The Thomas Crofton Croker correspondence collection comprises several hundred incoming and outgoing manuscript letters written to/from Croker and dating from 1814 to 1854. The collection is arranged into 6 volumes. At the head of each volume is an index to correspondent names and relevant page number references for each name. (The original bound volumes of the collection are held by Cork City Library)
Crofton Croker correspondence Volumes 1 - 3 (1814- 1830)
Crofton Croker correspondence Volumes 4 - 5 (1831 - 1850)
Crofton Croker correspondence Volume 6 (1850 - 1854)
-p113-Crokers-photo.jpg "Photograph of Thomas Crofton Croker")
Thomas Crofton Croker (1798 - 1854), was a noted Irish antiquary whose collections of local Irish folklore, songs, legends, poetry formed an important cultural archive for authors and artists during the Irish cultural and literary revivals. Croker was born on 15th January, 1798 in Cork City. His father, Thomas Croker, was a major in the army; his mother was widow of a Mr. Fitton and daughter of Croker Dillon of Baltidaniel, Co. Cork. At an early age, Croker developed a taste for literature and antiquities and rapidly made his way as an author. In 1825, he published anonymously his 'Fairy legends and traditions in the south of Ireland', a work which charmed Scott; was translated into German by the brothers Grimm (1826), and into French by P. A. Du.four (1828). A second series followed in 18Z7, and the whole reached a sixth edition in 1832. Of many more works the best were 'Researches in the south of Ireland' (1824); 'Legends of the lakes' (1829); 'The adventures of Barney Mahoney' (1832) and 'Popular songs of Ireland' (1839). From 1818 to 1850 he was a clerk at the Admiralty He was an active member of the Society of Antiquaries from 18Z7, and helped to found the Camden Society (1839), the Percy Society (1840) and the British Archaeological Association (1843). He also established a convivial club, the Noviomagians, and was its permanent President. He was Fellow of the Royal Antiquarian Society of Copenhagen (1833), and of the Swedish Archaeological Society (1845). From 1837 to 1854 he was registrar of the Royal Literary Fund, besides being a member of many other of the learned societies of Great Britain. Among his most intimate friends were Daniel Maclise, whom he helped to bring into notice, Dr. Maginn, Richard Sainthill, Father Prout, Thomas Wright, and Albert Denison, first Lord Landesborough. Croker died at Old Brampton on 8 August, 1854.
