 1894, 1900, 1907 and 1913. A noted educationalist, M. Michael oversaw the formal training of teaching sisters, the establishment of a Teacher Training College (in Loreto Abbey Rathfarnham) for Secondary School teachers, which was affiliated to the University of Cambridge, and university classes for Loreto pupils at St Stephen’s Green to enable students for obtain degrees from the Royal University. The first pupils were awarded their degrees in 1895. Within the Loreto educational system, she oversaw sweeping changes with an emphasis on physical education, science and the Irish language. A woman of many and wide ranging interests, she was a capable, self-taught photographer. The IBVM owes its origins to the Institute for women religious established by Mary Ward in 1609. Mary Ward's Institute had a tumultuous history, which had resulted in the fracturing of her Institute, so that by the late 19th/early 20th century, there were several branches of this same Institute, each with independent Generalates, in operation across Europe, northern America and Australasia. Attempts to secure the recognition of Mary Ward as foundress and the reunification of her global Institute, and education, dominated M. Michael's successive terms in office. Constitutional reform was necessary within the 'Irish branch', which was under M. Michael's leadership, and in 1902, she undertook the fist, lengthy visitation of the 'foreign' missions to assess and understand their relationship with the Irish based Generalate, wider Institute and need for Constitutional reform. In this regard, M. Michael was the first Superior General to visit the foundations in India and Australia. She returned to Ireland in 1904. The proposed constitutional reform and reunification of Mary Ward's Institute, while in general, strongly supported by the foreign missions, was opposed by a significant majority in Ireland, which had the support of influential clergy and the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr William Walsh. Some of the Sisters in Ireland openly opposed M. Michael, sought the support of Propaganda Fide in Rome, and in January 1905, in response to the ongoing trouble in Ireland, Propaganda Fide appointed Dr Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin, as Apostolic Visitor. For the duration of the Apostolic Visitation, M. Michael was severely restricted in her office. As a result of the apostolic visitation and Dr Walsh's opposition, the scheduled 1906 General Chapter was postponed for 12 months, and during this period, a Vicar General (M. Dolores Ryan IBVM) was appointed in lieu of a Superior General. The postponed General Chapter was later held in July 1907, with the re-election of M. Michael Corcoran as Superior General. The need for constitutional reform was finally discussed at the 1913 General Chapter, revised Constitutions agreed and submitted to the Vatican for approval. M. Michael was once again elected Superior General. M. Michael Corcoran continued in office until 05 August 1919, when she was succeeded by M. Raphael Deasy. Her health had steadily declined since her final election in 1913. It became apparent in her last year in office that M. Michael was too ill to continue, and on 1 September 1918, M. Aquinas Cullinan was appointed Vicar General. M. Michael Corcoran died in Loreto Abbey Rathfarnham on 27 May 1927. -
Archival History ↴
The material in this fonds was created, or received, by M. Michael Corcoran from 1884 – 1927, in her capacity as member of the Institute and some personal correspondence pre-dating her entry to religious life. The papers were preserved in the Institute Archives after her death in 1927. -
Immediate Source Acquisition ↴
Official Transfer
Content & Structure
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Scope & Content: M. Michael Corcoran, 4th Superior General & Community of Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto), Irish Branch ↴
M. Michael Corcoran succeeded M. Xaveria Fallon as Superior General in 1888, and was re-elected for a further four terms in office. The collection reflects the expanding duties and responsibilities of the Superior General as the Institute developed, expanded greatly and moved into the 20th century. Education and union of the Institute were the key features of her terms of office, and are reflected across many of the series in this collection.
Correspondence with domestic and foreign missions, provincial and local superiors and members of communities remained an important duty of the Superior General, and were essential to the administration of the Institute. The Superior General was informed and consulted on all decisions of importance, including the purchase of land, opening of new schools/communities, education, community numbers, apostolic works and relationships with local communities and clergy. The letters also refer to the question of union, recognition of Mary Ward and the Institute, community life and news in Ireland. Many of these issues were discussed in letters exchanged with members of the General Council and Dr Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin. Letters exchanged with provinces indicate a closer involvement in the administration of the Irish province. A keen correspondent, M. Michael diligently kept copies of many of her letters.
