The Graves Collection: 24 O 39
Special List/ Liosta Speisialta: A037

by Martin Fagan, June 2011.

The Graves Collection is an amalgamation of three separate, but related, correspondence collections of three prominent Irish antiquarians; John O’Donovan (1806-1861), Rev. James Graves (1815-1886) and Rev. Charles Graves (1812-1899).

The John O’Donovan series is mainly comprised of letters addressed to John O’Donovan but also includes letters to third parties which were forwarded to O’Donovan and draft letters and notes written by O’Donovan. The subjects discussed in the letters reflect O’Donovan’s work and personal interests and are broadly related to the following - Ordnance Survey correspondence; Genealogical Research (queries put to O’Donovan and responses to queries sent by O’Donovan frequently concerning his own pedigree); Manuscript Research and Publishing; Topographical queries; Archaeology and Antiquities. The series contains letters from over 380 individuals many of whom were well known antiquarians and historians from the period.

The Rev. James Graves series consists mainly of correspondence addressed to Rev. James Graves predominantly on antiquarian and archaeological matters in particular letters concerning the following - articles to be published in the Journal of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society; reports of archaeological finds and sketches of artefacts from fellow antiquarians and enthusiasts; discussions on historical sources especially concerning Kilkenny (e.g. Statutes of Kilkenny or St. Canice’s Cathedral).

Letter from Albert Way, Holyhead, to Rev. James Graves, 7th October 1862, describing and sketching archaeological artefacts which he has discovered in ‘hut-circles’, known as ‘Irishmen’s Cottages’, on Holyhead Mountain. 24 O 39/JG/185.

The Rev. Charles Graves series. Documents arising from the business of the Brehon Law Commission make up the bulk of this series. These include bound minute books and draft minutes, draft and printed reports submitted to Parliament, copies of official correspondence with officials in the Irish Administration, lists of recipients of complementary copies of publications, an inventory of the documents in the series created by T. W. Lyster in 1884. The series includes a large number of transcripts and translations of Brehon Law tracts, mainly in the hand of O’Donovan and O’Curry. The series also contains the incoming correspondence addressed mainly to Graves frequently referring to the delays which caused difficulties for the project. It also includes correspondence to Graves on the subject of Endowed Schools and Ogham studies.

The collection has been re-housed and renumbered recently - the 2011 catalogue can be downloaded here.