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Stephen Brown (author)
Encyclopedia
Stephen James Meridith Brown (born 24 September 1881 in Holywood
, County Down
, Ireland, died 5 May 1962, in Dublin, Ireland) was an Irish
Catholic
priest
, writer, bibliographer and librarian. He founded the Central Catholic Library
in Dublin.
Although he was born in County Down, Stephen Brown spent his early years in Naas
, County Kildare
, where his father was a solicitor and Chairman of Kildare County Council (1899-1911).
He was educated at Clongowes Wood College
and entered the Jesuit noviceship in 1897. He studied philosophy in Jersey
, and was ordained in 1914.
He initially taught at Maynooth College
, and afterwards established the post-graduate school in librarianship at University College Dublin
, an interest he maintained for some 24 years. In 1922 he set up the Central Catholic Library, where he later served as Director. He served on the Hospital Library Council and as Director of the Academy of Christian Art. In 1953 he received a certificate of Honorary Fellowship from the Library Association of Ireland
, for his contribution to the development of the library profession in Ireland.
While involved with the Central Catholic Library and other, mainly library-based, activities, he was also a prolific writer of books, bibliographies and articles of all kinds up to the end of his life.
In September 1960, Fr Brown became incapacitated as the result of a serious road accident in London. A fractured skull and rib injuries forced him to spend four months in the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth
in Grove End Road in London. He returned to Dublin but never recovered from his injuries. He died in Milltown, Dublin
.
A Reader’s Guide to Irish Fiction (1910)
A Guide to Books on Ireland (Dublin: Talbot 1912)
The Question of Irish Nationality (Dublin: Sealy, Bryers & Walker 1913)
(The first edition of Fr. Brown’s
Ireland in Fiction (1916) was printed by Maunsel but was destroyed
by fire in the 1916 Rising.)
The Central Catholic Library. The first ten years of an Irish enterprise. 1932.
Poetry of Irish History, being a new and enlarged
edition of Historical Ballad Poetry of Ireland, ed. M. J. Brown
(Dublin: Talbot Press 1927)
Novels and Tales by Catholic Writers (Dublin, 1930)
Catholic Juvenile Literature: A Classified List (London: Burns, Oates & Co. 1935)
The Press in Ireland: A Survey and a Guide. (Dublin: Browne & Nolan 1937).
The Crusade for a Better World (on Riccardo Lombardi) (Dublin: Irish Messenger, 1956)
Holywood
Holywood is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the shore of Belfast Lough, between Belfast and Bangor. Holywood Exchange and Belfast City Airport are nearby. The town hosts an annual jazz and blues festival.-Name:...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, Ireland, died 5 May 1962, in Dublin, Ireland) was an Irish
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...
Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, writer, bibliographer and librarian. He founded the Central Catholic Library
Central Catholic Library
The Central Catholic Library is a library located in Dublin, Ireland. It was founded by Fr. Stephen Brown, S.J. on June 25, 1922 with the goal of helping the laity to educate themselves. It is a voluntary subscription library and open to visitors six days a week...
in Dublin.
Life
Naas
Naas is the county town of County Kildare in Ireland. With a population of just over twenty thousand, it is also the largest town in the county. Naas is a major commuter suburb, with many people residing there and working in Dublin...
, County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, where his father was a solicitor and Chairman of Kildare County Council (1899-1911).
He was educated at Clongowes Wood College
Clongowes Wood College
Clongowes Wood College is a voluntary secondary boarding school for boys, located near Clane in County Kildare, Ireland. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1814, it is one of Ireland's oldest Catholic schools, and featured prominently in James Joyce's semi-autobiographical novel A Portrait of the...
and entered the Jesuit noviceship in 1897. He studied philosophy in Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
, and was ordained in 1914.
He initially taught at Maynooth College
St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth is the "National Seminary for Ireland" , and a Pontifical University, located in the village of Maynooth, 15 miles from Dublin, Ireland. The college and seminary are often referred to as Maynooth College. The college was officially established as the Royal College...
, and afterwards established the post-graduate school in librarianship at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
, an interest he maintained for some 24 years. In 1922 he set up the Central Catholic Library, where he later served as Director. He served on the Hospital Library Council and as Director of the Academy of Christian Art. In 1953 he received a certificate of Honorary Fellowship from the Library Association of Ireland
Library Association of Ireland
The Library Association of Ireland is a professional body representing librarians that was founded in 1928.-External links:*...
, for his contribution to the development of the library profession in Ireland.
While involved with the Central Catholic Library and other, mainly library-based, activities, he was also a prolific writer of books, bibliographies and articles of all kinds up to the end of his life.
In September 1960, Fr Brown became incapacitated as the result of a serious road accident in London. A fractured skull and rib injuries forced him to spend four months in the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth
Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth
The Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth is an independent hospital in St John's Wood, London. It is informally known as "John & Lizzie's".It was founded in 1856 with a Roman Catholic affiliation and is a registered charity....
in Grove End Road in London. He returned to Dublin but never recovered from his injuries. He died in Milltown, Dublin
Milltown, Dublin
Milltown , Dublin 6, Ireland, is a suburb on the southside of Dublin. The townland got its name well before the 18th or 19th century. Both Milltown and Clonskeagh were "Liberties" of Dublin, following the English invasion and colonisation in 1290....
.
Works by Stephen Brown
The following is a small selection of the many works by Stephen Brown, S.J.:A Reader’s Guide to Irish Fiction (1910)
A Guide to Books on Ireland (Dublin: Talbot 1912)
The Question of Irish Nationality (Dublin: Sealy, Bryers & Walker 1913)
(The first edition of Fr. Brown’s
Ireland in Fiction (1916) was printed by Maunsel but was destroyed
by fire in the 1916 Rising.)
The Central Catholic Library. The first ten years of an Irish enterprise. 1932.
Poetry of Irish History, being a new and enlarged
edition of Historical Ballad Poetry of Ireland, ed. M. J. Brown
(Dublin: Talbot Press 1927)
Novels and Tales by Catholic Writers (Dublin, 1930)
Catholic Juvenile Literature: A Classified List (London: Burns, Oates & Co. 1935)
The Press in Ireland: A Survey and a Guide. (Dublin: Browne & Nolan 1937).
The Crusade for a Better World (on Riccardo Lombardi) (Dublin: Irish Messenger, 1956)
External links
- Website of the Central Catholic Library, Dublin Includes a biography and pictures of Father Brown.