Manuscripts Collection
Michael J. Boyle, the son of Charles M. and Margaret Boyle, was born on April 19, 1856 in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, but moved to St. Paul as a young child. After graduating from St. Mary's College, Cleveland, Ohio in the early 1870s, he worked for his father's St. Paul surveying business and taught (1876-1877) at the rural public school in Credit River Township, Scott County, Minnesota. In 1877 he began a 50-year affiliation with the St. Paul wholesale dry goods firm of Auerbach, Finch, Culbertson and Company, and its successors: Auerbach, Finch, Van Slyck and Company; Finch, Van Slyck and Company; and Finch, Young and McConville.
Boyle advanced to managing the flannel and print departments, and made several buying trips to New York City annually. For a short time he was also in charge of the firm's traveling salesmen (1882-1885). Boyle left the firm on two occasions to become St. Paul manager of the Germania Life Insurance Company of New York (1895), the superintendent of agencies for the Life Insurance Clearing House (1896-1897), and traveling agent for E. A. Young Mercantile Company (1911-1916). From 1930 through 1940 he held a number of jobs in St. Paul and Ramsey County government offices, mostly clerical positions in the county assessor's office.
Boyle was a member of the Minnesota Boat Club, Nushka (toboggan) Club, St. Paul Dramatic Club, and St. Paul Athletic Club, and held offices in the first two. He was also a director and executive committee member of the St. Paul Newsboy Home, second lieutenant in the Emmet Light Artillery (1885), and a Democrat. Boyle was a parishioner of the Cathedral of St. Paul and a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
He died on February 5, 1941.
Biographical data was taken from the collection, the St. Paul city directories (1890-1941), and the 1875 Minnesota state census.
The papers are divided into two chronologically arranged sections: correspondence and related papers (1883-1890, 1918-1934) and diaries (1876-1890, 1930-1941). The small correspondence section, which also contains programs, clippings, and photographs, focuses on Boyle's many social activities. The 19 diaries document his merchandising career, as well as his many religious, political, and social activities, including his involvement in the Minnesota Boat Club and the Nushka (Toboggan) Club.
Diaries for 1891-1929 are believed no longer to exist.
Accession number: 13,242
Processed by: Cheryl N. Thies, September 1983
Catalog ID number: 09-00022934
Includes two undated photographs of Boyle; a program and newspaper clipping describing the tenth annual Minnesota Boat Club (MBC) July fourth regatta (1883); a form letter detailing the MBC winter party schedule (Nov. 1883); a dance card (Feb. 3, 1885); the Nushka Club's Washington's birthday party program (Feb. 22, 1888); newspaper clippings about the Nushka's St. Paul Winter Carnival activities (Dec. 1889) and New Year's Eve costume ball (Jan. 1, 1890); a letter from Brian C. Walsh to his godmother, Margaret Boyle, detailing his activities as a car driver for the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force in Baghdad (June 5, 1918); a letter (Feb. 17, 1922) and two postcards (March 20, 1921?) from Katherine Abbott to Boyle thanking him for a birthday gift and describing a vacation in Sicily; and lists of both the attendees at two 1885 social events and those still alive on January 19, 1934.
Boyle's diaries contain daily descriptions of his business, personal, religious, political, and social activities. They detail his early surveying and teaching experience (1876-1877); his career with Auerbach, Finch, Culbertson and Company, and its successors (1877-1890); and his employment in the Ramsey County assessor's office (1930-1940). They also document his dedication to the Catholic church, with many entries describing services attended and sermons heard, especially those of Bishop John Ireland; his lifelong affiliation with the Democratic party; and his very active social and personal life. The latter is documented especially well in the early diaries (1876-1890), which give a vivid picture of St. Paul society through his descriptions of the numerous parties, dances, and theatricals he attended; his formal calls on friends and acquaintances; the popular books he read; his club memberships, particularly the Minnesota Boat Club and Nushka (toboggan) Club; and his many personal relationships, including a number of romances. The following annotations highlight any special events or subjects described in each volume. They also call attention to non-diary information in the volumes.
NOTE: In the descriptions that follow Auerbach, Finch, Culbertson and Company and its successors will all be referred to as AFC.
Surveying assignments in Pine City (March 20-22), Little Canada (May 3), Dayton's Bluff (June 15), and at Clontarf, Bishop Ireland's planned townsite in Swift County (June 22-28, July 27-Aug. 2, Oct. 2-5); Boyle's bookkeeping and astronomy studies; his numerous chess matches; vacation near Litchfield, Minnesota (Oct. 6-27); and his teaching experiences (Nov. 24-Dec. 23), with comments on rural schools, his students, and his salary.
Includes several astronomical notations and a monthly cash account.
