Table of Contents

Summary Information

Biographical/Historical note

Scope and Contents note

Arrangement note

Administrative Information

Related Materials

Controlled Access Headings

Collection Inventory

Series I. Sermons

Series II. Scrapbooks

Series III. Diaries

Series IV. Notebooks

Series V. Books

Series VI. Photographs

Summary Information

Repository

Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center

Creator

Lallou, William J. (William Joseph), b. 1880

Title

Monsignor William J. Lallou records

ID

MC 55

Date [inclusive]

1885-1975

Extent

6.25 Linear feet ; 15 boxes, one oversized album, one bust statue

Author

Finding aid prepared by Hoang Tran

Language

English

Language of Materials note

A majority of the records are in English, some materials are in French.

Abstract

Born in Philadelphia and a graduate of St. Charles Seminary (Overbrook, Philadelphia, PA), William J. Lallou (1880-1973) served as an assistant pastor and pastor of several parishes within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, including Our Lady of Lourdes, where he served as pastor for 17 years. He served as Director of the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and was a professor at St. Charles Seminary and at the Catholic University of America. He authored the book The fifty years of the apostolic delegation (1943), and was named a domestic prelate by Pope John XXIII in 1959. The Monsignor William J. Lallou Records, 1885-1975, contains a large number of sermons, scrapbooks, and picture books, many of which document both Lallou’s travels abroad as well as activities at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. The collection also includes: personal diaries, family photographs, research notes and books on various topics, such as Central High School, Lallou’s alma mater.

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Biographical/Historical note

William J. Lallou was born on August 17, 1880 of French-Irish ancestry in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His mother died in 1882, when he was 2 years old and his father died in 1886. He was raised by his paternal grandmother and two paternal aunts in Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in South Philadelphia.

Lallou was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia as there was no parochial school at Sacred Heart parish when he was of elementary school age. He graduated from Central High School in 1898. He spent a year of concentrated training in Latin at Roman Catholic High School and was admitted into St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in September, 1899. After his first year at St. Charles, Lallou was advised to take a year off for health reasons. He spent the year at Seton Hall College in South Orange, New Jersey and received his Bachelor of Arts degree there in 1901. He returned to the seminary and was ordained on May 24, 1904.

Lallou's first assignment was as chaplain for the summer of 1904 to Colonel Edward and Mrs. Louise Morrell at their home in Bar Harbor, Maine. The Morrells were a prominent Philadelphia Catholic family. Louise Morrell was the sister of Mother Katharine Drexel. In September, 1904, he was sent to the Catholic University, Washington, D.C. for post-graduate study and received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree in 1905. On June 10, 1905, Lallou was made an assistant at St. Philomena’s parish in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania. In January, 1910, he was assigned to the parish of St. John the Evangelist in Philadelphia. During World War I, he served for five months as an army chaplain at Camp Hancock, Georgia. In February, 1918, he was appointed pastor pro tem of St. Ann's in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania where he served until October of that year when he was named Director of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He held this position until 1920, when he was named pastor of St. Philip Neri in Philadelphia.

In 1926, Lallou was appointed as professor at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary where he taught liturgy, sacramental theolohy and French. He also directed the school plays and supervised the ceremonies. In 1938, Lallou became a professor at the Catholic University in Washington where he taught liturgy and served as Master of Ceremonies. While at Catholic University, he also wrote for The American Ecclesiastical Review and directed ceremonies at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Lallou was well read and highly educated. In addition to his teaching assignments, he was known as a distinctive preacher and gave many sermons for different occasions such as funerals, eulogies, graduations, religious holidays, and anniversaries. As a professor, he wrote on a variety of subjects such as physics, anatomy, music, and chemistry, in addition to his writings on Catholic liturgical issues. He also often appeared on radio discussing aspects of Catholic faith and liturgy.

While a professor at St. Charles and Cathoic University, he utilized summer vacations to travel extensively. He travelled throughout the world, including Europe, the Near East and the Far East. Laloou also travelled throughout the United States and visited all of the mainland states, as well as Alaska. He spent time on a Navaho reservation and was also made an honory chief by the Mohawks of Caugnawaugha, Canada. He also had strong interests in sports, music and the theater. During a trip to Califronia, he served as advisor on the film "Joan of Arc." He also had a strong interest in sports, music and theater.

