Eoin McKiernan and Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler Papers
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Abstract
Eoin McKiernan (1915-2004) was a scholar of Irish Studies in the United States (US) and the co-founder in 1962 of the Irish American Cultural Institute (IACI) in St. Paul, Minnesota. He led the effort to revive and preserve Irish culture and language in the US. The Eoin McKiernan and Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler Papers date between 1917 and 2014, with the bulk of the materials dating between 1947 and 2010. The collection consists of McKiernan's personal papers, records of the IACI, and material documenting Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler's work on her biography of her father, Irish America Reawakening: The Eoin McKiernan Story. Materials include McKiernan's personal correspondence, writings, and production material for Irish Diary, a public television series he wrote and hosted in the 1960s; business records from his involvement in the IACI; and the Irish America Reawakening material, which includes Hetzler's correspondence, research materials, legal documents regarding her Freedom of Information Act requests, and galleys of the book.
Biographical Note
Eoin McKiernan (1915-2004) was an Irish Studies scholar, teacher, and founder of the Irish American Cultural Institute (IACI). He was born John Thomas McKiernan, but adopted the old Irish form of his name early in life. He was a professor of English at the State University of New York at Geneseo (1949-1959) and at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota (1959-1972). He retired from education in 1972 to dedicate himself full time the IACI. He dedicated his career to reviving and preserving Irish culture and language in the United States.
Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler was born in 1940 and is a member of the national board of the IACI and has served as the chair of the Rochester, New York Chapter of the IACI. She was a Campus Minister at St. John Fisher College in Rochester.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in three series: Series I. Eoin McKiernan Papers, Series II. Irish American Cultural Institute Records, and Series III. Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler Research Materials. Each series is arranged in alphabetical order by format, name of person or organization, or title of work.
Scope and Contents
The Eoin McKiernan and Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler Papers date between 1917 and 2014, with the bulk of the materials dating between 1947 and 2010. The collection consists of McKiernan's personal papers, his records of involvement with the Irish American Cultural Institute (IACI), and material documenting Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler's work on a biography of her father, Irish America Reawakening: The Eoin McKiernan Story. McKiernan's personal papers date from 1917 to 2006, with the bulk between 1947 and 2000, and include personal correspondence; drafts and published versions of his writings; his research files; scrapbooks; and scripts, notes, photographs, slides, and recordings of Irish Diary, a public television series he hosted in the 1960s. Roughly half of McKiernan's correspondence is in Irish, with other material in Irish throughout the collection. Material from his IACI involvement dates between 1964 and 2005 and includes correspondence, reports, minutes, memoranda, and issues of Dúċas, the organization's bi-monthly publication. The Hetzler material dates from 1953 to 2014, with the bulk dating between 2005 and 2010, and includes correspondence, research materials, legal documents regarding her Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, and galleys for Irish America Reawakening.
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Audiovisual Access Policies and Procedures
Researchers interested in using audiovisual materials in this collection (films, cassette tapes, VHS tapes, et cetera) must use a digitized copy, which we refer to as an access copy. Researchers may view an item's original container, but the media themselves are not available for playback because of preservation concerns. Materials that have already been digitized are noted in the collection's finding aid and can be requested in our reading room; materials not yet digitized will need to have access copies made before they can be used. These requests are free of charge and can be made in anticipation of your visit. The process typically takes four to six weeks. To request an access copy, or if you are unsure if an item has been digitized, please contact tamiment.wagner@nyu.edu with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. A librarian will respond to you with further information.
Conditions Governing Access
Open to users without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright to materials in this collection created by Eoin McKiernan and Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler are held by Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler. Permission to publish or reproduce materials to which she holds copyright must be secured from the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Eoin McKiernan and Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler Papers; AIA 081; box number; folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The majority of the collection was donated by Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler in April 2016, with additional accessions in July 2016 and June 2018. The accession numbers associated with these gifts are 2016.040, 2016.041, 2018.107, and 2018.120.
In March 2025, Marion Casey donated an accretion of an event program and speech; the accession number associated with this transfer is 2025.030.
Custodial History
The collection was packed by Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler. The majority of the collection was donated by Hetzler in April 2016, with an additional accession in July 2016.
Appraisal
The majority of Eoin McKiernan's research files consisted of clippings from newspapers and magazines and were removed.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Material created by Eoin McKiernan that was not related to his work at the Irish American Cultural Institute (IACI) was identified and brought together physically to form Series I. Material that was created through McKiernan's work at the IACI and was identified and brought together physically to form Series II. Material used and created by Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler in the course of her research for Irish America Reawakening: The Eoin McKiernan Story was identified and brought together physically to form Series III. Hetzler made notes regarding material in Series I and Series II during her research and kept these notes with the original material. These notes were separated and combined together into Series III.
