Father Thomas J. Quinlan, Jr. Papers, 1943-2009 | Sargeant Memorial Collection

By Will Hopkins

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Collection Overview

Title: Father Thomas J. Quinlan, Jr. Papers, 1943-2009

Predominant Dates:2005

ID: 001/01/MSS 0000-229

Primary Creator: Quinlan, Thomas J., Jr. (1929-2012)

Extent: 11.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Arranged by record type, then in chronological order. Where possible, original order was maintained as found in Quinlan's scrapbooks and files. Series 1: Correspondence, Series 2: Church Documents, Series 3: Scrapbooks, Series 4: Miscellaneous, Series 5: Audiovisual Materials.

Date Acquired: 03/22/2009

Subjects: Catholic Church, Catholic Church. Diocese of Richmond (Va.), Catholics, Chincoteague Island (Va.), Norfolk (Va.), Poquoson (Va.), Portsmouth (Va.), Retirement, Schools, Virginia--Church history, Virginia Beach (Va.), Williamsburg (Va.)

Forms of Material: Church bulletins, Clippings (information artifacts), Correspondence, DVDs, Envelopes, Magazines (periodicals), Newsletters, Notes, Photographs, Plaques (flat objects), Poems, Scrapbooks, Yearbooks

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Father Thomas J. Quinlan, Jr. Papers include personal and official correspondence, church-related documents and publications, scrapbooks (mostly newspaper clippings), photographs, DVDs and videotapes, and several pieces of memorabilia.

Father Thomas J. Quinlan, Jr., also known as "TQ", was a Roman Catholic priest at several Virginia churches from 1958 to 2005. These included St. Mary's in Norfolk, Blessed Sacrament in Alexandria, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha in Tabb, and Holy Family in Virginia Beach. Quinlan was known for his unconventional preaching style and his sometimes controversial interpretations of the Catholic liturgy -- interpretations that some viewed as heretical. He also courted troubles for his willingness to challenge church leaders and his often direct style in dealing with laity. Despite these traits, Quinlan engendered great loyalty from his parishioners and built an admirable record of increasing energy and participation in his assigned churches. TQ died in Virginia Beach on April 23, 2012 -- the death day of Miguel de Cervantes, the creator of Don Quixote, a character with whom Quinlan claimed a deep kinship.

Biographical Note

Father Thomas Joseph Quinlan, Jr. was a Catholic priest who served at various churches in Virginia from the 1950s to 2005, including St. Mary's in Norfolk, Virginia and several others in the Tidewater area. Quinlan was born on April 23, 1929 in Chicopee, Massachusetts and was ordained at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Richmond, Virginia in 1958. He spent most of his career within the Richmond Diocese. A series of controversial sermons and writings by Quinlan, along with continued confrontations with church officials, finally led to his forced retirement in 2005. TQ died in Virginia Beach, Virginia on April 23, 2012. According to his wishes, Quinlan was cremated, his ashes poured into a "Chock-Full-O-Nuts" coffee can, and placed at the columbarium of St. Kateri Tekakwitha parish in Poquoson, Virginia.

Subject/Index Terms

Catholic Church
Catholic Church. Diocese of Richmond (Va.)
Catholics
Chincoteague Island (Va.)
Norfolk (Va.)
Poquoson (Va.)
Portsmouth (Va.)
Retirement
Schools
Virginia--Church history
Virginia Beach (Va.)
Williamsburg (Va.)

Administrative Information

Repository: Sargeant Memorial Collection

Access Restrictions: This collection is open to all researchers. Some materials may be restricted due to privacy concerns.

Use Restrictions: The status of copyright for these materials is governed by Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U. S. C.). Copyright restrictions may apply.

Acquisition Source: Father Thomas J. Quinlan, Jr. by donation

Preferred Citation: Father Thomas J. Quinlan, Jr. Papers, MSS 0000-229, Sargeant Memorial Collection, Norfolk Public Library, Norfolk, Virginia.

Processing Information: The collection was processed and entered into Archon in November-December 2017.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Correspondence, 2005-2006, undated],
[Box 2: Correspondence, 1972-2004, undated],
[Box 3: Correspondence / Church Documents, 1957-2007],
[Box 4: Church Documents, 1943-2009],
[Box 5: Scrapbooks, 1958-1979],
[Box 6: Scrapbooks / Miscellaneous, 1958-2005],
[Box 7: Miscellaneous, 1947-2007],
[Box 8: Photographs, 2005],
[Box 9: Scrapbooks, 1971-2000],
[Box 10: Scrapbooks, 2000-2008, undated],
[Box 11: Audiovisual Materials, 1988-2005],
[[information restricted]],
[All]

Box 3: Correspondence / Church Documents, 1957-2007

Folder 1: Correspondence related to Quinlan retirement, 2005 April 17 - June 9

Includes letters and emails to Quinlan and church officials.

