Items related to Chief O'Neill's Sketchy Recollections of an...
This remarkable memoir of immigration and assimilation provides a rare view of urban life in Chicago in the late 1800s by a newcomer to the city and the Midwest, and the nation as well. Francis O Neill left Ireland in 1865. After five years traveling the world as a sailor, he and his family settled in Chicago just shortly before the Great Fire of 1871. As O Neill looked back on his life, writing in Chicago at the age of 83, he could give first-hand accounts of Pullman strike of 1894, the railway strike of 1903, and the packinghouse strike of 1904. He could also reflect on the corruption that kept him, in spite of his innovations, extremely high exam scores, and performance, subject to powerful aldermen who prevented his advance as a member of the Chicago Police Department. Despite these obstacles, O Neill eventually rose to be chief of police--a position from which he could enact much-needed civil service reform. In addition to his professional success, O Neill is also remembered and beloved for his hobby, preserving traditional Irish music. O Neill s story offers perspective on the inner workings of the police department at the turn of the twentieth century. His memoir also brings to life the challenges involved in succeeding in a new land, providing for his family, and integrating into a new culture. Francis O Neill serves as a fine documentarian of the Irish immigrant experience in Chicago."
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About the Author:
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Review:
"This fascinating memoir of the eventful life of a nineteenth-century Irish immigrant is dense with detail about Francis O'Neill's career as a sailor, a policeman, and a scholar of Irish music. O'Neill provides valuable insights into the two very different and equally remarkable phases of his life: the rise from the ranks to the position of General Superintendent of Chicago Police, and the passion for Irish history and traditional music that drove him to preserve hundreds of tunes for future generations." --Dr. Charles Fanning, director of Irish studies, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
"This fascinating memoir of the eventful life of a nineteenth-century Irish immigrant is dense with detail about Francis O'Neill's career as a sailor, a policeman, and a scholar of Irish music. O'Neill provides valuable insights into the two very different and equally remarkable phases of his life: the rise from the ranks to the position of General Superintendent of Chicago Police, and the passion for Irish history and traditional music that drove him to preserve hundreds of tunes for future generations." --Dr. Charles Fanning, director of Irish studies, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
"Simple human joy, in music and in discovery, animate every page of the newly published memoirs he left behind. . . . Today he [O'Neill] is remembered with pride for his efforts on behalf of Irish traditional music, and this remarkable book gives us a rare glimpse at the extraordinary individual who undertook it." --Irish Voice"
"Anyone interested in Chicago's history as well as Irish music will profit from reading the life story of tough, effective, honorable, yet humble Chief Francis O'Neill." --Lawrence J. McCaffrey, professor of Irish history, emeritus, Loyola University of Chicago"
Francis O Neill was born to a farming family in County Cork in Ireland in 1848. He left home in 1865 and died a true Chicagoan in 1936.
Mary Lesch is Francis O Neill s great-granddaughter. She is now retired and divides her time between Chicago and Harbert, Michigan.
Ellen Skerrett is currently writing a history of Loyola University Chicago. She is the co-author and editor of number of books on Catholicism and Chicago, including At the Crossroads: Old Saint Patrick s and the Chicago Irish (Wild Onion Books, 1997).
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"This fascinating memoir of the eventful life of a nineteenth-century Irish immigrant is dense with detail about Francis O'Neill's career as a sailor, a policeman, and a scholar of Irish music. O'Neill provides valuable insights into the two very different and equally remarkable phases of his life: the rise from the ranks to the position of General Superintendent of Chicago Police, and the passion for Irish history and traditional music that drove him to preserve hundreds of tunes for future generations." --Dr. Charles Fanning, director of Irish studies, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
"This fascinating memoir of the eventful life of a nineteenth-century Irish immigrant is dense with detail about Francis O'Neill's career as a sailor, a policeman, and a scholar of Irish music. O'Neill provides valuable insights into the two very different and equally remarkable phases of his life: the rise from the ranks to the position of General Superintendent of Chicago Police, and the passion for Irish history and traditional music that drove him to preserve hundreds of tunes for future generations." --Dr. Charles Fanning, director of Irish studies, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
"O'Neill records so many encounters with the humble and the great that anyone researching Chicago history from 1871 through 1905 needs to consult this book. The depth of his thinking on issues of his time is impressive, and issues such as political patronage reverberate today. . . . A truly remarkable life." --Gary Johnson, president, Chicago History Museum"
"Anyone interested in Chicago's history as well as Irish music will profit from reading the life story of tough, effective, honorable, yet humble Chief Francis O'Neill." --Lawrence J. McCaffrey, professor of Irish history, emeritus, Loyola University of Chicago"
"O'Neill records so many encounters with the humble and the great that anyone researching Chicago history from 1871 through 1905 needs to consult this book. The depth of his thinking on issues of his time is impressive, and issues such as political patronage reverberate today. . . . A truly remarkable life." --Gary Johnson, president, Chicago History Museum
"Simple human joy, in music and in discovery, animate every page of the newly published memoirs he left behind. . . . Today he [O'Neill] is remembered with pride for his efforts on behalf of Irish traditional music, and this remarkable book gives us a rare glimpse at the extraordinary individual who undertook it." --Irish Voice"
"Anyone interested in Chicago's history as well as Irish music will profit from reading the life story of tough, effective, honorable, yet humble Chief Francis O'Neill." --Lawrence J. McCaffrey, professor of Irish history, emeritus, Loyola University of Chicago"
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherMount Eagle Publications Ltd
- Publication date2008
- ISBN 10 0863223788
- ISBN 13 9780863223785
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages302
- Rating
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Chief O'Neill's Sketchy Recollections of an Eventful Life in Chicago
Published by
Mount Eagle Publications Ltd
(2008)
ISBN 10: 0863223788
ISBN 13: 9780863223785
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Quantity: 1
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Packed in a BOX with cardboard backing and padding. (See Photos!) First Edition, 2008, with full number line, 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 . Pages: not written on, clean, bright, odor free. Dust Jacket: clean, bright, minor bumping to front top edge. Same or next day shipping (weekdays and Saturdays)! Ships from California. ABOUT THIS: Published here for the first time, Francis O'Neill's remarkable memoir of immigration and assimilation provides a rare view of urban life in Chicago at the turn of the twentieth century. Including many rare photographs and other images from O'Neill's life, his recollections bring to light the promise and the challenge of succeeding in a new land. In 1865, Francis O'Neill left Ireland to travel the world as a sailor. He settled in Chicago shortly before the Great Fire of 1871 and began what was to become an adventurous and distinguished life in America. After years as a member of the Chicago Police Department, O'Neill, writing at the age of eighty-three, offers perspective on the inner workings of the police department during his time giving first-hand accounts of the Pullman Strike of 1894, the City Railway strike of 1903, and the packinghouse strike of 1904. He also reflects on the prejudice that kept him in spite of his innovations, extremely high exam scores, and exceptional performance subject to powerful aldermen who tried to prevent his professional advancement. Despite these obstacles, O'Neill eventually rose to become chief of police a position from which he could enact much-needed civil-service reform. O'Neill is also remembered and beloved for his devotion to the preservation of traditional Irish music and for his collection of books from around the world. Seller Inventory # ABE-1702674991502
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