The question of union was a dominant theme of her terms in office, and M. Michael established regular and open correspondence with members of the Institute in the Bavarian, St Polten, North American and York branches; clergy in Rome; and the Cardinal Protectors Cardinal Steinhuber and Cardinal Merry del Val. The almost daily correspondence with Dr Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin during the duration of the Apostolic Visitation until M. Michael’s dismissal from office, relate largely to the question of union, status of the foreign missions, and the impact of the Apostolic Visitation on her office.
New constitutions which would provide a common basis for a global union were discussed throughout much of her terms in office, 1888 – 1913. Notes and talks given to Irish communities on the constitutions, instructions and explanations on the rules are included.
Personal letters received by some members of the Institute during M. Michael’s term in office, and personal correspondence, some of which predates her election as Superior General are included in this collection. Letters written by M. Michael in a personal capacity give a unique insight into community life in Rathfarnham, the difficulties she experienced during the period of open opposition to her aims and her interests in photography, science, nature and animals.
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Accruals ↴
No Further Accruals Expected -
Arrangement ↴
The collection is arranged into nineteen separate and distinct series, further information on these is available in the catalogue available for consultation in the reading room, Loreto Central and Irish Province Archives.
MC/ Sub-Fonds Papers of M. Michael Corcoran, 4th Superior General IBVM
Governance of the Institute
MC/GC Series General Council
MC/DR Series Dolores Ryan, Vicar General 1906 – 1907
MC/AC Series Aquinas Cullinan, Vicar General
MC/ARW Series Dr William J. Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin
MC/PRO Series Foreign Missions & Provinces
MC/PRO/1 Sub Series Irish Mission & Province
MC/PRO/2 Sub Series Indian Mission & Province
MC/PRO/3 Sub Series Mauritian Mission & Province
MC/PRO/4 Sub Series Gibraltar Mission
MC/PRO/5 Sub Series English Mission & Province
MC/PRO/6 Sub Series Australian Mission & Province
MC/PRO/7 Sub Series South African Mission & Province
MC/PRO/8 Sub Series Spanish Mission & Province
MC/PRO/9 Sub Series General Letters to the Provinces
MC/USA Series Invitation to make a foundation in America
MC/GLD Series Golden Jubilee 1915
MC/TAL Series M. Michael Corcoran Talks
MC/NRC Series Rules and Constitutions
MC/MLO Series Letters M. Loyola IBVM, York
MC/EDU Series Education
MC/PLS Series Personal Letters Sisters
MC/MWD Series Mary Ward
MC/ERI Series Easter Rising 1916
Union of the Institute & New Constitutions
MC/ IBVM Sub Series Correspondence with Other Branches of the Institute
Various files of correspondence related to Union & Constitutions
MC/COR Series Personal Correspondence
MC/DEA Series Death of M. Michael Corcoran May 1927
MC/BIO Series Writings on M. Michael Corcoran
MC/CFA Series Corcoran Family
Conditions of Access & Use
| Access Conditions | Generally Open Access; Prior Appointment Only. Some access restrictions may apply, and access is at the discretion of the Archivist |
| Conditions Governing Reproduction | Reproduction is dependent on the condition of the original item |
| Creation Dates | c. 1884 – c. 1927 |
| Level of Description | Sub Fonds (subdivision of a fonds containing a body of related records corresponding to administrative subdivisions in the originating agency or organization or, when that is not possible, to geographical, chronological, functional, or similar groupings of the material itself. When the creating body has a complex hierarchical structure, each sub-fonds has as many subordinate sub-fonds as are necessary to reflect the levels of the hierarchical structure of the primary subordinate administrative unit. (Sometimes contiguous with an archives ‘collection’ ). |
| Extent Medium | 8 Archival Boxes |
| Material Language Script | English |
| Finding Aids | Catalogue can be consulted in the IBVM (Institute) & Irish Province Archives, Reading Room |
Allied Materials
There are no Allied Materials
Descriptive Control Area
| Rules/Conventions | ISAD(G) |
| Date of Descriptions | 2016 Updated 2019 & 2020 |