In 1950, while facing mandatory retirement from Catholic University, Lallou was named pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Philadelphia. At the parish, Lallou abandoned his interests in travel and writing to devote himself to his pastoral duties at the parish. He visited the school almost every day and began many liturgical ceremonies at the parish to celebrate various Holy Days and Feast Days. He continued his interest in sports by establishing athletic programs at the parish.

In 1959, Lallou was named a domestic prelate by Pope John XXXIII. He retired as rector in June, 1967 and became Pastor Emeritus. In 1969, he observed his 65th anniversary as a priest. Monsginor Lallou died on October 11, 1973 and was interred on the church grounds.

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Scope and Contents note

The Monsignor William Lallou Records, 1885-1975, largely contains sermons, scrapbooks, handwritten diaries, notebooks, published books, and portrait photographs. A significant portion of the scrapbooks and diaries document Lallou’s travels abroad as well as functions at Our Lady of Lourdes Church and other church functions. The collection of notebooks are handwriten on science and church related subjects.

Most of the materials in the collection are in English, though some are written in French. There are two oversized items. One is a photo album located on the third shelf down, on top of the hollinger boxes designated, MC 55, Monsignor William J. Lallou Records. The second, is a small bust statue of Bishop Neumann which is located in the basement of the archive. Please make proper arrangments with archive staff if you wish to see use/access these materials.

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Arrangement note

The Monsignor William J. Lallou Records are arranged into six series. Because the collection was previously processed, our reprocessing efforts were mainly updating preservation standards for the materials. As a result, materials remained in the original arrangement. The collection also has a Small Bust Statue, which is located in the basement of the archives.

Series I. Sermons

Series II. Scrapbooks

Series III. Diaries

Series IV. Notebooks

Series V. Books

Series VI. Photographs

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center November 2012

100 E. Wynnewood Rd.
Wynnewood, PA

Conditions Governing Access note

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use note

Please note that copyright is retained by the authors of items in these records, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Processing Information note

This collection was previously processed by the Ryan Memorial Library. The Philadelphia Archdiocese Historical Research Center (PAHRC) believed the collection needed to be reprocessed in order to promote basic preservation standards. As a result, in November 2012, our processing intern, Hoang Tran, reprocessed the collection at the file level and included item-level description of materials.

In order to adhere to the principle of original order, it was decided that materials in each series were to remain in their current archival arrangement order. As a result of this decision, the finding aid provides researchers with item-level description within the file level.

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Related Materials

Separated Materials note

Small bust statue of Bishop Neumann is located on shelf in archives.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

• Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Genre(s)

• Lecture Notes
• Notebooks
• Pamphlets
• Photographs
• Scrapbooks
• Sermons
• Telegrams

Subject(s)

• Catholic Church--Archdiocese of Philadelphia (Pa.)
• Clergy--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.
• Europe--Description and travel.
• Irish American Catholics.
• Our Lady of Lourdes Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
• St. Charles Borromeo Seminary (Overbrook, Philadelphia, Pa.)
• West (U.S.)--Description and travel.

