John P. O'Brien Papers

Collection — Box: SC180-OBRI-001

Identifier: SC180-OBRI

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collections holds correspondence and dinner programs. There is correspondence to O’Brien replying to his 1911 invitation to the “Friends of Ireland” dinner. Among the correspondents is Woodrow Wilson, governor of New Jersey at the time. Additionally, the collection has letters to O’Brien in 1926 in an effort to acquire letters for Dinand Library at Holy Cross. There are programs for testimonial dinners for O’Brien in 1932 and 1937. One program is autographed and was presented to Rev. Dolan, S.J.

Dates

1911
1926
1932
1937

Creator

O'Brien, John P., 1873-1951 (Person)
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924 (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 Note

John P. O’Brien (February 1, 1873- September 21, 1951) was a politician who was Mayor of New York City from January 1, 1933 to December 31, 1933. O’Brien attended College of the Holy Cross for his undergraduate education and Georgetown University for his masters and law degrees. He served as City Corporation Counsel and as a judge in the New York Surrogate Court. O’Brien was nominated for mayor of New York City in a special election after the surprise resignation of Mayor Jimmy Walker in 1932. In office, he is accredited with the city’s expansion of ability to collect taxes, ordering the city’s finances, and trimming the budget. O’Brien was not reelected in 1933. He returned to his legal work and served three times in the Democratic National Convention as a delegate. He died on September 21, 1951 in New York City.