University of St. Thomas

Monsignor Patrick J. Ryan Papers

Biography:

Patrick J. Ryan was born near Manannah, MN on December 12, 1902, the son Patrick and Johanna (Cassaday) Ryan. He graduated from the St. Thomas Military Academy (1919), the College of St. Thomas (1923) and the Saint Paul Seminary (1927). He received an honorary Doctor of Laws from the College of St. Thomas in 1954.

After his ordination, Ryan served briefly at St. Helena’s Parish in Minneapolis before enlisting in the U. S. Army in October 1928.  During his army career, Ryan served at Ft. Leavenworth and Ft. Riley, KS, Honolulu, HI, the Presidio, CA and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Maryland.
During World War II, he was attached to the 3rd Division serving in Morocco and later with the 5th Army, seeing action in Salerno, Naples and Rome, Italy.  Fr. Ryan served as the Deputy Chief of Chaplains for the Army from 1946 – 1948 and again from 1952 – 1954.   President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed him the Army’s Chief of Chaplains in 1954, a position in which he served as a Major-General until his retirement.

Ryan received many honors and awards during his Army service including : the Bronze Star, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Italian Medal of Valor, the Order of the British Empire and the Legion of Merit.

In 1947, for his work to ameliorate the hardships of the people of Italy during the war, Pope Pius XII designated him a Domestic Prelate and conferred on him the title of Monsignor.  Msgr. Ryan was made a Prothonotary Apostolic by Pope Paul VI on October 13, 1967.

Ryan retired from the Army on October 3, 1958.  He then served as an Executive Vice President and member of the Board of the Catholic Digest until his death on June 5, 1975 in Washington D. C.

Scope and Content: 

The collection contains biographical materials, correspondence, sermons and writings, photographs and newspapers clippings relating to the life and career of Msgr. Patrick J. Ryan.

Provenance: 

The materials in the collection were given to the College of St. Thomas 1980 and  1981.

Processed:  Joshua Hainey, Spring 2007

INVENTORY:

Box/Folder

Series I.  Biographical Materials

1/1  Funeral of Msgr. Patrick J. Ryan     1978
1/2  Honorary Certificates       1958, 1974, 1975, nd
1/3  Labels from the display with pieces from the Patrick J. Ryan Collection nd.

Series II. Correspondence

1/4  Military Correspondence      [1925 – 1959]
1/5  Personal Letters and Tax Information    [1919- 1974]

Series III. Sermons and Writings

1/6  Sermons and Writings       [1922 – 1950]
1/7  Sermons and Writings       nd

Series IV.  Photographs

2/1  Funeral of Msgr. Patrick J. Ryan     1978
2/2  Group Photographs with Msgr. Patrick J. Ryan   nd
2/3  Hawai’I        nd
2/4  Honorary Dinner       29 October 1958
2/5  Miscellaneous Photographs     nd
2/6  Murphy, Charles      nd
2/7  Photographs from an album labeled: “Birthday Greetings to My Dear Patrick, from Mother,
             3 December 1923, Age 21” (Folder 1)   nd   
2/8  Photographs from an album labeled: “Birthday Greetings to My Dear Patrick, from Mother,
             3 December 1923, Age 21” (Folder 2) n  d
2/9  Photographs of Msgr. Patrick J. Ryan and His Mother  nd
2/10  Photographs of Msgr. Patrick J. Ryan    nd
3/1  Pilgrimage to Lourdes       14-16 June 1958
3/2  Religious Work in Italy       1945
3/3  Ryan, Msgr. Patrick J.: Early Life    nd
3/4  Ryan, Msgr. Patrick J. in Morocco    1942
3/5  Ryan, Msgr. Patrick J. performing mass    nd
3/6  Ryan, Msgr. Patrick J. with Pope Paul VI    1969
3/7  San Francisco        1952
3/8  Services in Minneapolis       nd
3/9  Sixty-fourth C.A. (AA) Trailer Chapel    nd
3/10  Spellman, Cardinal Francis J.     nd
3/11  Unveiling of an oil painting of Honorable Robert T. Stevens  15 June 1956
5 Color photograph of Msgr. Patrick J. Ryan   nd
5 Black and white photograph of unidentified man   nd
5 Color photograph of Gen. Williston B. Palmer   nd
5 Photographs of Msgr. Patrick J. Ryan and Archbishop Brady nd

Series V.  Scrapbooks/Photo Albums

4 Photobook: Headquarters Usareur Comz Orleans, France nd
4 Green scrapbook entitled: “Scrapbook”     1943-45
4 Loose clippings from green scrapbook entitled: “Scrapbook”  1943-45
4 Scrapbook with eagle on front entitled: “Photographs”   1943-45
4 Loose clippings from scrapbook with eagle on front entitled: “Photgraphs” 1943-45 
4 Photo album entitled: “My visit to the United States Zone of Germany” nd
5 Scrapbook        1954-56
5 Scrapbook        1956
5 Scrapbook        1957-58
7          Scrapbook      1954
7          Photo album entitled : Hawaii     nd

Series VI. Medals and Awards

6 Green sash
6 Catholic Digest “Heroes of God” Medal
6 Legion of Merit Legionnaire
6 Chaplains United States Army Medal
6 Distinguished Service Medal
6 World War II Victory Medal
6 Army Commendation
6 American Defense
6 Bronze Star
6 Legion of Merit
6 Pistol Expert Medal
6 U.S. Marine Corps Medal
6 Navy Presidential Unit Citation with Bronze Star
6 Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal 1941-49
6 Purple Heart for Corp. John C Weiss USMCR
6 Medal (small) for Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem “Atavis et armis”
6 Medal (large) for Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem “Atavis et armis”