Guide to the Edward Paul Doyle, O. P. papers, 1932-2000

Phillips Memorial Library
Archives and Special Collections
1 Cunningham Square
Providence, RI 02918
Tel: 401-865-2578
Fax: 401-865-1578
Email: pcarchives@providence.edu
Website: https://pml.providence.edu/

Published in 2008

Collection Overview

Title:	Edward Paul Doyle, O. P. papers
Date range:	1932-2000
Creator:	Doyle, Edward Paul, O. P., 1907-1997
Extent:	2 box(es)
Abstract:	The collection centers around Dominican Brother Edward Paul Doyle’s military service as a World War II U.S. Army Chaplain, participation in the 104th Infantry Division liberation of the Nazi concentration camp at Nordhausen, Germany, and attendance at Holocaust remembrance events during the 1980s and 1990s.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	Phillips Memorial Library
Collection number:	rppc_doyle

Scope & content

The collection is comprised primarily of clippings, correspondence, programs, and articles relating to the 40th anniversary of the D-Day Invasion (June 6, 1944) and the 1st U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council International Liberators Conference (October 26-28, 1981). The collection also contains a rich assortment of photographs taken in 1945 by Doyle at the Nordhausen concentration camp in Germany and a number of photographs of Doyle before and after his military service.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Doyle, Edward P. -- Photograph collections
• Doyle, Edward P. -- Manuscripts

Subject Organizations

• Nordhausen (Concentration camp) -- Pictorial works
• Nordhausen (Concentration camp) -- Miscellanea
• United States Holocaust Memorial Council.

Subject Topics

• Photograph collections -- Rhode Island -- Providence

Subject Topics

• Military

Document Types

• black-and-white photographs
• black-and-white negatives
• color photographs
• photocopies
• certificates
• clippings
• letters (correspondence)
• monographs
• oral histories (document genres)
• programs
• serials (publications)

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into two series.

• Photographs
• Subject files

Biographical note

Edward Paul Doyle, O.P. Ph.D., (1907-1997) was a Dominican Brother, who also served as a Chaplain with the U.S. Army's 104th Infantry Division during World War II.

Born June 30, 1907 in Fall River, Massachusetts, Doyle was one of nine children of Patrick J. and Anne (Harrison) Doyle. A graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School in Fall River, he joined the Dominican Order in 1932 and was ordained in Somerset, Ohio in 1939. Upon receiving a Master's Degree from The Catholic University of America in 1941, Doyle came to Providence College to teach philosophy and theology. He received a Doctorate from the Aquinas Institute in River Forest, Illinois in 1962.

In 1943 Doyle was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant and assigned to the 104th Infantry Division, also known as the Timberwolves. After months of training in the western United States, the division departed for Europe in August 1944 and spent the next nine months in continuous combat through France, Holland, Belgium, and Germany. By April 11, 1945, the division captured the town of Nordhausen, which they discovered was a sub-camp of the notorious death camp Buchenwald.

After the war, Doyle continued to teach at Providence College and then in 1954 began to assume various teaching positions with other institutions. In 1976, Doyle returned to Rhode Island to serve as the Chaplain at Summit Medical Center in Providence, RI., before becoming a member of the St. Thomas Aquinas Priory in 1987. Doyle remained with the Dominican community at Providence College until his death in 1997.

Father Doyle's achievements include positions as the first president of the Dominican Educational Association and director of the School of Catholic Studies at the University of Virginia Catholic Center. As national chaplain for the Timberwolves, he went to West Point each year to present the 104th Infantry Division's Terry Allen award to a graduating senior.