Item 1: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 April 17
Item 2: Letter from a parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 April 17
Item 3: Letter from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 April 18: Includes an envelope.
Item 4: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 April 18
Item 5: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 April 18
Item 6: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 April 19
Item 7: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 April 20
Item 8: Letter from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 April 20: Includes an envelope.
Item 9: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 April 20
Item 10: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 April 22: The writer defends Quinlan.
Item 11: Letter and petition from parishioners to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 April 23: The letter praises Quinlan and asks that the Bishop reconsider Quinlan's retirement. It includes 17 pages of parishioners' signatures.
Item 12: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 June 9
Item 13: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 April 25
Item 14: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 April 27: The letter asks DiLorenzo to reconsider his decision to retire Quinlan.
Item 15: Letter for parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 April 28
Item 16: Letter to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 April 28, May 16
Item 17: Email from a parishioner to a Reverend McBrien, 2005 May 16
Item 18: Letter from former parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 June 8
Item 19: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 April 30
Item 20: Letter from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 April 29
Item 21: Card from parishioner to Quinlan, undated
Item 22: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2006 May 4
Item 23: Letter from Reverend Richard McBrien, University of Notre Dame to Quinlan, 2005 May 5: Includes an envelope.
Item 24: Letter and card from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 May 12
Item 25: Letter from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 May 14
Item 26: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 May 14
Item 27: Letter from parishioner to Cardinal Keeler, 2005 May 15
Item 28: Letter from parishioner to Papal Nuncio Gabriel Montalvo, 2005 May 15
Item 29: Letter from parishioner to Pope Benedict XVI, 2005 May 15
Item 30: Email from Richard McBrien to parishioner Arthur Page, 2005 May 16: Includes letter from Page to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo.
Item 31: Letter from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 May 18: Includes an envelope.
Item 32: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 May 19
Item 33: Letter to Quinlan, 2005 May 25: Includes an envelope.
Item 34: Letter from parishioners to Quinlan, 2005 May 25: Includes an envelope.
Item 35: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2005 May 30
Item 36: Note from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 June 1: Includes two envelopes.
Item 37: Letter from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 June 1
Item 38: Note from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 June 3: Includes an envelope.
Item 39: Note from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 June 3
Item 40: Letter from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 June 6: Includes an envelope.
Item 41: Letter from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 June 7: Includes an envelope.
Item 42: Note from parishioner to Quinlan, undated: Includes two envelopes.
Item 43: Note and card from parishioner to Quinlan, undated

Folder 2: Correspondence related to Quinlan retirement, 2004 June 12 - 2006 November 19

Folder 3: Correspondence related to Quinlan retirement, 2005 June 10 - 2007 February 5

Item 1: Letter from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 June 10: Includes an envelope.
Item 2: Note from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 June 12
Item 3: Note from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 June 12: Includes an envelope.
Item 4: Note from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 June 12
Item 5: Note from parishioner to Quinlan, 2006 June 13
Item 6: Note and card from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 June 12
Item 7: Letter and card from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 June 12
Item 8: Letter from parishioners to Quinlan, 2005 June 12: Includes an envelope.
Item 9: Letter and "ode" from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 June 12: Includes an envelope.
Item 10: Letter from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 June 14: Includes an envelope.
Item 11: Letter to Quinlan, 2005 June 20
Item 12: Letters from parishioners to Quinlan, undated: Includes several items that were clipped together: a "roast" letter, an unsigned letter, and an email and an envelope.
Item 13: Note from parishioners to Quinlan, 2005 July 5
Item 14: Letter from Reverend Richard McBrien, University of Notre Dame, to Quinlan, 2005 September 1: Includes an envelope.
Item 15: Letter from parishioner to the Most Reverend Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nunciature, 2006 May 9
Item 16: Note to Quinlan, 2006 October 7: Includes an envelope.
Item 17: Letter from parishioner to Quinlan, 2005 October 27
Item 18: Letter from Reverend Richard McBrien, University of Notre Dame, to Quinlan, 2006 January: Includes an envelope.
Item 19: Envelope addressed to Quinlan, 2006 February 6
Item 20: Letter to Quinlan, 2006 February 4: Includes copy of letter to the editor, Virginian-Pilot.
Item 21: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2006 February 5
Item 22: Letter from parishioner to Quinlan, 2006 February 9
Item 23: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2006 February 10: Includes a note to Quinlan and a short autobiography.
Item 24: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2006 February 26
Item 25: Letter from parishioner to the Apostolic Nuncio, 2006 February 17
Item 26: Envelope addressed to Quinlan, 2006 February 21
Item 27: Letter from parishioner to Quinlan, 2006 February 27: Includes an envelope.
Item 28: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francisco DiLorenzo, 2006 March
Item 29: Letter from parishioner to Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, 2006 March 1
Item 30: Note from parishioner to Quinlan, 2006 March 14
Item 31: Letter from Reverend Richard McBrien, University of Notre Dame, to Quinlan, 2006 August: Includes an envelope.
Item 32: Copy of cartoon sent to Quinlan, 2006 September 5: Includes an envelope.
Item 33: Letter from Reverend Richard McBrien, University of Notre Dame, to Quinlan, 2007 February 5

Folder 4: Correspondence related to Quinlan's retirement, undated

Includes 23 items: mostly notes and letters to Quinlan.

Folder 5: Select homilies and public addresses by Quinlan, 1957-2004

Item 1: Invocation for tenth reunion of Chicopee High School class of 1947, 1957
Item 2: Sermon, 1954 October 18
Item 3: Address to 5th General Assembly of the DCCM, Williamsburg, Virginia, 1965 September 25
Item 4: Homily given at the 18th anniversary of Sacred Heart Parish, Norfolk, Virginia, 1974 May 11
Item 5: Homily given at the dedication of the Resurrection Community Center, Portsmouth, Virginia, 1974 October 13
Item 6: Homily given at the 10th anniversary of the dedication of Resurrection Church, 1981 June 19
Item 7: Comments on John Dorgan's 25th anniversary of ordination, 1990 December 16
Item 8: A collection of and guide to select homilies, 1997 December 25 - 2001 February 28: References four CDs found in Box 11.
Item 9: Homily given at the Regional Parish Social Ministry Assembly, 2004 April 25

Folder 6: 25th anniversary of Quinlan's ordination, 1983 April - May

Includes an event program and a photograph of Quinlan.