Guide to the Scrapbooks of Rev. Thomas F. Coakley, (1921-1949)
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- The Scrapbooks of Rev. Thomas F. Coakley
- Creator
- Coakley, Thomas Frances, 1880-1951
- Collection Number
- MSS#106
- Extent
- 2.0 cubic feet (Nine volumes)
- Date
- 1921-1949
- Abstract
- Reverend Thomas F. Coakley was a prominent Catholic priest in Pittsburgh at Sacred Heart Church from 1923-1951. Coakley's scrapbooks consist of nine volumes primarily documenting his service as priest of the Sacred Heart Church, 1921-1949, which include newspaper articles, clippings, correspondence, postcards, programs, publications and photographs.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
Biographical Sketch of Reverend Thomas F. Coakley (1880-1951)
Reverend Thomas F. Coakley was a prominent Catholic priest in Pittsburgh at Sacred Heart Church from 1923-1951. Sacred Heart Church is located in Pittsburgh's East End in the Shadyside neighborhood at the corners of Shady Avenue, Walnut, Alder and Emerson streets. Coakley was born in Pittsburgh and as a young man, was private secretary to executives of various railroad, steel, and coal corporations. Leaving that field for religious study, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Holy Ghost College (now Duquesne University), Pittsburgh in 1903. Coakley then traveled to Rome for a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree from the American College and a Doctor of Divinity degree from the University of the Propaganda in 1908. He was ordained as a priest in Rome in 1908 and upon his return to Pittsburgh in the same year, became the secretary to the Bishop of Pittsburgh. Coakley served in that capacity until 1917, when he enlisted as Chaplain in the 47th Infantry, Fourth Division of the American Expeditionary Forces of the U. S. Army fighting during World War I. At the end of the war, Coakley remained in Europe as the assistant senior chaplain of the Army of Occupation in Germany. Returning to Pittsburgh in 1920, he became rector of Old St. Patrick's Church, Pittsburgh. In 1923, Coakley was appointed to lead the Sacred Heart Church and within one year at Sacred Heart, made plans to build the new structure at Shady Avenue, Walnut, Alder, and Emerson streets. During the planning process of the new Sacred Heart, Coakley traveled to Europe to study old cathedrals and their plans. During this time period, he also initiated the building of a new elementary school and convent.
In his time at Sacred Heart, Coakley was among the first priests in the region to use an envelope system for donations, to have heated water in a baptismal font, and to have a "Dollar-a-Sunday" slogan. Coakley was also a builder and founder of the DePaul Institute and served as its superintendent (1908-1936). Coakley was very involved in the community and wrote many books and publications and lectured to the public through the radio and newspapers. A tireless worker to the end, Coakley entered the hospital in January 1951 with a heart condition. In the week before his death, he left the hospital to overlook construction of the new school at Sacred Heart. Coakley died on March 5, 1951.
Scope and Content Notes
These scrapbooks consist of nine volumes primarily documenting his service as priest of the Sacred Heart Church, 1921-1949, which include newspaper articles, clippings, correspondence, postcards, programs, publications and photographs. Since Coakley's activities were strongly linked to the Sacred Heart, these scrapbooks also provide strong documentation of the history of the church during his service. Of primary note is the design and construction of Sacred Heart Church and schools, and profiles of the architects and sculptors who worked on them including Carlton B. Strong, Xavier Hochenleitner, and Frank Aretz (scrapbook 2, 1924-1928). Coakley also included material from his service as chaplin during World War I throughout the scrapbooks. Coakley was attunely aware of his coverage in the newspapers and included articles documenting almost any appearance in print. His interest in press coverage might be no more clearly illustrated by his annual calculations of press coverage, in column inches, in the rear of five scrapbooks.
Through printed stories, sermons and publications, Coakley's strong views of American Catholicism and his influence in Pittsburgh religious and social circles may be found. Coakley provided numerous criticisms and comments about his congregation and society in general. An ardent critic of members who did not give to the church collection, Coakley constantly wrote about his irritation with that problem. Coakley's sermons and publications include "Contributions of the Roman Catholic Church to the World" (volume 1), "America's Debt to Catholicism" (volume 1), and three radio broadcasts about Pope Pius VII, Pope Leo XII, and Pope Pius XII. Coakley used the radio to expand his congregation and these scrapbooks document his 1921 sermon over Pittsburgh radio station KDKA, a first by a Catholic priest (volumes 4 and 9), and his sermon entitled "God and America" which was broadcast nationally on CBS radio.
General and social issues are addressed throughout these scrapbooks as Coakley became a more prominent voice of contemporary society. Coakley held conservative views on the role of women in society and spoke out against the larger women's movement and "flappers" (volume one, 1921-1927), and against reproductive rights, including promoting a successful boycott of doctors and pharmacies who provide or promote birth control (1933-1939) and his general views against the Planned Parenthood organization (1944-1949). Coakley was also concerned with international and political events; these scrapbooks include material from his tour and report of the situation in Europe prior to World War II from Paris, Italy and Germany and his letter to President Roosevelt to denounce the appointment of Hugo L. Black to the Supreme Court (volume seven). Other items found within these scrapbooks include correspondence he received commemorating the new U.S. Air Mail service to Pittsburgh in 1927 (volume three), and items from 1919 when Cardinal Mercier from Belgium and the King and Queen of Belgium visited Pittsburgh (volume six).
Arrangement
The Reverend Thomas F. Coakley Scrapbooks are housed on open shelves and are arranged chronologically by the first date found in the books. These scrapbooks are kept in good chronological order, yet there are some items from different dates inserted into other volumes.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials came in one accession.
Preferred Citation
Scrapbooks of Rev. Thomas F. Coakley, 1921-1949, MSS#106, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Kara Lewis in February 24, 1994
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Janet Begnoche on October 6, 1999.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.
Subjects
- Catholic Church -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.
- Planned Parenthood Federation of America
- Old St. Patrick's Church (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Sacred Heart Church (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Aretz, Frank.
- Black, Hugo.
- Hochenleitner, Xavier.
- Strong, Carlton B.
- Allegheny County (Pa.) -- Religion.
- Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Religion.
- Architects -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.
- Birth control -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.
- Radio in religion -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.
- Women -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.
- Women and religion -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.
- World War, 1914-1918 -- Religious aspects.
- Shadyside (Pittsburgh, Pa.) -- Churches.
- Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Churches.