DOROTHY DAY-CATHOLIC WORKER COLLECTION
ARTHUR T. AND ELIZABETH O. SHEEHAN PAPERS, 1929-1975, undated

Biographical Note

Arthur Sheehan (1908-1975), a native of Saint John, New Brunswick, moved to the United States as a young adult and was active in
Catholic Worker communities in Boston, Upton, and Worcester, Massachusetts during the 1930s. He was a member of the New York Catholic
Worker during World War Two, directing its Association of Catholic Conscientious Objectors and helping to edit the newspaper. After the war
he became publicity director of CARE, Inc., and married Elizabeth Odell. The couple collaborated on a biography of Pierre Toussaint and several
books for children. On his own Sheehan wrote the first biography of Peter Maurin, published in 1959. At the time of his death he was assisting
with research on behalf of Toussaint’s canonization.

Scope and Content

The Sheehan Papers consist of scattered correspondence and fragmentary manuscripts. Many of the latter are autobiographical or concern
Peter Maurin and Pierre Toussaint. Of note among the correspondents is Leonard Austin, who was a member of the early Catholic Worker group.
in San Francisco.



 

DD-CW
Series W-15

Series
Box
Folder
Folder Title
W-15
1
-
Arthur T. Sheehan Papers
W-15
1
-
Correspondence
W-15
1
1
Austin, Leonard, 1959-1975, undated
W-15
1
2
Family, 1946-1975
W-15
1
3-6
General, 1940-1942, 1950-1975, n.d
W-15
1
7
P. J. Kenedy and Sons, 1952-1970
W-15
1
8
Diaries and Notes, 1972-1974, undated
W-15
1
-
Manuscripts
W-15
1
9
Autobiographical Writings (fragments), undated
W-15
2
1
Autobiographical Writings (fragments), 1973, undated
W-15
2
2
Writings on Peter Maurin (fragments), 1969, undated
W-15
2
3
Writings on Pierre Toussaint (fragments), undated

DD-CW
Series W-15

Series
Box
Folder
Folder Title
W-15
2
4
Writings on the Sacred Heart (fragments), undated
W-15
2
5
"Our Lady of Mount Carmel Story," 1970
W-15
2
6
Miscellaneous Manuscripts, undated
W-15
2
7-9
Fragmentary Manuscripts, 1969, 1973, 1975, n.d
W-15
3
1
Peace Ship, 1970-1975
W-15
3
2
Press Clippings concerning the Sheehans, 1924, 1953-1955, 1975
W-15
3
-
Publications
W-15
3
3
Candle (newsletter), 1948-1953, undated
W-15
3
-
Peter Maurin: Gay Believer
W-15
3
4
Fragments of Drafts, ca. 1958
W-15
3
5
Correspondence, 1956-1959
W-15
3
6
Publicity and Reviews, 1959-1960

DD-CW
Series W-15

Series
Box
Folder
Folder Title
W-15
3
7
Published Articles, 1941-1965, undated
W-15
3
8
Royalty Statements, 1959, 1965-1966
W-15
3
9
Resumes, 1959, undated
W-15
3
10
Student Records, 1929-1930
W-15
4   Elizabeth O. Sheehan Papers
W-15
4
-
Correspondence
W-15
4
1
General, 1953, 1957-1958, undated
W-15
4
2
Knox, Paul, 1931-1935
W-15
4
3
Letters to her Mother, 1948-1961, undated
W-15
4
-
Manuscripts
W-15
3
4
Articles, 1969, undated
W-15
3
5
Poems, 1937-1938, undated
W-15
3
6
Published Article, ca. 1949