Portrait, 1970s-1980s
Msgr. Walsh with Cuban boys at St. Raphael's Hall
Msgr. Walsh 40th Anniversary of Priesthood, 1994
Title: Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh Papers
Dates: 1948-2001
Extent: 72 boxes (ca.58 linear feet total)
Creator: Bryan O. Walsh (1930-2001)
Location: University Archives & Special Collections - Lehman 201
ID: ASC0001
Abstract: This collection documents the private and public life of Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh between 1948 through 2001. Materials include personal & family papers, subject files, works, photographs, scrapbooks and audiovisual materials.
Language of Material: English with some articles in Spanish and some correspondence in Irish
Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh was born in 1930 in Portarlington, Ireland, in a middle class urban family. He attended Jesuits preparatory schools and colleges -Crescent College, SJ. He began his studies for the priesthood at Mungret College, SJ, Ireland, then entered St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, Md., where he received his licentiate in theology and was ordained for the Diocese of St. Augustine, Fla. in 1954.
He received a Master of Arts degree in sociology at the University of Northern Colorado, and another master’s degree in Latin American Studies at the University of Miami. During the 1970s he served as an adjunct professor at the Barry College School of Social Work. He received honorary doctorates from the Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico, Mercy College, NY, the University of Miami, Barry University and St. Thomas University.
In 1955 he was appointed as Assistant Director of Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Miami, FL, by Bishop Joseph P. Hurley, in 1958 he became Director.
From 1960 to 1981, Monsignor Walsh directed the Cuban Children’s Program/Operation Pedro Pan, which brought 14,000 unaccompanied children from Cuba to escape communism. About 7,000 of these children were given care through Catholic Community Services.
During the 1980’s under Catholic Health Services, Monsignor Walsh developed nursing homes, congregate living facilities, independent living complexes for the elderly, a home health care agency, a hospice program, and a residence for homeless people with AIDS.
Monsignor Walsh served as a trustee of the Public Health Trust of Dade County (1971-80), and as chairman (1978-80); as a member of the Dade County Community Relations Board (1982-86), and as chairman (1984-86). He was vice president of Catholic Charities USA (1983-85); chairman, Working Group on World Refugee Caritas Internationalis, Vatican City (1990-92); member, Board of Trustees, St. Thomas University, Miami.
He received recognition for community service, including -among others- the NCCJ Silver Medallion, the B’nai B’rith Florida Human Relations award, the Anti-Defamation League Florida Region Human Relations award, the Beta Lambda Fraternity’s Community Service Award, the 1983 Leadership Award of the Spanish American league against Discrimination, the 1985 Miami Herald Award, the 1985 Best and the Brightest, and the American Red Cross Humanitarian Award 1996.
He died of a congenital heart defect and was buried on Christmas Eve, 2001
Source:
Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh Papers, Barry University Archives and Special Collections, Miami Shores, Florida
Scope and content note: The bulk of the collection consists of personal & family papers, subject files, works and photographs by or about Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh from 1948 to 2001. The collection also includes scrapbooks and audiovisual materials.
Series Description: The collection is organized into six series: Personal Files, Subject Files, Works, Photographs & albums, Scrapbooks and Audiovisual materials. Series are arranged in alphabetical order within subseries, except correspondence and scrapbooks which are in chronological order.
Series I: Personal Files
Sub-series A: Biographical data
Sub-series B: Appointments (Some restrictions may apply)
Sub-series C: Clippings
Sub-series D: Conferences & Workshops
Sub-series E: Correspondence
Series II: Subject files
Series III: Works
Sub-series F: Works by BOW
Sub-series G: School papers by BOW
Sub-series H: Works by others
Series IV: Photographs & Albums
Sub-series I: Photographs
Sub-series J: Albums
Series V: Scrapbooks
Series VI: Audiovisual materials
Acquisition Information: Gift of Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh, 2001
Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research, some Use Restrictions may apply.
Use Restrictions:
-Researchers visiting the Archives and Special Collections can request to see
any of the boxes in the BOW collection.
- Researchers may not request photocopies of anything in Series B: BOW
Appointments (boxes 4 to 12).
- Researchers may obtain photocopies of anything in boxes 1 through 54 except
boxes 4 to 12.
- Researchers may not use a personal digital camera to photograph any part of the
BOW collection.
- Other restrictions may apply.
Processed by: Ximena Valdivia, 2010
Preferred Citation: Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh Papers, Barry University Archives and Special Collections, Miami Shores, Florida
