Wilfrid Parsons, SJ Papers 2
Collection
Identifier: GTM-GAMMS433
The Wilfrid Parsons, SJ Papers 2 consist primarily of letters sent to Parsons, an editor for America, from Annie Christitch. Christitch's letters to Fr. Parsons document in detail the role of Catholicism in Yugoslavia during the 1920s and 1930s. Her letters also touch on the subject of Catholicism in Czechoslovakia during that same period. In her correspondence, Christitch discusses many significant individuals, including King Alexander of Yugoslavia, Antun Bauer, Fr. John LaFarge, Tomas G. Masaryk, Benito Mussolini, Stjepan Raditch, and Eamon de Valera. Furthermore, Christitch describes her work for various international women's organizations. Some of Annie Christitch's correspondence is also found in the John LaFarge, SJ Papers.
The John J. Burns Library at Boston College owns part of Annie Christitch's personal papers, and her efforts re: women's rights are described in the following article: Elaine Clark, "Catholic Men in Support of the Women's Suffrage Movement in England," "Catholic Historical Review," 94.1 (2008) 22-44.
The Wilfrid Parsons, SJ Papers 2 are on deposit at Georgetown University and are the property of the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus. As stewards of the Archives, the Georgetown University Library’s Booth Family Center for Special Collections is responsible for managing access to the material based on policies set forth by the USA East Province. Researchers may view these materials in the Reading Room of the Booth Family Center for Special Collections. General policies for using Special Collections can be found here.
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Joseph Wilfrid Parsons, SJ (1887-1958) was born in Philadelphia to parents Paul J. (1857-1935) and Alice C. Avery (1859-1955, m. 1881) with his sisters Elsie (later Sister Wilfrid SNDdeN, 1881-1970) and Margaret M. (1894-1997) as well as brothers Paul F. (1890-1939), Robert A. (1892-1968), and Louis R. (1899-1915). After his early schooling in Philadelphia, he completed his freshman year at St. Joseph’s College (1902-1903) and entered the Society of Jesus at St. Andrew-on-Hudson (Poughkeepsie, 1903-1907). His brothers Paul, Robert, and Louis also entered the Society in 1907, 1909, and 1915, respectively, although Paul later left in 1916.
Wilfrid completed philosophical studies at St. John Berchmans in Louvain, Belgium (1907-1970) before being stationed at Boston College High School (1910-1912), Loyola School (New York City, 1912-1914), and College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, 1914-1915) for his regency. Between 1915 and 1919 he was at Woodstock College, during which he was ordained in 1918, before studying theology at Gregorian University in Rome (1919-1921). After Fr. Parsons did his tertianship at St. Andrew-on-Hudson (1921-1922), he became a fundamental theology professor at Woodstock (1922-1925) while simultaneously working as acting editor of America (1923-1924). Upon the death of Fr. Richard H. Tierney in 1925 Fr. Parsons became editor-in-chief of the magazine, a position which he held until 1936.
Fr. Parsons joined the faculty at Georgetown University as director of Riggs Memorial Library and the University Archives as well as professor of history in the graduate school (1936-1940); professor of political science (1937-1938); and dean of the graduate school (1938-1940) before joining the staff at Catholic University as chair of political philosophy (1940-1948). During this period he was also superior of Carroll House at 3303 10th St NE in Washington, DC, a residence established for Jesuits teaching at Catholic University (1943-1945). He returned to Georgetown as writer and director of Jesuit students at Catholic University (1948-1949) and writer/librarian (1949-1950) before teaching political science at Catholic University once more (1950-1952). Between 1952 and 1956 Fr. Parsons was a professor of political science in the graduate school at Georgetown, after which he was a professor emeritus, writer, and the Washington correspondent for America. He died in Washington, DC, in 1958.
Annie Christitch or Hristić (1885-1977) was a Serbian writer and journalist born to Elizabeth O'Brien (1861-1933) and Colonel Ljubomir N. Christitch alongside siblings Janie and Nikola. Annie left Belgrade in 1904, entering London University that year and eventually receiving a bachelor's degree in 1909. She worked as a nurse during WWI, treating Serbian soldiers and supervising several military hospitals. She raised money for medical supplies with a lecture tour in England and ran a soup kitchen in Belgrade for the American Red Cross. Christitch's humanitarian work continued during WWII when she helped allied soldiers escape from Balkan counties and assisted in supplying Yugoslav prisoners of war held in Germany and Italy. She was a journalist and advocate in the women's rights movement, becoming the only Catholic woman on the International Council of Women. Christitch wrote for a number of periodicals, including America.
0.8 Cubic Feet (2 boxes)
English
Materials in box 1 were transferred from the California Province of the Society of Jesus, 2006, while materials in box 2 were likely transferred from the Georgetown University Jesuit residence in 1980.
Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository