Letter from Bernard Lynch in Columbia to brother, Bishop Patrick Lynch, in Charleston. Bernard, in hopes of becoming superintendent of the Gas Works in Columbia, is seeking any information the Bishop may have on the position. April 5, 1858. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste (Ellen Lynch), from the Brown County, Ohio, Ursuline Convent to brother, Bishop Patrick Lynch, in Baltimore. Madame Baptiste describes how she disguised herself "as a secular" in her travel north and discusses the opening of an academy in Columbia. April 27, 1858. 4p.
Letter from John Lynch in Columbia to Mother Theresa of the Sisters of Mercy in Charleston. John writes the Mother Superior about a potential conflict regarding a child boarding with the Sisters and fears the powerful influence of the child's mother could adversely affect their school. May 11, 1858. 2p.
In a letter from Columbia, John Lynch writes to his brother, Bishop Patrick Lynch in Charleston, for help in securing employment for their brother Bernard at the S.C. Statehouse. May 18, 1858. 4p.
Letter from Anna Lynch in Cheraw to brother, Bishop Patrick Lynch, in Charleston, concerning the recent illness of their mother. Letter includes a brief message from their brother Francis concerning a $1200 note that he wants the Bishop to endorse. May 21, 1858. 4p.
Second letter from Anna Lynch in Cheraw to brother, Bishop Patrick Lynch, in Charleston, concerning the recent illness of their mother. May 23, 1858. 2p.
Letter from Julia Lynch Pinckney, Walterboro, to her brother, Bishop Patrick Lynch, in Charleston. Julia asks Bishop Lynch to send a priest as Eustace (Pinckney?) is very ill. May 27, 1858. 1p.
Letter from Francis Lynch, Cheraw, to brother, Bishop Patrick Lynch, in Charleston, asking him to endorse and deposit an enclosed note. July 23, 1858. 1p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch describing a visit by their mother to the Ursuline convent in Columbia. She also mentions a letter from a potential novitiate whose guardian is John Breckinridge, Vice President of the U.S. September 12, 1858. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to her brother Bishop Patrick Lynch about the health of their family, the Ursuline Convent in Columbia and the prevalence of yellow fever. September 18, 1858. 4p.
Francis Lynch, Cheraw, writes to his brother, Bishop Patrick Lynch in Charleston, about a recommendation the Bishop had given to a third party concerning a job applicant. He also discusses their family's health and the business woes of their brother, Hugh. September 21, 1858. 4p.
Letter from Mary Lynch Spann to her brother, Bishop Patrick Lynch, informing him of news of her family in Washington County, Texas. September 24, 1858. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about news at the Ursuline Convent in Columbia and that she is "glad to hear of our boxes, which we began to fear were gone to the fishes." September 29, 1858. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning a new "noviciate" being welcomed into the Ursulines of Columbia. Madame Baptiste is concerned that given the precarious financial status of the convent that the new noviciate will not realize the sacrifices she must make given that she has previously known "many conveniences." She also suggests that the noviciate pay her own travel expenses to Columbia and possibly pay her board during her term. September 29, 1858. 2p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about news at the Ursuline Convent in Columbia, including the potential recruitment of two lay sisters to help in housekeeping so the convent doesn't "have to pay servant's hire." She also mentions stocking up on stores and that she has ordered two tons of coal, "two thirds anthracite and one third bituminous", from Charleston. October 26, 1858. 4p.
Short letter from Francis Lynch in Cheraw to Bishop Patrick Lynch in Charleston asking him to endorse and deposit a note for $2500. October 26, 1858. 1p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch informing him of the latest news at the Ursuline Convent and school in Columbia. November 6, 1858. 4p.
Letter from John Lynch in Cheraw to his wife in Charleston. John informs her she has $400 to spend on furniture and supplies but advises her to "make good bargains and buy cheap." November 16, 1858. 1p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch informing him of the latest news at the Ursuline Convent and school in Columbia. November 17, 1858. 2p.
John Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch informing him that he probably will not be able to attend a novitiate's reception and asks the Bishop to send his regrets. November 17, 1858. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch informing him of the latest news at the Ursuline Convent and school in Columbia. November 19, 1858. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch informing him of the latest news at the Ursuline Convent and school in Columbia. December 4, 1858. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch informing him of the latest news at the Ursuline Convent and school in Columbia. December 15, 1858. 4p.
Short letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch informing him that she is sending him twenty dollars out of fear that he is having money problems. January 7, 1859. 1p.