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Collection Inventory

Series I. Sermons, 1901-1973 Scope and Contents note Series primarily comprises of sermons and prayers composed by Lallou. There are also correspondence files and newspaper clippings.
Central High School, 1973 September     Box Folder Text   1 1
65th Anniversary of Ordination, 1969 June     Box Folder Text   1 2 Scope and Contents note Contains two Western Union telegrams. One from the White House and stamped by Richard Nixon and another from Raymond J. Broderick Lieutenant Governor. One correspondence from the Archbiship of Philadelphia, John Cardinal Krol, congratulating Monsignor William J. Lallou.
In honor of Reverend C. McCormick, 1947     Box Folder Text   1 3
125th Anniversary of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Philadelphia, undated     Box Folder Text   1 4 Folder also contains the sermon: The Church and Calendar Reform, 1941.
Funeral of Reverend William J. Casey, 1967, undated     Box Folder Text   1 5 Folder also contains the sermons: Catholic Loyalty To America, 1952. Columbus, Claviger of New World.
Christmas, undated     Box Folder Text   1 6 Folder also contains the sermons: Corrigan's Jubilee Our Lady of Mt Carmel New Church Dedicated.
St. Francis De Sales, 1925-1933, undated     Box Folder Text   1 7 Folder also contains the sermons: To Children on First Holy Communion Graduate from Chestnut Hill College, 1933.
Dedication of St. Anastasia's Newtown Square, 1957-1958     Box Folder Text   1 8 Folder also contains the sermon: Funeral of Reverend Francis S.J. Carberry.
Funeral of Dr. Michael Fogarty, 1923, 1968-1969     Box Folder Text   1 9 Folder also contains the sermons: Old Swedes Church, Thanksgiving Day, 1968. Bishop Gercke First Pontifical Mass Sung.
Blessed Eucharist - Monthly Message of the Pastor Emeritus, 1944-1971     Box Folder Text   1 10 Folder also contains the sermons: The Sacred Drama of Holy Week, 1944. Funeral of Father Hughes, 1952.
Golden Jubilee of Monsignor James Heir of St. Matthias Church, 1929-1967     Box Folder Text   1 11 Folder also contains the sermons: His Eminence, Messieuis Merdames, Jeanne d'Arc in French, May 12, 1929. Papers and publication materials on St. Joan of Arc compiled and written by Lallou.
Indians of S.W, 1926, undated     Box Folder Text   1 12 Folder also contains the sermon: K. of C. State Convention of Columbus, June 12, 1926, in newpaper clipping form.
Funeral of Richard Kearney, 1925-1969     Box Folder Text   1 13 Folder also contains the sermons: 75th Anniversary of Lady of Lourdes, April 27, 1969. Lansdale Pennsylvania, April 6, 1925.
60th Anniversary of Our Lady of Lourdes, 1949-1964     Box Folder Text   1 14 Folder also contains the sermons: Funeral of Rev. James Russell Lowell, May 6, 1950. Funeral of Rev. Jos. Mc Shain, December 5, 1949.
Funeral of Dr. Murphy, undated     Box Folder Text   1 15 Folder also contains the sermons: Mary, Mother of God. Catholic Marriage.
Golden Jubilee of Monsignor William O'Donnell, 1940-1969     Box Folder Text   1 16 Folder also contains the sermons: Monsignor O'Donnell on first Mass, 1919 printed in Parish Calendar. Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, 1940.
Homiletic Part, 1925, undated     Box Folder Text   1 17 Folder also contains the sermons: Need of the Irish Faith as to the World. The parting of the Way; both are in the form of newspaper clippings.
The Prodigal Son, 1920-1967     Box Folder Text   1 18 Folder also contains the sermons and prayers: Prayer Cathedral, 1925. Prayer at the Lafayette Dinner, 1934. Prayer at the Opening of the U.S. Senate, October 23, 1941. Prayer at Independence Hall, July 5, 1920. Prayer at the Opening of the Session of the Philadelphia City Council, May 21, 1964. Prayer at the Taking of the Oath of Office by Raymond J. Broderick as Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, January 17, 1967. Prayer of Monsignor Lallou at the Matthew H. McCloskey Appreciation Dinner, June 9, 1962.
Pius II, 1925, undated Folder also contains the sermons: Copy of Pius II, The Crusader Pope in newspaper clipping form. Christian Philosophy of Life, February 25, 1925.			Box 1	Folder 19
St. Patrick's Day at St. Patrick's Church, 1921-1967     Box Folder Text   1 20 Folder also contains the sermons: Priest's Retreat. Richard III a Type of Villain.
Funeral of Monsignor Schuyler, 1925, 1962, undated     Box Folder Text   1 21 Folder also contains the sermons: Consecration of Bishops Fitzmaurice, November 30, 1925. Byrne and Golden Jubilee of the Sacred Heart Parish.