Chronology

Date		Event
1907 June 30		Born in Fall River, MA as Edward Aloysius Doyle; one of 9 children of Patrick James and Annie (Harrison) Doyle.
1925-1930		Student at B.M.C. Durfee High School, Fall River, MA, and graduate of Aquinas College High School in Columbus, OH.
1930-1932		Student at Providence College in Providence, RI, member of Class of 1934, enrolled in the pre-ecclesiastical program.
1932 Aug 15		Reception of Dominican habit at St. Rose Priory in Springfield, KY; took the religious name Paul.
1933 Aug 18		Simple Profession at St. Rose Priory in Springfield, KY.
1933-1940		Student of philosophy at Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, IL, of theology at St. Joseph Priory in Somerset, OH, and Immaculate Conception College in Washington, DC.
1936		Reception of A.B. Degree in Philosophy from Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, IL.
1936 Aug 16		Solemn profession at St. Joseph Priory in Somerset, OH.
1939 May 17		Ordination at St. Joseph Priory in Somerset, OH, by Bishop James J. Hartley of Columbus, OH.
1940-1941		Student at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
1941		Reception of M.A. Degree in Religious Education.
1941-1954		Member of Providence College religion/theology faculty, including leave of absence for military service.
1943 Aug 25		Sworn in as 1st Lt. in the Army Chaplains’ Corps by David Sawyer, 2nd Lt. in the Providence College Army Specialized Training Program Unit; began training at Chaplains’ School one month later.
1944 May-1945		Catholic Chaplain of the 1st Battalion, 413th Infantry Regiment, 104th (Timberwolf) Infantry Division.
1944 Sep 6		Landed on the beaches of Cherbourg, France, with 104th Infantry Division.
1945 Apr 11		Entered the concentration camp at Nordhausen, Germany with the 104th Infantry Division.
1945 Nov 6		Notification from Terry Allen, Major General, U.S. Army, Commanding the 104th Infantry Division, to Frederick C. Foley, O.P., P.C. President, that Captain Edward P. Doyle has been awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service in the European Theatre of Operations.
1946		Honorable discharge with rank of Major after serving in the 14th Armored Division and in the 104th Infantry Division.
1951-1976		Member of theology faculty and/or Chaplain at Emmanuel College in Boston, MA (part-time), Seton Hill College in Greensburg, PA, Mt. St. Mary College in Newburgh, NY, Siena Heights College in Adrian, MI, Molloy College in Rockville Centre, NY, and Annhurst College in Woodstock, CT.
1953		Awarding of AMVETS (American Veterans) life membership.
1959-1961		President of Dominican Educational Association.
1959-1962		Student at Aquinas Institute in River Forest, IL.
1962		Reception of Ph.D. Degree in Pastoral Theology.
1965-1966		Director of School of Catholic Studies at University of Virginia Catholic Center in Charlottesville, VA.
1970-1971		Research Fellow at Yale Divinity School in New Haven, CT, receiving training in preventive mental health counseling, guidance and therapy for religious women.
1976-1980		Parochial minister and Director of Adult Education at St. Raymond Church in Providence, RI.
1976-1997		Chaplain at Summit Medical Center in Providence, RI.
1980-1987		Limited parochial service at St. Raymond Church in Providence, RI.
1981 Oct 26-28		Award from U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council at International Liberators Conference, Washington, DC, for valiant service during the liberation of Nazi concentration camps; delivered remarks "I Was There..."
1982 Apr 3		Father Doyle and Eli Bohnen, Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Emanu-El, Providence, RI (Assistant Chaplain in U.S. Army 42nd Infantry “Rainbow” Division, which liberated the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau, Germany), co-recipients of the 1st “Never Again” Awards at Yom Hashoah (Day of Destruction) Commemoration sponsored by the Jewish Community Center in Providence and the Jewish Federation of RI.
1987-1997		Member of St. Thomas Aquinas Priory, the Dominican community at Providence College.
1989		Citation at retirement as 104th Infantry Division Association Chaplain, recognizing his 37 years of spiritual support to the Timberwolves.
1996 Sep		Father Doyle’s donation of his files and photographs to Providence College.
1996 Dec 2		Remarks at Providence College Holocaust Awareness Day.
1997 Apr 12		Death in Providence, RI.
1997 Apr 15		Burial in Dominican Community Cemetery at Providence College.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	Collection is open for research by appointment. Materials do not circulate. Some materials may be restricted, for further information contact the Archives and Special Collections, Phillips Memorial Library, Providence College.
Use of the materials:	Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Phillips Memorial Library. Although Providence College has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Edward Paul Doyle, O. P. papers, Providence College, Phillips Memorial Library, Archives and Special Collections.
Contact information:	Phillips Memorial Library Archives and Special Collections 1 Cunningham Square Providence, RI 02918 Tel: 401-865-2578 Fax: 401-865-1578 Email: pcarchives@providence.edu Website: https://pml.providence.edu/

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	In 1996, Father Edward P. Doyle, O.P., donated his collection of documents, photographs and printed material to the Providence College Archives and Special Collections.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Timothy Finucane.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Russell M. Franks 2008 November 12
Revisions:	2007 Revised by Jane M. Jackson
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Related material:	There are no known related materials.
Separated material:	No materials have been removed from this collection.

Inventory

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