John Lynch writes to his brother, Bishop Patrick Lynch, about plans to send his son to France and mentions his own recent attempt at abstaining from alcohol though "temptations are strong and the flesh is weak." January 31, 1859. 1p.
Letter from Eleanor Spann in Galveston to Bishop Patrick Lynch in Charleston, congratulating him on his appointment to Bishop and reminiscing of earlier times in Charleston. February 24, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch telling him about a French woman who had given her a gift as a "pretext" for being considered as a lay sister in the Ursuline Convent. She also asks the Bishop to speak to their sister-in-law, Henrietta, about "her neglect of duty as a wife and housekeeper" for staying in Charleston so long instead of her home in Cheraw. February 24, 1859. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about family news and affairs at the Ursuline Convent. In an earlier letter she had written that the sisters could not fast during Lent and labor too and now asks the Bishop for a decision on the matter. February 27, 1859. 3p.
Madame Baptiste writes to brother, Bishop Patrick Lynch, about family news and affairs at the Ursuline Convent including the arrival of the "little French woman" and another boarder. March 4, 1859. 2p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from the Ursuline Convent and congratulates him on the one year anniversary of his consecration. March 14, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning two boxes shipped to the Bishop from New York containing statuary for the Ursulines. March 29, 1859. 2p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch asking him to send a Paschal candle and candlestick holder for the Easter season and informs the Bishop of the latest news at the Ursuline Convent. April, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch enclosed in her letter of April 8, 1859. Madame Baptiste writes about a controversy concerning a parish priest's insistence that communion be received at the parish church only and not in the chapel of the Ursulines. April 10, 1859. 2p.
John Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch asking him to send a copy of a letter so that he can more accurately respond to its contents. April 13, 1859. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about the Ursulines' preparations for the Easter season and the health of their family. April 23, 1859. 4p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch informing him that he has received the will (Bernard's?) and requests a copy of a letter he had previously forwarded. April 25, 1859. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch informing him of the news of the Ursuline Convent and academy in Columbia including that she is in "good humor" after receiving $1000 for tuition and board from a Mrs. Gaffney. May 3, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch about his upcoming trip to visit the Ursulines in Columbia for the confirmation of the students. May 12, 1859. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about news at the Ursuline convent and academy including the purchase of books for their library and her desire to rent a piano for several months. May 16, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch about a young boy who "despite the contradictions of a stepmother, and the labors of a blacksmith, thinks of becoming a priest." She also writes at length about a candidate for lay sister for the convent claiming, "I do not know what to think of her." June 2, 1859. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about the decision of a sister to leave the Ursulines and comments on some property that may be appropriate for building a new convent. June 6, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch about the arrival of a new sister, "our little Cincinnati postulant," and the scolding letter she had to write to their brother, John, about his drinking. June 10, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Michael and Luke Lynch in Roslea, County Fermanagh, Ireland, to Bishop Patrick Lynch in Charleston. In the letter, the uncles of Bishop Lynch give a detailed genealogy of the Lynch family and provide news of the family in Ireland. June 15, 1859. 3p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about news at the Ursuline Convent and academy. She again mentions the property that may be available for building a new convent but is warned by her brother, John, that its location may cause the order to lose its day pupils. The Ursulines' current location is not tenable because of the proximity of "gross shops" and "beer houses" and they are frequently disturbed by "profane language" and "midnight carousals." June 21, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch describing the elaborate preparations made by the noviciates and sisters for her namesake feast day. June 26, 1859. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning news at the Ursuline Convent and academy noting that "our pupils are diminishing weekly on account of the heat." July 8, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch discussing a visit from their siblings, John, Hugh and Anna, and the arrangements being made for the Ursuline academy's upcoming Distribution Day. July 14, 1859. 4p.
John Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about family news and mentions the potential sale of the American Hotel in Columbia, believing it may be an appropriate place for relocating the Ursulines. July 25, 1859. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch asking him to procure newspapers from Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis and New York so the sisters can read about Distribution Days and exhibits from other Catholic academies. She laments that the South Carolinian newspaper did not publish their recent events and jokingly comments that it's "a very good index that they fear our power." July 27, 1859. 4p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning the American Hotel on Richardson and Blanding Streets in Columbia as a potential site for relocating the Ursulines. John describes the hotel in detail and includes a small sketch of the lot it resides on. July 28, 1859. 3p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch discussing the Ursuline sisters' opinions on purchasing the American Hotel for their new convent versus buying another place or building from scratch. July 29, 1859. 4p.