Tschaikowsky - 5th Symphony, 1933-1964     Box Folder Text   1 22 Folder also contains the sermons: Mark Twain. 25th Anniversary Celebration at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, May 13, 1964.
Golden Jubilee of Father Schuyler, 1901-1967     Box Folder Text   1 23 Folder also contains the sermons: Unity of Churches Old Chirst Church, April 23, 1967. The Influence of the Press.
Via Crucis, 1921-1967, undated     Box Folder Text   1 24 Folder also contains the sermons: Communal Service Ending Church Unity Octave, January 25, 1967. Funeral of Father Zeller, May 17, 1921.
Broadcast WCAU, 1932-1958     Box Folder Text   1 25 Scope and Contents note File also contains two correspondence composed by the Archbishop of Philadelphia, John F. O'Hara.
Series II. Scrapbooks, 1885-1975 Scope and Contents note Series primarily consists of picture books, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, diaries/journals, and various materials collected by Lallou during his travels abroad and at Church functions.
At Home and Abroad, Between 1885-1941     Box Folder Mixed materials   2 1 Scope and Contents note File also contains a picture book titled Europe and the West from 1906-1937.
At the Seminary, Between 1904-1931     Box Folder Mixed materials   2 2 Scope and Contents note File also contains the picture book on the 25th Jubilee of Father Lallou.
Father Lallou's Golden Jubilee, 1904-1964     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 1 Scope and Contents note File also contains the picture book One Thousand Days December 1, 1961 to August 26, 1964, the celebration of this 60th Anniversary.
Voyage to Ultima Thule, 1930-1938     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2 Scope and Contents note File also contains the picture book Outre Mer 1931.
Seeing America 1, 1934-1961     Box Folder Mixed materials   4 1 Scope and Contents note File also contains the picture books, After LXXV Years 1955-1961 many religious functions shown of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Church of Our Lady of Lourdes Philadelphia, 1956-1967     Box Folder Mixed materials   4 2 Scope and Contents note File also contains the picture books, Year End Trips - A Professor's Holiday.
William J. Lallou Varia, 1948-1954     Box Folder Mixed materials   5 1
Pelerin et Flaneur, 1932-1934     Box Folder Mixed materials   5 2 Scope and Contents note File also contains the picture book Vasco da Gama 1934, travel pictures of Mairobi, Kenya etc.
Seeing America, 1935-1948     Box Folder Mixed materials   6 1 Scope and Contents note File also contains the picture book, Odyssey Cruise, 1935.
Peregre Visa, 1932-1938     Box Folder Mixed materials   6 2 Scope and Contents note File also contains the picture book, Various Pictures of Annapolis, Atlantic City, etc.
World Cruise, 1936     Box Folder Mixed materials   7 1 Scope and Contents note File also contains the picture book, Around the World 1936.
Around the World, 1936     Box Folder Mixed materials   7 2
Newspaper Clippings, Between 1960-1975     Box Folder Text   7 3
Functions at Our Lady of Lourdes, Cathedral, etc., Between 1920-1950     Box Folder Mixed materials   8 1
Church Functions, 1890     Box Folder Mixed materials   8 2
Empress of Britain - Itinerary of Round the World Cruise, Between 1930-1967     Box Folder Mixed materials   8 3 Scope and Contents note File also contains two framed photos of Lallou with Paggiti and of his 63rd Anniversary.
All Holy Images, undated     Box Folder Books   9 1
En Famille Francaise Silver Jubilee Trip, 1928-1929     Box Folder Mixed materials   11 2
Wedding Album     Box Folder Mixed materials   15 1
Rev. Dr. Lallou, Between 1940-1950     Box Folder Mixed materials   15 2 Scope and Contents note Contains newspaper clippings, announcements, correspondence, and photographs of Lallou bound into a book.
				Oversize
Large Scrapbook, Between 1900-1980 Scope and Contents note An oversized scrapbook that contains photographs, drawings, and paintings on subject matters such as church functions, weddings, school/class photos, portraits, and artwork. It is not clear if Lallou compiled the materials together or not, but some images have signatures and messages indicating Lallou was the recipient of the images.				shelf MC 55
Series III. Diaries, 1904-1960 Scope and Contents note Series primarily consists of diaries that Lallou wrote during his time traveling abroad.
