Dr. Peter F. Moylan records
Scope and Contents
The Dr. Peter F. Moylan Records, 1770-1917, primarily consists of materials related to Moylan’s knighthood by the Pope in 1917. This small collection includes correspondence, newsclippings, and a dedication. The collection also contains one series that is somewhat out of scope, Official Legal Documents. This series is included in order to maintain provenance. The series, Official Legal Documents, contains 19th century mortgages, bonds, receipts, deeds, warrants, etc. Records in this series seem to be collected as a result of previous land/property ownership by his wife, Nellie Drislane or by Moylan himself. For instance, one file in the series contains Moylan's wife's maiden name, Drislane. Please note that items in this series are very old and fragile which may require the assistance of the archive staff. Use of some items may be limited or even restricted in order to maintain the integrity of our archival materials. Please ask archive staff if you are unsure.
Dates
- Creation: 1770-1917; bulk 1917
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions to access this collection. Please note that the archives reserves the right to restrict access to materials of sensitive nature.
Conditions Governing Use
There are no restrictions to use this collection. Please note that copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Biographical / Historical
Previously prepared by Robert Mulligan.
133 Price Collection
Dr. Peter Moylan was a doctor of medicine who lived in Philadelphia. It is this city where he raised a respectable family of two children. Agnes Margaret and Peter Francis respectively with his wife. Their daughter Helen died an early death. Throughout his life, Dr. Moylan believed in a strong, united community and he showed that to the number of people with whom he knew.
On May 3rd, 1917, Dr. Moylan was elevated to the status of knighthood as the distinguished Knights of St. Gregory. In June of the same year, he was also, in addition to his elevation to knighthood, enrolled among the brothers and sisters of the Order of the St. Augustine by a special indulgence by the Holy See. This favor was bestowed upon him for reasons stemming from his generosity of his time and his natural caring instinct that he had in his ministry of healing the sick of the community in particularly, the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Order of St. Augustine.
Through his profession, he had the privilege of becoming good friends with two Archbishops of Philadelphia. They were Archbishops Patrick John Ryan and Edmond F. Prendergast D.D. He also had the privilege to know other bishops of foreign countries. They were Archbishops John Joseph McCort of Altoona; Giovanni Vincezo Bangano of Puerto Rico, who as later consecrated Cardinal; and Pope Benedict XV. All in all, Dr. Moylan showed his community good example of a Christian Lifestyle.
Extent
0.5 Linear Feet (; 1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Dr. Peter F. Moylan was born in Pittston, Pennsylvania on July 12, 1860. Moylan studied at Wilkes-Barre Academy and later enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1887. Soon after graduation he served his residency in St. Mary's Hospital where he later assumed the charge of the surgical department. On May 4, 1904, Moylan married Miss Nellie A. Drislane of Philadelphia. The couple had three children; Peter F. Moylan Jr., Agnes Margaret Moylan, and Helen Moylan who died while still very young. Moylan eventually led a life that made him a prominent Catholic layman and an esteemed physician.
For instance, in 1909, Moylan was made medical director of St. Vincent's Home and Maternity Hospital. He also served as a visiting physician of St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Mary's and Misericordia Hospitals. In terms of his Catholic accomplishments, Moylan was made a Knight of St. Gregory by Pope Benedict XV in June of 1917. On September 27, 1922, Pope Pius XI elevated Moylan to the rank of Knight Commander. Moylan died in 1931 at the age of 70.
The Dr. Peter F. Moylan Records, 1770-1917, primarily consists of materials related to Moylan’s knighthood by the Pope in 1917. The collection includes correspondence, newsclippings, and a dedication. The collection also contains one series that is somewhat out of scope, Official Legal Documents. This series is included in order to maintain provenance. The series, Official Legal Documents, contains 19th century mortgages, bonds, receipts, deeds, warrants, etc. The archives can only speculate that the official documents were collected as a result of previous land/property ownership by his wife, Nellie Drislane or by Moylan himself.
Arrangement
The Dr. Peter Moylan Records are arranged into five series. The first series, Correspondence, has four subseries. The fifth series,Official Legal Documents, is arranged by the recipient of the document(s).
Series I.Correspondence
subseries a. Congratulations from Hierarchy
subseries b. Congratulations from Colleagues
subseries c. Congratulations by Telegram
Series II. Newsclippingssubseries d. Medical Issues
Series III. Spiritual Message
Series IV. Knights of St. Gregory Dedication
Series V. Official Legal Documents
The Dr. Peter Moylan Records are arranged into five series. The first series, Correspondence, has four subseries.
- Correspondence a. Congratulations from Hierarchy b. Congratulations from Colleagues c. Congratulations by Telegram d. Medical Issues
- Newsclippings
- Spiritual Messages
- Knights of St. Gregory Dedication
- Official Legal Documents
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Items in the series Knights of St. Gregory Dedication andOfficial Legal Documents contain records that are in fragile condition. Researchers should request the assistance of the archivist on staff; however, please note that the archives has the right to limit the use of these materials in order to preserve the integrity of the records.
Custodial History
Accession number 1990.058
Processing Information
This collection was previously processed by the Ryan Memorial Library. The Philadelphia Archdiocese Historical Research Center (PAHRC) believed the collection needed to be reprocessed in order to promote basic preservation standards as well as provide researchers with an electronic finding aid. As a result, in February 2013, our processing intern, Hoang Tran, reprocessed the collection.
Genre / Form
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processing Intern, Hoang Tran
- Date
- 2013 February
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Catholic Historical Research Center of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Repository
6719 Calvert Street
Philadelphia PA 19149