Duplicate materials were removed. Paper materials were housed in archival folders and boxes. Audiovisual material without housing was housed; all audiovisual material was placed in an archival box and labeled with unique identifiers. One CD-R was forensically imaged, analyzed, and arranged in Forensic Toolkit.
In March 2025, an accretion of an event program and speech was rehoused in an archival box and folder, and intellectually added to the collection's inventory with like material.
In December 2025, digital objects for processed electronic records were created to conform to current practices. New York University Libraries follow professional standards and best practices when imaging, ingesting, and processing born-digital material in order to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the content. Digital files were forensically analyzed and arranged using Forensic Toolkit.
Revisions to this Guide
Repository
Series I. Eoin McKiernan Papers, 1917-2006, inclusive; 1947-2000, bulk
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Scope and Contents
This series documents McKiernan's interest in Irish culture and language, his work to revive American interest in these areas, and other aspects of his personal life. Material dates from 1917 to 2006, with the bulk between 1947 and 2000, and includes his personal correspondence, half of which is in Irish; drafts and published versions of his writings on Irish culture, language, and history; his notes and research files; scrapbooks; and material used in the production of three television series on Ireland. McKiernan's correspondents include Brian Friel, Henry Beston, Mairead Nic Dhonnchadha, and Liam Eise. His notes, research files, and writings show his interest in Irish language and history, particularly the events of the 20th century as relates to the formation of the Republic and the conflict in Northern Ireland. His interest in the Irish language is documented through a small collection of early 20th century Irish language newspapers, including An Lóċrann, Fáinne An Lae, and An Gaedeal. The scrapbooks document McKiernan's work as an educator and with the Irish American Cultural Institution and include correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, and event ephemera. The three television series McKiernan wrote and narrated in the 1960s, Ireland: The Past in the Present, Ireland Rediscovered, and Irish Diary, are included in this series. Materials related to these titles include scripts, photographs, slides, and correspondence. Other material in this series includes awards received by McKiernan, photographs of him, and interviews he gave on radio.
Awards and honors, 1959-1996, inclusive
Biographical materials, 1947-1999, inclusive
Biographies, 1973-2000, inclusive
Correspondence -- A-Ba, 1959-1966, 1989, inclusive
Correspondence -- Beston, Henry, 1947-1957, inclusive
Correspondence -- Between, 1990-1995, inclusive
Correspondence -- C-D, 1941-1992, inclusive
Correspondence -- Eise, Líam, 1947-1951, undated, inclusive
Correspondence -- Friel, Brian, 1969-1999, inclusive
Correspondence -- F-He, 1959-1998, inclusive
Correspondence -- Hubbell, Lucy Embury, 1949-1966, inclusive
Correspondence -- I-Ne, 1948-2000, inclusive
Correspondence -- Nic Dhonnchadha, Mairéad, 1940-1989, inclusive
Correspondence -- O-W, 1957-2000, inclusive
Correspondence -- War Resisters League, 1943-1947, inclusive
Correspondence -- Unknown, 1956-2000, undated, inclusive
Curricula vitae, 1969-1995, inclusive
Easter Rising films, 1960
Education records, 1947-1957, inclusive
Employment records, 1949-1993, inclusive
Funeral, 2004
Guthrie Lecture, 1978
Interviews, 1979-1983, inclusive
Irish Educational Services, 1994-2006, inclusive
Irish Famine Curriculum Committee & Education Fund, Inc., 1995-2000, inclusive
Irish language newsletters, 1954-1962, inclusive
Irish language newspapers, 1917-1935, inclusive
Notebooks, 1935, 1959-1960, undated, inclusive
Notes, 1947-1992, undated, inclusive
Photographs, 1950-2002, inclusive
Research files -- Doherty, Joe, 1989
Research files -- General, 1922-1999, inclusive
Research files -- Irish Republican Army, 1931-1966, inclusive
Research files -- MacBride, Sean, 1985-1993, inclusive
Research files -- McGarrity, Joseph, 1940, undated
Research files -- McKiernan, Jeannette, 1935-1995, inclusive
Scrapbooks, 1968-1973, inclusive
1798 Commemoration, 1998
Speeches, 1951-1995, undated, inclusive
Television series -- Ireland: The Past in the Present, 1961
Television series -- Ireland Rediscovered, 1963, undated
Television series -- Irish Diary, 1964-1965, inclusive
Writings, 1947-1997, inclusive
Series II. Irish American Cultural Institute Records, 1964-2005, inclusive
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Scope and Contents
This series documents McKiernan's involvement in the Irish American Cultural Institute (IACI). Material dates between 1964 and 2005 and includes correspondence; reports; minutes; memoranda; issues of Dúċas, the organization's bi-monthly publication; photographs; pamphlets; and a film of an IACI event attended by Princess Grace of Monaco, who served as the institute's honorary International Chairperson between 1972 and 1982. Included in this series are materials documenting McKiernan's work on IACI programs including Irish Fortnight, a series of lectures given by Irish academics over the course of two or three weeks across the United States; tours of Ireland, including the Irish Way; and Trees for Ireland, a reforestation program that established several forests in Ireland. Also included is correspondence between McKiernan and Princess Grace, photographs of them together at IACI and other events, and clippings about her involvement with IACI and her death in 1982.