Continued comments on his teaching position, including commencement of Saturday catechism classes (Jan. 3-April 27); his father's return to Ireland (March 1), and the impending bankruptcy of his surveying business (Sept.-Dec.); his employment in AFC's carpet department (May 15) and advancement to flannel department manager (Aug. 8), with comments on the work, his employers, other employees, and his salary.
Includes a monthly cash account.
Includes comments on the death of and requiem mass for Pope Pius IX (Feb. 8-13); visits to St. Paul's Convent of the Good Shepherd; his transfer to the cottons and ginghams department (March 1); a series of sermons between Bishop Ireland and two Protestant Episcopal clergymen on "Catholicism versus Protestantism" (March); sale of the family home due to his father's bankruptcy (March-Oct.), and their move to a rented house (Oct. 24); the explosion of the Washburn "A" mill in Minneapolis (May 3); the opening of St. Paul competitor Lindekes, Warner, and Schurmeier (May-June); his participation in the American class of gymnasts at the St. Paul Turner's Hall (Oct. 8); the congressional contest between Ignatius Donnelly and William D. Washburn (Nov.); and his giving violin lessons (Dec. 12).
Includes a monthly cash account.
Continued comments on his work, including adding the jeans stock to his department (Jan.), the effect of Canada's protective tariff on sales (April 9), closing at 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays during summer (April 29), the installation of telephones in the store, and his written reports to William Van Slyck, the firm's New York City partner; his father's experiences in Ireland; his first ride on the St. Anthony street railroad (Sept. 26); and his attendance at a sympathy meeting for Ireland's peasantry (Dec. 18).
Includes a monthly cash account.
Entries detail his promotion to manager of jeans, cottons, and repellants stock (Jan. 12); a reception and meeting for Irish nationalists Charles Stewart Parnell and John Dillon (Feb. 26); the loss by fire of AFC's store (March 7) and salvage of merchandise (March 8-31); the firm's reopening in a temporary building (March 29); Boyle's assignment to oversee stock still being dried (April-May); a trip to Sioux Falls, Dakota Territory as representative of AFC and five other creditors at a sheriff's sale (June 23-26); vacation near Litchfield (July 12-29); and his father's employment as an engineer in Ireland (Sept. 4).
Includes a monthly cash account and list of his year's wages.
No entries for August 28-November 14, and December 19-21.
Details the addition of new partners A. H. Winslow and E. A. Young to AFC (Jan. 4); fire at the state capitol (March 1); Mississippi River flooding (April); his testimony during a number of lawsuits involving AFC (June); his further dealings in his father's remaining business concerns (July 14); and the employment of his brother Charlie as his assistant at AFC (Aug. 22).
Includes a monthly cash account (Jan.-Aug.).
Includes entries detailing his transfer to the woolens and flannels department (March 2); his election as an MBC member (March 6); AFC's new store (March); his transfer back to the prints and ginghams department and assignment as a general salesman (May 1); his avid rowing (May-Aug.) and his first competition in the MBC July fourth regatta; a trip east to send his mother and Charlie to Ireland (July 14) and to purchase stock for AFC (July 5-Aug. 1), with comments on the train trip, visits to east coast relatives, stock purchases, sightseeing, and theatricals; his move to a boarding house; his application as AFC's assistant buyer in New York City and Van Slyck's opposition (Sept. 12, 25); Boyle's election as a St. Paul Dramatic Club subscription member (Oct. 3); a deer hunting trip near Brainerd, Minnesota (Nov. 15-19); a declined job offer from Lindeke's (Dec. 21); and his assignment to manage AFC traveling salesmen (Dec. 26).
Includes a monthly cash account (Jan.-June), a deposit account with AFC, and a list of his wages.
Describes the opening of St. Paul's public library (Jan. 26); almost daily rowing and MBC activities, particularly his competition in the July fourth regatta (April-July); his work on a banquet committee for Patrick Egan, former treasurer of the Irish National Land League (June 7); his purchase of a one-person boat (July 5); the Northern Pacific Railroad's completion celebration (Sept. 3); his acceptance as a St. Paul Athletic Club member (Oct. 2); the St. Paul Opera House opening (Oct. 15); his MBC entertainment committee membership (Oct. 21); numerous poker games at the Merchant's Hotel; and a trip to Chicago (Dec. 21-23).
Includes a monthly cash account (Jan.-April), and a deposit and check register from Peoples Bank.
Comments on a New York City buying trip, including a visit to Philadelphia, theatrical appearances by Edwin Booth and Lilly Langtry, and side trips to Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati (Jan. 9-Feb. 3); his appointment to the MBC nominating committee (Feb. 28) and election as the club's second lieutenant (March 7); a speech and tour of AFC's store by Sitting Bull (March 17, 19); a speech by a Japanese priest at the St. Paul Cathedral (April 6); progressive euchre parties; his winning of the junior singles competition in the MBC's July fourth regatta; time away from work due to a broken finger (Oct. 11-Nov. 14); the presidential election (Nov.); and membership in a whist club (Nov. 24).
