Richard Dowden Papers Descriptive List

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Dowden ’ s other local government service with the Grand Jury (U140/J/02/07), the Wide Streets Commission (U140/J/02/11) ; and as a Poor Law Guardian with the Cork Poor Law Union (U140/J/02/06 and U140/K) are also quite well documented. Dowden was a major supporter and leader of the temperance movement in Cork, and there are over 70 items within the collection relating to this subject. His support was not only vocal, but material, as we see from his efforts to raise funds for Father Mathew (U140/J/07/01, U140/K, U140/L) and also efforts to erect the Father Mathew testimonial statue by John Hogan (U140/L/048). He used his position as Mayor to gain funds for temperance activities, as seen from a poster for the Theatre Royal, Cook Street, for a performance of the comedy ‘ School For Scandal ’, under the patronage of Dowden as Mayor, and Aldermen Thomas Lyons and William Fagan, for the benefit of St. Patrick's Temperance Hall (U140/K/3/141). Education was of particular interest to Dowden, as evidenced by material in the collection relating to over 30 educational bodies, lectures, and events, such as the Munster Agricultural School, the Christian Brothers, the Mechanics Institutes, and Munster Provincial College. (U140/J/03). Also found are a number of posters and handbills for lectures and demonstrations of scientific knowledge and technology such as a poster for lectures in Cork on the science of galvanic electricity, the electric light and the telegraph by Charles Glassford of Glasgow Philosophical Society, in 1835 (U140/K/3/148); and an 1845 printed syllabus of a course of lectures on botany and natural history at the Imperial Clarence Rooms, by G.J. Allman, Professor of Botany, Trinity College Dublin (U140/J/03/22); and a handbill from 1835 for a course of lectures on Phrenology by Mr. Wilson, of Dublin, at the Royal Cork Institution (U140/K/3/021). Developments in science and technology provided education and entertainment to Cork citizens of the era, as seen in a handbill from 1834, for a scientific exhibition by Holland and Co. of microscopes and a lime light, at the Royal Cork Institution, Nelson Place. 'A DROP OF WATER, Magnified 900,000 times!.....In Which are seen Thousands of Living Creatures....THE REFULGENT RAYS OF LIGHT, emanating from a ball of lime.... ILLUMINATING THE WHOLE CITY OF CORK!...' (U140/K/3/001) Material relating to religious organisations forms a small part of the collection but it is apparent that Dowden was dedicated to his Christian faith and that he devotedly carried out his work as treasurer of the Unitarian Presbyterian Congregation, while also maintaining close relationships and alliances with those of other faiths, indeed forming a close friendship with Father Mathew in the temperance campaign , and Daniel O’Connell MP in the campaign for Catholic Emancipation and Repeal. (U140/J/04, U140/K, U140/L). Theatre, music and art were interests of Dowden and the collection contains a series of posters and handbills for performances, mainly in the Theatre Royal in Cork, including a poster from 1834 for the ‘ African Roscius, Three Fingered Jack, Karfa the Slave, and Aladdin and The Wonderful Lamp ’ (U140/08). There are also a variety of theatre and concert posters and programmes within the scrapbooks for performances in Cork and in Dublin (U140/K/3). Art related material includes catalogues for exhibitions such as, by the Cork Art Union on the South Mall (U140/J/01/06); and a Royal Irish Art Union list of prize works of art, on exhibition at Cook Street in 1844 (U140/K/01/40); as well as his membership card for the National Art Union (U140/J/01/10/3).

U140 Richard Dowden Papers Descriptive List

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