First Trip Abroad, 1912-1922     Box Folder Text   9 3 Scope and Contents note File also contains the diary of My Trip Abroad 1922.
My Western Trip, 1923-1924     Box Folder Text   9 4 Scope and Contents note File also contains the diary of The 1924 Trip to France, Spain, Switzerland, etc.
The Year End Trip, 1925-1931     Box Folder Text   9 5 Scope and Contents note File also contains the diary Complimentary Tour Summer of 1931.
Passports, Between 1920-1960     Box Folder Mixed materials   9 6 Scope and Contents note File contains seven of Lallou's passports, two include visas, four business cards "Doctour is Lettra".
European Travels, 1933-1935     Box Folder Text   10 1 Scope and Contents note File contains two of Lallou's diaries written on his European trips and Odyssey Cruise in 1935.
En Famille Francaise - Paris, Lisieux., 1928-1930     Box Folder Text   10 2 Scope and Contents note File also contains the diary, The Jubilee Trip 1929.
The Golden Jubilee Trip, 1936-1954     Box Folder Text   10 3 Scope and Contents note File also contains the diary, 131 Days Round the World.
The Professor's Holiday, 1927 Summer     Box Folder Text   10 4
Personal Diary, 1904     Box Folder Text   11 3
Series IV. Notebooks, 1890-1960 Scope and Contents note Series primarily consists of handwritten notebooks composed by Lallou on church related events and science lecture notes during his teaching years.
Liturgical Year, Between 1900-1955     Box Folder Text   12 1 Scope and Contents note File also contains papers written on Biship Wiggins and Father Thomas Barry.
Diamond Jubilee - Founding of Sacred Heart Parish, circa 1940     Box Folder Text   12 2
Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene, undated     Box Folder Text   12 3
The Breen Ranch and California, 1919-1934     Box Folder Text   12 4
Fifty Years of the Apostolic Delegation, circa 1960     Box Folder Text   12 5
Conferences of the Clergy, Between 1930-1940     Box Folder Text   12 6 Scope and Contents note File also contains three printed materials written by Lallou: Discourses for the Three Hours on Good Friday; The Liturgy and the Laity; Memories of a Happy Life: Souvenir of the Sacredotal Diamond Jubilee.
Chemical Physics, 1890     Box Folder Text   13 1 Scope and Contents note File also contains A Short History on Chemistry.
Protonotarii Apostolici, Between 1920-1950     Box Folder Text   13 2 Scope and Contents note File also contains the book Apologia Pro Vita Mea: A Souvenir of the Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee; A Letter to a Roman Catholic; list of fifty books by H.T Peck; a document Old St. George's Church; and pamphlet titled The Ecclesiastical Review: The Apostolic Delegation at Washington.
Series V. Books, 1912-1967
Curly Hall, circa 1930     Box Folder Mixed materials   11 1
Royal London and School of the Republic, 1935-1952     Box Folder Books   13 3
Handbook to Christian & Ecclesiastical Rome: The Liturgy, Between 1920-1930     Box Folder Books   13 4 Scope and Contents note File also contains the book The Philadelphia Theological Seminary of St. Charles Borromeo which has correspondences attached to the inside of the cover.
Costume of Prelates of the Catholic Church, Between 1912-1967     Box Folder Books   14 1 Scope and Contents note File also contains the book, Pictoria Guide to the Tower of London and History of the Roman Breviary.
Paris 285 Photographs, 1931     Box Folder Books   14 2 Scope and Contents note File also contains the book, 25th Anniversary Record of the 103d class of Central High School.
Hand book of the Central High School of Philadelphia, 1929-1943     Box Folder Books   14 3 Scope and Contents note File also contains the book The Quam Oblationem of the Roman Canon
Series VI. Photographs, 1960-1967 Scope and Contents note Series consists of photographs of Lallou as Father and Monsignor, as well as framed photographs of Popes.
Photographs as Father, circa 1967     Box Folder Graphic materials   11 4
Photographs as Monsignor, 1967     Box Folder Graphic materials   11 5 Conditions Governing Use note File consists of professional photographs that may still be under copyright.
Framed Photographs of Popes, 1960-1964     Box Folder Mixed materials   9 2 Scope and Contents note File also contains two framed photographs of Audience with Pope Paul VI and Pope John XXIV.
				Oversize
Small bust statue of Bishop Neumann on shelf in archives.				Archives