Michael Healy Papers

Record Group — Box: RG08-04-001

Identifier: RG08-04

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This Record Group contains primary and secondary sources pertaining to Michael Healy, including a meteorological report of St. Michael, Alaska from 1882 completed by Healy. The biographical and historical writings about Healy include newsaper clippings, periodical articles, and a book typescript.

Dates

Creation: 1882-1979

Creator

Healy, Michael A., 1839-1904 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Materials believed to be under copyright or other restrictions are available for limited noncommercial, educational and personal use only, or for fair use as defined by United States copyright law and with proper citation. Please note that the College of the Holy Cross may not hold the rights to all items in this collection. Users assume responsibility for identifying all copyright holders and for determining whether permission is needed to make any use of the content. For permission under rights held by the College, please contact archives@holycross.edu.

Biographical / Historical

Born near Mason, Georgia in 1839 to Michael and Mary Eliza Healy, Michael Healy was the youngest male of 10 children. His father, Michael Morris Healy was an Irish-born former soldier and immigrant, who married Mary Eliza Healy, a mixed-race enslaved woman. Because their marriage and children were considered illegitimate, Michael and Mary sent their children to northern schools for their education.

Michael Healy joined his brothers in the north where they attended a Quaker school in Flushing, New York. In 1850 Michael joined his brothers at Holy Cross. In 1854 Michael was sent to school in France in an attempt to curb his wild nature but he soon after ran away to sea, sailing for Calcutta on a British ship in July 1855. Healy became commanding officer of the cutters Chandler, Corwin, Bear, McCulloch and Theti. He was known as a legend for enforcing federal law along Alaska's 20,000 mile coastline. In 1880 he would go on to become the first African American to be assigned command of a US government ship.

Biography from "Overview of Healy Brothers" from the Bishop Healy Committee webpage on the College of the Holy Cross website.

Extent

0.23 Cubic Feet (1 document box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Related Materials

Report of the Cruise of the Revenue Marine Steamer Corwin in the Arctic Ocean in the Year 1884. By Capt. M.A. Healy, U.S.R.M., and Commander: Washington, Govt. Print. Off., 1889.

Report of the Cruise of the Revenue Marine Steamer Corwin in the Arctic Ocean in the Year 1885. By Capt. M. A. Healy, U. S. R. M., Commander: Washington, Govt. Print. Off., 1887.

Strobridge, Truman R., Alaska and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, 1867-1915 Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, c1999.

Uzoigwe, Chioma Ada, The Ship is Healy, “Hell Roaring Mike” The Forgotten Hero: Bloomfield, N.J., 1999

Williams, Gerald O., Michael J. Healy and the Alaska Maritime Frontier, 1880-1902, Photocopy. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University Microfilms International, 1988