| | Manuscript Collection | Requires cookie* | | 1 | Title: | Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Company Records
| | | | Creator: | Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Company | | | | Dates: | 1987-2001 | | | | Abstract: | Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Company (f. 1986) was established in Illinois by Robert and Diane O'Connor, and in later years moved to northeast Ohio. Robert (b. 1939) was born in Dublin, Ireland, growing up during a time of much strife in Northern Ireland. His childhood experience left him with an impression that has remained with him all his life. To help ease the suffering of the children in Northern Ireland, he and his wife, Diane (nee Baron) decided to set up a fund to allow Protestant and Catholic children from the most derelict areas of Belfast and Derry, Northern Ireland, to come to the United States and spend a few weeks with a host family. The goal is to foster positive relations between the two groups, and is followed with various outings, events, and retreats back in Northern Ireland. The O'Connor's established Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Company, which is based in Streetsboro, Ohio. The company provides a variety of products made in Ireland, through their catalog. Creative Irish Gifts Catalog functions as a fundraising effort to sustain the Irish Children's Fund, Inc. (f. 1982). The latter is an organization dedicated to creating lasting peace in Northern Ireland. All profits from the catalog directly support The Irish Children's Fund, and those working for the catalog originally did so in a volunteer capacity. The Irish Children's Fund, Inc. is the largest youth organization in Northern Ireland, and has received recognition by the government and civic and social service groups in the United States and Ireland. Today, it is used as a model for other international organizations that are now assisting children in troubled areas. The collection consists of a brochure, a catalog, a history of the company, leaflets, a newspaper clipping, a paper published at Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, and a program. | | | | Call #: | MS 4882 | | | | Extent: | 0.20 linear feet (1 container) | | | | Subjects: | O'Connor, Robert, 1939- | Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Company. -- Archives. | Irish Children's Fund | Irish Americans -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- History -- Sources. | Irish Americans -- Archives. | Peace movements -- United States -- 20th century. | Peace movements -- Northern Ireland. | Cleveland (Ohio) -- Emigration and immigration. | Northern Ireland -- History -- 1969-1994. | Northern Ireland -- History -- 1994-
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| Manuscript Collection | Requires cookie* | | 2 | Title: | Robert O'Connor Family Papers
| | | | Creator: | O'Connor, Robert Family | | | | Dates: | 1890-1994 | | | | Abstract: | Robert O'Connor (b. 1939) was born in Dublin, Ireland, and immigrated in 1964 to New York, as there was such high unemployment in Ireland at that time. After completing a science degree, he traveled first to the United Kingdom, and subsequently to the United States. He moved to Chicago, Illinois, as part of a job transfer, and a new career took him to Ohio in 1988. O'Connor married Diane Baron in 1967, and together they have four children. Since coming to the United States, O'Connor went back to Ireland once to seek employment, but did not find the same opportunities there as in the United States. O'Connor has traced his family history in Ireland back a number of generations, identifying relationships primarily with the Sullivan family in County Cork. Living and growing up in Ireland during the turbulent times of the 1960s and 1970s left a deep impression on O'Connor. Believing that children are the true victims of the conflict in Northern Ireland, O'Connor and his wife set up The Irish Children's Fund in 1982. The aim of this fund is to provide money to allow Catholic and Protestant children of poor families in Belfast and Derry, Northern Ireland, to come to the United States and experience life with families in an area free of conflict. This program attempts to foster relationships between these two religious groups. In 1986, the O'Connors set up the Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Company, based in Streetsboro, Ohio, with a sole purpose of providing funding to continue the Irish Children's Fund. The collection consists of photocopies of certificates of birth, marriage, naturalization, diploma from University College Dublin, Ireland, an essay, family tree, genealogy, passport, and five short stories. | | | | Call #: | MS 4881 | | | | Extent: | 0.20 linear feet (1 container) | | | | Subjects: | O'Connor, Robert, 1939- | O'Connor family -- History -- Sources. | Sullivan family -- History -- Sources. | Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Company. | Irish Children's Fund | Irish Americans -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- History -- Sources. | Irish Americans -- Archives.
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