The Role of Fr. Jean-Baptiste Proulx in the Danielson Affair and in the Manitoba School Question

The Role of Fr. Jean-Baptiste Proulx in the Danielson Affair and in the Manitoba School Question

From the author: "The thesis is an examination of the role of Fr. Jean-Baptiste Proulx as an intermediary for the French-Canadian laity at St. James’ Church in Danielson, Connecticut in the parish discord known as the Danielson Affair, and as a secret ambassador of Prime Minister Wilfred Laurier for negotiations with Pope Leo XIII in order to settle the Manitoba School Question in 1896. The thesis re-examines the histories that have been written about Fr. Proulx’s role in both historical events, and the histories that are examined are the book and dissertation by Sr. Dolores Liptak, European Immigrants and the Catholic Church in Connecticut, 1870-1920, and Robert Rumilly’s Histoire des Franco-Américains and volumes eight and nine of his series, Histoire de la Province du Québec. ... The sources that are used to re-examine the histories are sources that Robert Rumilly used, such as the Papers of Fr. Proulx that are held by the National Archives of Quebec at Montreal, as well as Fr. Proulx’s own account as an intermediary in the Danielson Affair, entitled: “Journal of My Steps and Walks in the Diocese of Hartford on the Subject of Danielson by the Reverend J.B. Proulx, Parish Priest of St. Lin.” Also used are several contemporary newspapers in Connecticut, as well as three French-language newspapers that were published in Montreal and in Southern New England. In the analysis of the Danielson Affair and the Manitoba School Question, the thesis examines the development of several documents in light of either historical event. ... Also, the thesis analyzes two speeches from the Eleventh Convention of the Canadiens-Américains du Connecticut that was held in September 1896, and how they became two documents about the Danielson Affair that were forwarded to Fr. Proulx while he was in Rome. Other documents that are examined are the decision of the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors on the contested election of lay trustees at St. James’ Church in Danielson, known as 'State ex rel. George Barry vs. Eli Getty and James Reynolds,' and the response by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hartford to the said decision that changed the state laws for the incorporation of Catholic parishes, 'An Act concerning the Organization of Roman Catholic Churches' in 1903."

Marceau, Albert J.

2009

en

Thesis/Dissertation

1870-1920; Danielson, Connecticut; Manitoba; Québec

194

New Britain, Connecticut

M.A., History

Central Connecticut State University

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