Cause for Pierre Touissaint

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: Mss 0036

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection primarily consists of newspaper clippings describing the life and cause for sainthood of Pierre Toussaint, as well as photographs, correspondence, and mass cards related to Pierre Toussaint. Many of the newsclipping focus on the exhumation of the Pierre Toussaint's body in 1990. Photographs are generally reproductions of illustrations of Pierre Toussaint or of Jane Flores at places and events related to Pierre Toussaint.

Materials were gathered independently by Jane M. Flores and Charles H. McTague, and there is some overlap between the two collections.

Dates

Creation: 1991-2000

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

All materials available in this collection (unless otherwise noted) are the property of the Monsignor William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center and Seton Hall University, which reserves the right to limit access to or reproduction of these materials. Reproduction of materials or content is subject to United States copyright restrictions and may be subject to federal or state privacy regulations. Permission to publish exact reproductions must be obtained from the Director of the Archives and Special Collections Center.

Biographical / Historical

Pierre Toussaint was born into slavery in 1766 in what is now Haiti. He moved with his family and master to New York where he lived until his death. He spent his life helping the sick, homeless, and orphaned. He died in 1853. The Pierre Toussaint Guild was created to advocate his induction into sainthood. His body was exhumed in November of 1990 as part of the investigation into the cause for his sainthood.

Jane M. Flores and Charles H. McTague were both devoted advocates for Toussaint. Flores was an Archdiocesan cook and wrote many articles and poems in support of Toussaint becoming a saint. McTague was a priest in Newark, ordained in 1947. He is a graduate of Seton Hall College and obtained a Masters in Economics and Social Work from Seton Hall University. McTague is responsible for the location of Toussaint's grave and the efforts behind exhuming the body for sainthood purposes.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Pierre Toussaint was born into slavery in 1766 in what is now Haiti and moved with his family and master to New York where he lived until his death in 1853. The Pierre Toussaint Guild was created to advocate his induction into sainthood. The Collection on the Cause for Pierre Toussaint primarily consists of newspaper clippings describing the life and cause for sainthood of Pierre Toussaint, as well as photographs, correspondence, and mass cards related to Pierre Toussaint.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Materials were donated to the Archdiocese of Newark in 2011 by Jane M. Flores and separately in 2010 by Charles H. McTague. Terms of accession unknown.

Processing Information

The collection was processed by the Archives and Special Collections Center in 2011. Finding aid created in 2012 by Jacqui Bowen and Tracy M. Jackson as part of the Overhaul Project collection survey.