Dallaher family papers

Letters and papers, 1845-1897, of the Dallaher family of New Haven, Connecticut, make up this collection. Most of the letters are to or from Mary E. Dallaher, a school teacher, mainly between 1875 and 1879, when she was studying music and French in various convents in France, including Convent de l'Assumption, Convent de la Visitation, and Convent de Notre Dame, of Versailles. Some of the letters throw an interesting light on student life in French convents; there are also occasional allusions to the current political situation. Nineteen of the letters are to Mary Dallaher's mother, Elizabeth Dallaher, and ten to her aunt, Rose A. Burrell; approximately forty others are to friends and family members. Eleven of the letters written to Mary are from her brother, Henry J. Dallaher, while he was mining in Deadwood and Spearfish in the Dakota Territory, now South Dakota (1874-1886). The remaining letters are from school friends, relatives, nuns, and priests. The correspondence is arranged chronologically.

There are also some financial and legal papers in the collection, including three deeds concerning family property at 40 Blake Street in New Haven and a number of bills and receipts, some relating to this property. In addition there is memorabilia such as calling cards, announcements, printed programs, and other items from various Catholic institutions in the United States and France.