Father Andrew M. Greeley papers, part 1, ca. 1961-1997, bulk 1980-1996

For listening to audio recordings, it is necessary to use a copy, not the original cassette (and to have a copy made if one is not available).

Materials were donated by Father Andrew M. Greeley (accession #: M1981.0002, M1982.0004, M1984.0164).

Father Andrew M. Greeley papers, part 1 (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of a specific item.

Manuscripts, correspondence, research materials, research proposals, speeches and papers, fan mail, articles authored by Greeley, notes, photographs and posters relating to Greeley’s publications, and audiotapes. The bulk of the materials range from the late 1960s to the late 1990s and consist primarily of approximately 100 fiction and non-fiction manuscripts. Materials also include a significant amount of correspondence to and from Greeley. Topics found in research materials and correspondence include Irish American Catholics, sociological research for the National Opinion Research Center (NORC), publication of novels, and child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.

Fr. Andrew Greeley was born on February 5, 1928 in Oak Park, IL, a suburb of Chicago. Ordained in 1954, he served the next 10 years (1954-1964) as associate pastor at Christ the King parish in Chicago. In 1962, he received his Ph.D. from University of Chicago in Sociology, going on to become a professor of sociology at University of Arizona and a Research Associate with the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago. During this time, he also pursued a career in writing both non-fiction and fiction. Many of these novels concern Irish American Catholics. Fr. Greeley continued his work in the church as a parish priest. Although he did not lead a congregation in Chicago, Fr. Greeley maintained strong connections with Chicago’s diocese and Catholic community. His public critiques regarding the church's handling of child sexual abuse scandals as well as his commentary on other controversial issues at times resulted in tensions with church. In 2008, Greeley suffered a brain injury from a fall, which greatly reduced his public life. He died on May 29, 2013.

Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Father Andrew M. Greeley papers, part 2; the Father Andrew Greeley video interviews (2002.0159); the volumes of "Fan mail sent to Father Andrew M. Greeley"; and publications cataloged separately.

Parts 1 and 2 of Father Andrew M. Greeley's collection were processed separately; Part 1 was processed in 2016 and Part 2, processed in 2008. Although the finding aid for Part 2 was originally written during the time of processing in 2008, it was edited and encoded in 2016 in conjunction with the processing of Part 1.

• Subject
  • Authors, American – Illinois – Chicago – 20th century
  • Catholics – Illinois – Chicago – 20th century
  • Child sexual abuse by clergy--United States
  • Irish Americans – Illinois – Chicago – 20th century
  • Sociology – Illinois – Chicago – 20th century
• Names
  • Greeley, Andrew M., 1928-2013 – Archives
  • Greeley, Andrew M., 1928-2013 – Criticism and interpretation
  • Bernardin, Joseph Louis, 1928-1996 – Correspondence
  • Catholic Church – Illinois – Chicago – Clergy
  • Catholic Church – United States – Clergy
• Geographic Coverage
  • Chicago (Ill.) – Intellectual life – 20th century
  • Chicago (Ill.) – Religious life and customs – 20th century
  • United States – Intellectual life – 20th century
  • United States – Religious life and customs – 20th century

The collection is arranged in four series and one subseries.

Series 1. Manuscripts, circa 1968-1997 and undated (box 65-85, 88, 107-109, 122-142, 144-145, 170-173, 181-184)

This series contains manuscripts of a number of Fr. Greeley’s written works, both non-fiction and fiction. The bulk dates of this collection range from the early 1970s to the late 1990s. Many of these manuscripts are annotated either by the author or editor. Notable titles in this series include Fr. Greeley’s memoir (“Confessions of a Parish Priest” (1986) in boxes 126-129), novels in the popular Blackie Ryan series (“Happy Are the Meek” (1985), “Happy Are the Clean of Heart” (1986), “Happy Are Those Who Thirst for Justice” (1987), “Happy Are the Oppressed” (1996), “White Smoke” (1996), “The Bishop and the Three Kings” (1998), in boxes 123-124, 130, 134, and 184), and the opera, “The Magic Cup” (1984), in boxes 81-85, 173, and 180. A noteworthy unpublished title within this series is Fr. Greeley’s second memoir, “Retractions of a Parish Priest” (1995), in box 183, in which Fr. Greeley reflects on his personal and professional life. Within this, he also touches on his friendship and falling out with Archbishop Joseph Bernardin of the Chicago Archdiocese.

Series 2. Correspondence, circa 1964-1996 (box 6-46, 92-95, 97-104, 110-114, 146-169, 174-180, 185-192)

This series contains correspondence of Fr. Greeley from the late 1960s into the late 1990s, ordered chronologically. Letters both to and from Fr. Greeley can be found in this series. Main topics within the correspondence include sociology and other academic subjects, colloquial correspondence, charity requests from Catholic institutions, and publishing. Materials include correspondence with and about Archbishop Bernardin ranging from general social communication to Catholicism and child sexual abuse scandals; this material can be found in the correspondence for 1977, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1993, and 1995. Other notable correspondents with Greeley within this series include Anne Achenbach (in 1987 and 1988), Jacob (Jack) Neusner (in 1986-1988), and Msgr. John Egan (in 1993 and 1995), with minimal correspondence to Maggie and Richard Daley (in 1993).

Subseries 1. Fan Mail, circa 1981-1994 (box 164-169, 190-192)

This subseries includes fan mail sent to Fr. Greeley, as well as copies of his responses to certain letters. Father Greeley's assistants annotated many fan letters, calling Fr. Greeley's attention to certain parts. See also the separate collection "Fan mail sent to Father Andrew M. Greeley [manuscript], ca. 1988-2001."

Series 3. National Opinion Research Center (NORC), ca. 1961-1982 (box 1-5, 47-57, 116-121)

This series contains materials pertaining to Fr. Greeley’s time working at the University of Chicago affiliated National Opinion Research Center (NORC). These materials include research proposals, reports, papers, and speeches conducted and/or given by Fr. Greeley through the center. While some of papers involve studies on Catholicism (e.g. studies on American priests, box 2), his research mainly concerns his sociological work. Box 51 contains a report by Fr. Greeley for Albert Cardinal Meyer, during Meyer's time at the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Series 4. Published Materials and Notes, ca. 1962-1983 (box 58-64, 86-87, 89, 90(0MM-116), 91, 95-96, 105-106, 115, 143, 173, Oversize)

Within this series one can find articles both by and about Fr. Greeley, church markings and records. While the majority of this series is paper, some church records are sound recordings on audio tapes (Box 90). The bulk of the materials in this series fall in the time period ca. 1962-1983. These materials are not affiliated the NORC, correspondence, or novels. Materials also include Greeley's columns for both Catholic and secular publications, such as “Concilium”, “The New York Times”, “The Chicago Sun Times”, and “The Chicago Tribune”.