Mortgage taken out by Bishop Patrick Lynch for $5000, payable to Etienne Poincignon, for lots on Society and Queen Streets in August, 1859. Two handwritten statements verifying the full satisfaction of the mortgage are written on the back by the executors of Poincignon and the Register Mesne Conveyance in October 1880. August 3, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning the Bishop's purchase of the American Hotel in order to relocate the academy and convent there. A petition had been taken up by persons in Columbia to dissuade the establishment of the convent there claiming it would "injure the mercantile interest of the city." Madame Baptiste believes "prejudice rather than pecuniary interest" are behind the petition and suggests selling it to them for a profit and building a new place elsewhere. August 12, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch about the end of the Ursulines' annual retreat, the renovation of their vows and the ongoing controversy concerning the possible relocation of the convent and academy to the American Hotel. August 15, 1859. 2p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning a mistrial in an unspecified court case. The lawyer advises John that the Bishop's presence would do little to "advance your cause" and advises the Bishop to remain away from Columbia until after the case is tried again. August 28, 1859. 2p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch about court costs associated with an unspecified suit and the lack of cleanliness of the recently purchased American Hotel which John had been given possession of by the sheriff. September 1, 1859. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning news at the Ursuline Convent and Academy. Madame Baptiste is worried about the number of teachers she has compared to other academies claiming she is "the best English and Music teacher but am exhausted and unfit for other duties." September 1, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch with her recommendations for the wording of the announcement publicizing the commencement of their annual exercises on September 20th. (A brief message on Page 2 concerning the students' retreat suggests this may have been written in late May or June). September 1, 1859. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch informing him of preparations being made at the American Hotel in order to make it habitable for the opening of the academy. September 2, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Antonia at the Carmelite Convent in Baltimore to Bishop Patrick Lynch. The Bishop's sister thanks him for visiting Baltimore and sends regards to the rest of the family. September 9, 1859. 4p.
Short letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning supplies ordered for the new convent, including verdigris, coal tar and blinds. September 23, 1859. 1p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch recounting news at the Ursuline Convent and Academy. Madame Baptiste writes how the mayor, as promised, has checked up on them one night in John Lynch's absence. October 5, 1859. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch in answer to his query about boarding some of the Sisters of Mercy. At first she thinks it is a godsend to receive well trained individuals in the convent but soon realizes that they are probably "disaffected, fastidious members" and writes that "in my opinion no Religious should travel for her health." October 7, 1859. 4p.
John Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about ongoing renovations at the Ursuline Convent and his discussions with various contractors. He relates that the current night watchman wants to quit after half a month because of "(having) nothing to do, and lonesomeness" and John wants to hire in his place a Patrick Brennan, though he fears Mr. Brennan "might take in his pocket a companion." October 14, 1859. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch about ongoing renovations at the American Hotel, site of the new Ursuline Convent and Academy. October 20, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch about news at the Ursuline Convent and a disagreement over the cost of some of the renovations at the American Hotel. November 16, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from the Ursuline Convent and Academy. Madame Baptiste also requests some supplies she is unable to get in Columbia, including a specific cod liver oil (Burnett's Warranted Pure Cod Liver Oil) preferred by one of the sisters. November 23, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning a bill for new carpet and how $30 dollars mysteriously appeared to pay for it. December 16, 1859. 4p.
John Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about renting out one of the buildings previously used by the Ursulines prior to their move to the American Hotel. January 2, 1860. 4p.
Ash Wednesday letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch informing him of their fasting plans for Lent and asking his advice concerning the sale of the copyright of the "Ursuline Manual." February 22, 1860. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about plans that had fallen through for the Archbishop to visit Columbia. Madame Baptiste expresses relief in the change of plans claiming, "I hate meeting dignitaries." She also brings up the issue of selling the copyright to the "Ursuline Manual" and writes at length about a young lady who wants to be a nun despite her mother's disapproval. March 2, 1860. 4p.
Letter from Mary Lynch Spann in Washington County, Texas, to her brother, Bishop Patrick Lynch. Mary Lynch Spann sends news of her family and comments on the news that the Bishop may visit them in the spring. March 6, 1860. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch renewing her request for advice concerning selling the copyright to the "Ursuline Manual" and asks the Bishop about two potential boarders at the school and convent. March 10, 1860. 2p.
John Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about expiring insurance on the Convent's former house and offers to house Bishop Hughes when he visits Columbia, joking that he can turn the Bishop's stay into an advertisement for his medical practice. March 14, 1860. 2p.
This is the first of three scrapbooks documenting Camp St. Mary, a catechetical education camp, located on the Okatee River near Bluffton, South Carolina. The scrapbook was collected and arranged by Father Alfred F. Kamler, director of the camp.