James J. Comerford Papers
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Abstract
James J. Comerford was a well-known lawyer and judge in New York City. He also served as the Chair of the St. Patrick's Day Parade and Celebration Committee in New York City for 19 years. A recognized historian, his manuscript entitled My Kilkenny I.R.A. Days 1916-1921, along with writings on the history of Ireland are included in the papers as is correspondence between Mr. Comerford and well-known politicians and other public figures in New York and the United States. Many files pertaining to his work in the Ancient Order of Hibernians are included in the collection.
Historical/Biographical Note
James J. Comerford (1901-1988), a native of Co. Kilkenny was born on New Years' Day 1901 and died at the age of 87 in 1988. In his teens Comerford joined the Irish Republican Army and discusses his experiences in the year 1920-1923 in his memoir My Kilkenny IRA Days. In 1925 he immigrated to New York City and worked at a variety of jobs including as a ticket agent for the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) at night while attending college during the day. When Comerford was 33 he earned a high school diploma and then at the age of 34 matriculated at Columbia to earn his Bachelor's degree. He then went on to get his Master's and JD from Fordham University. Comerford retired as a Judge of the Magistrates Court in 1971. The Judge was active in many Irish organizations and was an outspoken Irish Nationalist. He served for 19 years as chairman of the New York St. Patrick's Day Parade and was also a president of the United Irish Counties Association. Comerford was a member and National Historian of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) for 52 years and edited the organization's Hibernian Digest.
Comerford was married to Vera Carr. They had no children.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into three series. Folders are arranged alphabetically.
Missing Title
- Series I. Papers and Correspondence, 1867-1985
- Series II. Photographs, 1957-1970, undated
- Series III. Realia, 1953-1982
Scope and Contents
The collection documents James J. Comerford's career from the 1960s onward, specifically his nomination to a Federal Judgeship, his membership in Irish American and other associations, and his personal life. Career files include correspondence from notable figures written in support of Comerford's nomination to the Federal Court. Notable correspondents include politicians such as John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Tip O'Neill as well as labor union leaders such as Mike Quill of the Transport Workers Union and Harry Van Arsdale of the AFL-CIO. Of interest in the collection are Comerford's original handwritten drafts and typed manuscript for the memoir My Kilkenny IRA Days. Comerford joined the IRA in his teens and the memoir covers the years 1920-1923, providing an intimate look at the activities of this citizen soldier organization and as well as life in Ireland in the early 20th century.
Comerford kept some of his educational materials from obtaining his high school diploma, Bachelor's from Columbia University, and Master's and JD from Fordham, including course listings and grades, which can be found in Series I under Education.
Comerford was active in several organizations in New York, notably the Saint Patrick's Day Parade and Celebration Committee and the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH). He was also the editor of the AOH's publication, the Hibernian Digest, and the collection contains several files on his activities in the Order, as well as photographs and negatives used in the Digest. Newspaper clippings which are quite fragile and brittle with age document Comerford's career and personal life. Numerous photographs of Judge Comerford and his wife Vera are included in Series II, as are images of Comerford involved in activities pertaining to the St. Patrick's Day Parade, AOH and other associations.
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archive has no information about copyright ownership for this collection and is not authorized to grant permission to publish or reproduce materials from it. Materials in this collection, which were created in 1867-1985, are expected to enter the public domain in 2105.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date; James J. Comerford Papers; AIA 010; box number; folder number;
Archives of Irish America, Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The James J. Comerford Papers were donated to the Archives of Irish America in 2004 by John Concannon. The accession number associated with this collection is 1997.051.
Audiovisual Access Policies and Procedures
Audiovisual materials have not been preserved and may not be available to researchers. Materials not yet digitized will need to have access copies made before they can be used. 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 staff member will respond to you with further information.
