Guide to the Coogan-Quinn Family Papers and Photographs c. 1890-c. 2008
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Coogan-Quinn Family Papers and Photographs
- Creator
- Coogan-Quinn Family
- Collection Number
- MSS 786
- Extent
- 3.0 linear feet (1 box, 3 shelf volumes)
- Date
- c. 1890-c. 2008
- Abstract
- The Coogan and Quinn families were connected through the marriage of Anna Gertrude Quinn and John Patrick Coogan in 1926. The Coogan-Quinn Family Papers and Photographs contain photographs and genealogical research documenting the history of the families.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History
The Quinn family first arrived in Pittsburgh, Pa., around 1884, settling in the city's East Liberty neighborhood. Will Quinn married Anna D. Guynan and the two had five children: Mary Ellen Quinn, Elizabeth Kathryn Julia, Baptista (Tess) Beatrice, William C., and Anna Gertrude. Anna Gertrude Quinn married John Patrick Coogan on Sept. 8, 1926.
The Coogan family settled in America in 1903. James Francis Coogan was born on October 17, 1875 in Scotland and worked as a steam crane operator. He married Margaret Callahan on July 19, 1899 and immigrated to America three years later with his father John. The Coogan family settled in Fayette County, Pennsylvania where James worked in the coal mines, as well as with the Westinghouse Air Brake Company in Turtle Creek. James and Margaret had five children: Mary, John Patrick, Francis Joseph, Margaret Mary, and James Andrew. After Margaret died, James married Ellen Shields (Gordon) in 1928.
John Patrick and Anna Gertrude Quinn had four children together: Jack, William, James, and Gertrude. John Patrick held employment with the Pittsburgh City Water Department, Edgar Thompson Steel, and Duquesne Steel Works until 1963 when U.S. Steel gave him an early retirement.
James Leo Thomas Coogan, son of John Patrick and Anna Gertrude was born on September 24, 1930, is now known as Brother Colman James Coogan, FSC. In 1994 he began working as the social worker and family visitor at Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh. He counseled students with physical, emotional, social, and learning difficulties.
Scope and Content Notes
The Coogan-Quinn Family Papers and Photographs contain scrapbooks of genealogical information, journals that the Coogan family took to Ireland to discover more about their family history, and an inventory as to what is in the scrapbooks.
The box contains two scrapbooks of materials, two small leaflets of information, and a detailed index of what is contained in the collection. The index gives specific details as to whom different materials belonged to and includes identification for photographs. The two scrapbooks in the box contain information specifically relating to the Quinn and Coogan families. The Quinn binder contains genealogical information, coat of arms, certificates, photographs, marriage licenses, death certificates, financial information, and information about the family from their time in Ireland. The Coogan binder contains genealogical information, coat of arms, certificates, photographs, marriage licenses, death certificates, financial information, wills, and some correspondence. Also in this box is an itinerary and journal documenting a trip that Jack, Bill, and James Coogan made to Ireland and Scotland in order to learn more about their family history. In addition to the itinerary there are journal entries as to what they did during this trip with accompanying photographs. The final item in the box is a numerical listing of the Coogan-Quinn family, which is referenced in various family trees and other genealogical descriptions.
The three shelf volumes are scrapbooks of family information similar to the materials contained in the box. There is no apparent index of materials associated with these scrapbooks. The first shelf volume contains information about the early development of Pittsburgh, photographs, and information relating specifically to Mary Coogan and her work while teaching in Catholic schools in both Pittsburgh and Greensburg. The second shelf volume contains photographs, genealogical information about the Coogan family, newspaper clippings, and correspondence. The third volume contains documents and photographs pertaining to James L. Coogan and Gertrude Anne Coogan Johnson.
Conditions Governing Access
None
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift from James Coogan in 2008, 2011, and 2015.
Archives accession # 2008.0309, 2011.0144, and 2015.0039.
Preferred Citation
Coogan-Quinn Family Papers and Photographs, c. 1890-c. 2008, MSS 786 , Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center
Processing Information
Preliminary processing by Pam Richter on 05/16/2012.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.
Related Materials
The family maintains their own website about their history with more detailed information about their genealogy. It can be visited at: http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/brocolm/toc.html.
Subjects
- Sisters of Charity of Mother Seton (Greensburg, Pa.)
- Coogan Family
- Pittsburgh, Pa.
- Ireland--Genealogy.