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Dr. Peter F. Moylan records

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Held at: Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center [Contact Us]100 E. Wynnewood Rd., Wynnewood, PA

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Previously prepared by Robert Mulligan.

133 Price Collection

Dr. Peter Moylan was a doctor of medicine who lived in Philadelphia. It is this city where he raised a respectable family of two children. Agnes Margaret and Peter Francis respectively with his wife. Their daughter Helen died an early death. Throughout his life, Dr. Moylan believed in a strong, united community and he showed that to the number of people with whom he knew.

On May 3rd, 1917, Dr. Moylan was elevated to the status of knighthood as the distinguished Knights of St. Gregory. In June of the same year, he was also, in addition to his elevation to knighthood, enrolled among the brothers and sisters of the Order of the St. Augustine by a special indulgence by the Holy See. This favor was bestowed upon him for reasons stemming from his generosity of his time and his natural caring instinct that he had in his ministry of healing the sick of the community in particularly, the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Order of St. Augustine.

Through his profession, he had the privilege of becoming good friends with two Archbishops of Philadelphia. They were Archbishops Patrick John Ryan and Edmond F. Prendergast D.D. He also had the privilege to know other bishops of foreign countries. They were Archbishops John Joseph McCort of Altoona; Giovanni Vincezo Bangano of Puerto Rico, who as later consecrated Cardinal; and Pope Benedict XV. All in all, Dr. Moylan showed his community good example of a Christian Lifestyle.

The Dr. Peter F. Moylan Records, 1770-1917, primarily consists of materials related to Moylan’s knighthood by the Pope in 1917. This small collection includes correspondence, newsclippings, and a dedication. The collection also contains one series that is somewhat out of scope, Official Legal Documents. This series is included in order to maintain provenance. The series, Official Legal Documents, contains 19th century mortgages, bonds, receipts, deeds, warrants, etc. Records in this series seem to be collected as a result of previous land/property ownership by his wife, Nellie Drislane or by Moylan himself. For instance, one file in the series contains Moylan's wife's maiden name, Drislane. Please note that items in this series are very old and fragile which may require the assistance of the archive staff. Use of some items may be limited or even restricted in order to maintain the integrity of our archival materials. Please ask archive staff if you are unsure.

The Dr. Peter Moylan Records are arranged into five series. The first series, Correspondence, has four subseries. The fifth series, Official Legal Documents, is arranged by the recipient of the document(s).

Series I.Correspondence

subseries a. Congratulations from Hierarchy

subseries b. Congratulations from Colleagues

subseries c. Congratulations by Telegram

subseries d. Medical Issues

Series II. Newsclippings

Series III. Spiritual Message

Series IV. Knights of St. Gregory Dedication

Series V. Official Legal Documents

Accession number 1990.058

Items in the series Knights of St. Gregory Dedication and Official Legal Documents contain records that are in fragile condition. Researchers should request the assistance of the archivist on staff; however, please note that the archives has the right to limit the use of these materials in order to preserve the integrity of the records.

This collection was previously processed by the Ryan Memorial Library. The Philadelphia Archdiocese Historical Research Center (PAHRC) believed the collection needed to be reprocessed in order to promote basic preservation standards as well as provide researchers with an electronic finding aid. As a result, in February 2013, our processing intern, Hoang Tran, reprocessed the collection.

Publisher
Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Processing Intern, Hoang Tran
Finding Aid Date
2013 February
Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions to access this collection. Please note that the archives reserves the right to restrict access to materials of sensitive nature.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions to use this collection. Please note that copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Collection Inventory

Subseries Ia. Congratulations from Hierarchy, 1917.
Box 1 Folder 1
Scope and Contents note

Subseries consists of three letters of congratulations from Archbishop John Bonzano, Bishop W.A. James O. A.A., Bishop J. McCort.

Subseries Ib. Congratulations from colleagues, 1917.
Box 1 Folder 2-3
Scope and Contents note

Subseries consists of two folders of congratulatory correspondence adressed to Moylan. Correspondents include but not limited to members of the Church, friends, colleagues, etc.

Subseries Ic. Congratulations by telegram, 1917.
Box 1 Folder 4
Scope and Contents note

Subseries consists of four Western Union Telegrams extending congratulations to Dr. Moylan.

Subseries Id. Medical issues, 1918.
Box 1 Folder 5
Scope and Contents note

Subseries contains one letter dealing with a medical problem addressed to Miss Aloysis Bayer of Philadelphia; March 24, 1918.

Series II. Newsclippings, undated.
Box 1 Folder 6
Scope and Contents note

Series consists of cut-out newsclippings in the form of poems, letters, and articles on Dr. Moylan's recognition. Also includes two invitation cards dated 1911. Materials in this series are pasted onto black construction paper and there is no indication of exact dates but most likely derived from the the 1910s.

Series III. Spiritual message, undated.
Box 1 Folder 7
Scope and Contents note

Series contains one short printed letter composed by Moylan to be received by his two children, Agnes Margaret and Peter Francis. Subject matter seems to be regarding his eminent death or what Moylan will leave for his children when he dies.

Series IV. Knights of St. Gregory Dedication, 1917.
Box 1 Folder 8
Scope and Contents note

Series includes one small formal letter recognizing Moylan's elevation to the status Knight of St. Gregory, May 3, 1917; and one large certificate (fragile) of Moylan's elevation to the status Knight of St. Gregory.

Biographical/Historical note

The archives is unsure as to why the collection includes records found in this series. The archives can only speculate that the official documents were collected as a result of previous land/property ownership by his wife, Nellie Drislane or by Moylan himself. For instance, one file in the series contains Moylan's wife's maiden name, Drislane.

Arrangement note

Materials in this series are arranged by recipient of the official document.

Scope and Contents note

This series consists of official 19th century legal documents such as deeds, contracts, bonds & warrants, receipts, leases, mortgages, certificates, etc.

Philip Hartman, circa 1820.
Box 1 Folder 9
Peter Summons, circa 1770-1780.
Box 1 Folder 10
Elliott Gregson, circa 1820-1860.
Box 1 Folder 11
Dennis Drislane, circa 1880.
Box 1 Folder 12
The Monitor Building and Loan Association, circa 1875.
Box 1 Folder 13
Elizabeth Levy, circa 1875-1876.
Box 1 Folder 14
Elizabeth Weckerly, circa 1820.
Box 1 Folder 15
Thomas W. Moore, circa 1875.
Box 1 Folder 16
Carroll Building Association, circa 1857.
Box 1 Folder 17
Patrick Casey, circa 1857-1858.
Box 1 Folder 18
Daniel Frowart, circa 1842-1857.
Box 1 Folder 19
Francis Falls, Miles Carr, John Muleany, 1858-1883.
Box 1 Folder 20

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