Maria Daly Shea
Encyclopedia
Maria Daly Shea was born in County Tyrone
, Ireland
. She was brought to America at the age of three and, in Philadelphia, became a member of the household of Thomas Lloyd. Lloyd had been a prominent figure in Philadelphia Catholic life, as well as being a soldier
in the American Revolution
, a reporter, and the "Father of American Shorthand."
Shea completed her schooling at Eden Hall on the location now known as Fluehr Park in Northeast Philadelphia
. Eden Hall was a convent
and school
established in 1847, and operated until 1969, by the Society of the Sacred Heart
sisters.
As heir to Lloyd's three daughters, Shea inherited the family papers and records kept by the Lloyd family. In this capacity, she was of great assistance to the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia. Some of her correspondence with a founder of this society, Thomas Cooke Middleton, O.S.A. (1842–1923), who later became the tenth president of Villanova College
from 1876–1878, are preserved in the Lloyd Collection in the Special Collections at the Villanova University Library.
Shea is interred at St. Denis Cemetery in Havertown, PA.
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. She was brought to America at the age of three and, in Philadelphia, became a member of the household of Thomas Lloyd. Lloyd had been a prominent figure in Philadelphia Catholic life, as well as being a soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, a reporter, and the "Father of American Shorthand."
Shea completed her schooling at Eden Hall on the location now known as Fluehr Park in Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia, nicknamed Northeast Philly, the Northeast and the Great Northeast, is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the 2000 Census, the Northeast has a sizable percentage of the city's 1.547 million people — a population of between 300,000 and 450,000,...
. Eden Hall was a convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
and school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
established in 1847, and operated until 1969, by the Society of the Sacred Heart
Society of the Sacred Heart
The Society of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic religious congregation established in France by St. Madeleine Sophie Barat in 1800. It has presence in 45 countries. Membership to the Society is restricted to women only. Its members do many works, but focus on education, particularly girls'...
sisters.
As heir to Lloyd's three daughters, Shea inherited the family papers and records kept by the Lloyd family. In this capacity, she was of great assistance to the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia. Some of her correspondence with a founder of this society, Thomas Cooke Middleton, O.S.A. (1842–1923), who later became the tenth president of Villanova College
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
from 1876–1878, are preserved in the Lloyd Collection in the Special Collections at the Villanova University Library.
Shea is interred at St. Denis Cemetery in Havertown, PA.