Link to the Finding Aid

 

Abstract:

Diaries of Catholic priest Joseph Clifford Fenton during the years of 1948-1966. Most of the journals deal with Fenton's trips to Rome to participate in the Second Vatican Council.

Collection Size (number of document cases and boxes) :

.5 feet; 1 box

Collection Description:

Eleven journals that roughly cover Fenton's trips to Europe, mainly Rome and Vatican City. The dates on the journals roughly correspond to 1948, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1958 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1966. Sometimes the journal dates will overlap into a new journal. These journals describe Fenton's trips to Rome to meet with various Cardinals, Popes and other important people within the Catholic Church. They also contain drafts of letters written to important people and outlines for essays. The journals also deal with Fenton's experiences attending the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and his opinions on the council, providing an interesting eyewitness look at one of the most important events for Roman Catholics.