Historical note
The Irish American Cultural Institute (IACI) was founded in 1962 in St. Paul, Minnesota by Eoin McKiernan, Jeannette McKiernan, and Patrick Butler. The institute's mission is to promote the study of Irish culture, serve as a patron for Irish cultural endeavors, and stimulate Irish cultural development.
Agenda, 1966-1994, undated, inclusive
Articles of incorporation, 1987
American Irish Foundation, 1986-1987, inclusive
Annual report, 1988
Awards dinner, 1975
Balance sheets and earning statements, 1967-1980, inclusive
Board meeting packet, 1986
Boardletter, 1980-1990, inclusive
Budgets, 1987-1990, inclusive
Bylaws, 1981-1988, inclusive
Celtic News Service, 1972
Chapternotes, 1991
Chapters, 1983-1987, inclusive
Correspondence, 1964-2001, inclusive
Corporate membership packet, 1989
Directors, 1968-1984, inclusive
Dúċas, 1972-2005, inclusive
Éamon de Valera Memorial Endowment, 1974-1976, inclusive
Éire-Ireland, 1969, 1988, undated, inclusive
Endowed research funds, 1983-1985, inclusive
Ephemera, 1966-1996, undated, inclusive
Evening of Achievement Honoring Dr. Eoin McKiernan, 1977
Events, 1975-1986, inclusive
Film of event attended by Princess Grace of Monaco, undated, inclusive
Financial statements, 1975-1993, inclusive
Ireland tours, 1973-1985, inclusive
Irish American Cultural Institute Development Fund, 1979
Irish American Cultural Institute film, 1976
Irish American Cultural Institute News, 1986-1991, inclusive
Irish American Cultural Institute poetry and literature awards, 1971-1990, inclusive
Irish American Information Service, 1992-2000, inclusive
Irish Fortnight, 1974-1987, inclusive
Irish Perceptions, 1983-2001, undated, inclusive
Irish Way, 1978-1996, inclusive
Job descriptions, 1986-1987, inclusive
Member mailings, 1972-1989, inclusive
Memoranda, 1966-1994, inclusive
Minutes, 1972-1991, inclusive
National Council, 1971-1974, inclusive
National Endowment for the Humanities, 1973-1984, inclusive
Newsletters, 1974, undated
Notes, 1986, undated
Operational and committee structures, 1968, undated
Organizational histories, 1987, undated
Photographs, 1977-1999, undated, inclusive
Press releases, 1968-1973, undated, inclusive
Princess Grace of Monaco, 1973-1985, inclusive
Proposals, 1978, undated
Reports, 1978-1994, undated, inclusive
Speeches, 1971-1982, inclusive
Trees for Ireland, 1984-1990, inclusive
Victory Dinner, 1983
Series III. Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler Research Materials, 1953-2014, inclusive; 2005-2010, bulk
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Scope and Contents
This series documents Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler's research and work on a biography of Eoin McKiernan, Irish America Reawakening: The Eoin McKiernan Story. Material dates from 1953 to 2014, with the bulk between 2005 and 2010, and includes paper and born-digital materials, including correspondence between Hetzler and McKiernan's friends and colleagues; interviews with McKiernan's friends and colleagues; research materials; and publication materials for Irish America Reawakening, including galley proofs and publicity materials. This series also includes Hetzler's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, legal cases resulting from these requests, and copies of the material she received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Education. The research material includes original correspondence between McKiernan and Riobard Mac Góráin and Pádraig Ó Mathúna, dating between 1953 and 2002.
