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.
Anna Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about family news in Cheraw and pleads with the Bishop to stay out of reach of the Union shelling in Charleston. December 1, 1863. 2p.
