Our Growing Collections

KENNETH A. LOHF

Alayagift. The papers ofthe historian, archivist, and social activist
Henry Joseph Browne have been presented by his widow, Ms.
Flavia Alaya. At one time a Roman Catholic priest, Browne taught
at a number of colleges and universities, including Rutgers Univer¬
sity, was active in community affairs in New York and in Paterson,
New Jersey, and did extensive research on a life of John Hughes,
first archbishop of New York. The papers received as a gift from
Ms. Alaya comprise correspondence, manuscripts, photographs,
and printed materials relating to his research on Hughes, and files
documenting his work with the New York City Council against
Poverty, the Catholic Committee on Urban Ministry, the Priests'
Senate, the Stryckers Bay Housing Development, and numerous
other organizations. Among the historical materials relating to
Archbishop Hughes are letters from numerous nineteenth-century
religious leaders and political figures, including Popes Leo XII and
Pius IX, Abraham Lincoln, William Henry Seward, and Thurlow
Weed; Browne's own correspondence files include letters from
Cardinals Spellman and Cooke, Robert F. Kennedy, John V.
Lindsay, George Meany, Philip Murray, and William F Ryan.

Bleibtreu Foundation gift. The Jacob Bleibtreu Foundation, Inc., has
presented a collection of eight Thornton Wilder letters written by
the playwright and novelist to his friends Jacob and Helen Bleib¬
treu. Dated from 1955 to 1967, the letters contain comments on
the playwright's lectures, travels, and reading, as well as on the
writing and publishing of The Eighth Day and on seeing for the first
time "Hello, Dolly!" the musical based on his The Matchmaker.
The Bleibtreus' son, John, has added to the Foundation's gift the
two final letters received by his parents from Wilder; dated
November and December 1973, they relate to Wilder's health and
his recently published book Theophilus North.
 

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