Comments on his portrayal of a Greek character in the Carnival of Nations (Jan. 27-30); election as MBC captain (March 6) and Emmet Light Artillery second lieutenant (May 1); advancement to first floor general salesman and loss of the traveling salesmen management (June 4); winning the MBC July fourth regatta doubles competition with Thomas D. O'Brien; boarding with the family of friend Cal Weatherby (Oct. 10); and participation in the organization of the Nushka (toboggan) Club (Dec. 16).
Documents Nushka participation in the St. Paul Winter Carnival parades, parties, and ice palace activities (Jan. 17-29); Boyle's October 1886 promotion to the management of both the flannel and print departments; the Nushka weekly snowshoe trek to Merriam Park; his election to the MBC board of directors (March 4); a buying trip to New York City, with comments on a flannel auction, a professional baseball game, and the new Statue of Liberty (May 2-June 19); his involvement in receptions honoring the Earl of Aberdeen, former Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (July 7) and Cardinal Gibbons (Sept. 29); a personal meeting with the cardinal at Bishop Ireland's residence (Oct. 2); Nushka participation in a parade for President and Mrs. Grover Cleveland (Oct. 10); trips to weddings in East Saginaw, Michigan (Oct. 30-Nov. 4) and Chicago (Dec. 13-15); and a salary raise and bonus (Dec. 24).
Details a New York City buying trip (Jan. 5-20) with comments on his first visit to a gambling casino; St. Paul Winter Carnival activities (Jan. 25-Feb. 4); appointment as MBC board chairman (March 2); participation in the Minnesota and Winnipeg Amateur Rowing Association's Lake Minnetonka regatta (July 6-7); a sales trip through Minnesota and Dakota with details on various towns (July 23-Aug. 5); his brother Charlie's employment at Donaldson's in Minneapolis (Aug. 28); attendance at a reception honoring Archbishop John Ireland (Sept. 27); a fall buying trip to New York City (Oct. 13-31), with visits to Princeton and Philadelphia; election as Nushka Club secretary (Nov. 5); and a trip to Duluth to receive goods ordered from the East Coast (Nov. 20-24).
Comments on his work on Governor-elect William R. Merriam's inaugural reception and ball (Jan. 9); a sales trip to Omaha, Sioux Falls, and Sioux City (Jan. 11-15); re-election as an MBC director (March 1); a railroad excursion to Duluth (May 6-7); his spring buying trip to New York City (May 23-June 21); attendance at the Twin City Jockey Club opening (July 23) and the Minnesota and Winnipeg Amateur Rowing Association regatta (July 29-Aug. 1); his unsuccessful proposal to Leila Dean (Oct. 12); attendance at the last game of the World Series in New York City (Oct. 29); and re-election as Nushka Club secretary (Nov. 4).
Describes jury duty (Jan. 13-18); Charlie's promotion to department manager at Donaldson's (March 14); Mary's wish to return to the U.S. and study nursing (March 25); and his New York City buying trip (May 5-12).
The beginning of the volume contains notes on furnace usage and the first frosts and snows (1933-1938), gifts and purchases (Aug.; Oct. 1933), and clothes bought in October 1940 (Jan. 1941).
The entries (1930; Jan., April-Dec. 1933; Jan. 1, 1934) are scattered and very short. They describe the weather, mass attendances, college football radio broadcasts, movies, funerals, visits to the Furness and Abbott families, temporary employment in the Ramsey County assessor's office (1933), frequent walks around St. Paul, and visits with old friend Charlie Potts.
Entries are again very short and scattered. They detail the same activities as Vol. 16 as well as comments on his weekly discussions with Dave (?) and James B. Hewitt at the University Club; work in the county assessor's office; his sister Mary's hospitalization (Jan.-Feb. 1932); and the Democratic presidential victory (Nov. 1932).
Written in an 1883 diary; the 1934 entries are almost daily, while those for 1935 and 1936 are more scattered.
Comments on his work in the county assessor's office (1934-1936); visits to the Furnesses; his weekly discussions with Dave (?) and James B. Hewitt; the weather; Charlie Potts' death and funeral (Dec. 26-27, 1934); Boyle's illnesses (April 1934, Dec. 1934-Jan. 1935); the 1935 deaths of old friends Will Peet (May 5), Thomas D. O'Brien (Sept. 3), and W. M. Markoe (Nov. 4); and the death and funeral of E. A. Young (Feb. 1 and 3, 1936).
Entries are very scattered and mainly document Mary's hospitalizations (1937-1940) and Boyle's illnesses (1937, 1939).