john o’mara fonds - faculty of medicine · 2021. 1. 25. · john francis o’mara (1943-2007),...

A Guide to the

John O’Mara fonds

COLL – 071

Arranged & Described by

Stephanie Harlick

Edited by

Melissa Hefford

Faculty of Medicine Founders’ Archive

Health Sciences Library

Memorial University of Newfoundland

22 January 2014

Edited 15 January 2021

John O’Mara (COLL-071)

Title: John O’Mara fonds

Dates: 19-

Extent: 1.6 metres of textual material – 40? Images – (Jump drive)

Biographical sketch:

John Francis O’Mara (1943-2007), CBC director, historian, Regatta Hall of Famer and local

volunteer, was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador in 1943 to parents Leo A. and

Genevieve Mara (Channing). He married Dianne Holwell and they had no children.

O’Mara was educated at St. Bonaventure’s College in St. John’s. He spent three years in the

seminary at St. Paul’s but had no university degree. He did attend the University of Ottawa.

O’Mara worked as a broadcaster with the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) for thirty

years. He was noted for his distinctive voice, perfect for radio announcing. He began his career

in 1964 as an announcer in Corner Brook. He returned to St. John’s and continued to work in the

broadcasting business for twenty years. He was the Regional Supervisor of Communication

Promotion and Advertising with the CBC. O’Mara then became Director of Radio, a position he

held for nine years. During his time with the CBC, O’Mara hosted various programs and

specials for both radio and television. From 1973 to 1975, he hosted On the Go, Newfoundland

and Labrador’s weekday afternoon radio current events program. He also hosted Weekend Arts

Magazine from 1976 to 1978. From 1978 to 1979, O’Mara hosted The Fisheries Broadcast,

noted as being the man who may have saved this radio staple in Newfoundland and Labrador.

O’Mara retired from his position of Director of Radio with the CBC in 1995 at the age of 53. He

was an active volunteer in the St. John’s community. He was an active volunteer with the Royal

St. John’s Regatta Committee, starting in 1978, serving as a longtime archivist as well as other

positions. He helped set up a museum in the Regatta boathouse and was named to the Regatta

Hall of Fame in 2004.

O’Mara had an interest in researching the history of medicine and doctors in Newfoundland and

Labrador. O’Mara published a book, I swear by Apollo: Irish physicians and surgeons in

Newfoundland and Labrador before 1900: a lecture to the Irish Newfoundland Association in

2002. He published several articles including, Prominent figures from our recent past: Thomas

McMurdo and Peter A. O’Mara [covers 1811-1964] from the Newfoundland Quarterly in 1990;

The Royal Dispensary [for the poor] from the Newfoundland Quarterly in 1994; Early physicians

and surgeons of Newfoundland, 1663-1900 from the Newfoundland Ancestor in 1992 and

Medical practitioners who served Grates Cove [covers 1816 to 1986] from the Newfoundland

Ancestor in 2006. He also contributed information on this subject to St. John’s surgeon, Dr.

Nigel Rusted for his book, The Physicians and Surgeons: Biographical Gleanings, a historical

survey.

O’Mara had an interest in singing, noted for his beautiful baritone voice. He was also devoted to

his church. He passed away in 2007 at the age of 63.

Custodial history:

Scope and content:

Fonds consists of material relating to John O’Mara’s research activities. Exact dates regarding

the creation of each file are not available. Fonds is composed of the following series:

1.0 Name Files

2.0 Manuscript

3.0 Index Cards

4.0 Photographs

5.0 Digital Images

Source of title: Supplied title is based on the contents of the fonds.

Provenance: O’Mara, John Francis.

Arrangement: When the papers of John O’Mara arrived at the Faculty of Medicine Founders’ Archive, they

were well organized. Files were clearly labelled. This formed the framework for further

arrangement and description of the collection.

Restrictions on access: There are no restrictions on the use of or access to the material in this fonds.

Terms governing use and reproduction: Material in this fonds is protected by copyright. Copyright regulations state that any copy of

archival material is to be used solely for research or private study. Any use of copied material

for any other purpose may require the authorization of the copyright owner. It is the

responsibility of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance from the copyright holder(s).

Copyright regulations require that records be kept of all copies made of material deposited prior

to September 1, 1999, and that these records may be viewed by the author of the material, the

copyright owner, or representatives of either.

Finding aid: Faculty of Medicine Founders’ Archive finding aid # 71. File level control

Location: COLL-071, Faculty of Medicine Founders’ Archive

Accruals: No further accruals are expected.

Series and Sub-series Listing

1.0 Name files of Newfoundland Doctors 1497-1900

1.01 Newfoundland Doctors1497-1900

2.0 Manuscript, Kindly Eyes and Skillful Hands: Medical Practitioners of

Newfoundland and Labrador, 1497-1900, by John F. O’Mara 200?

2.01

3.0 Index Cards

4.0 Photographs

4.01

4.02 Tilt Cove Photographs

Note: The photographs were originally in folder, Dowsley, Felix, 1.01.070. Titles supplied from

the contents of the images.

5.0 Digital Images

4.01

Series and Sub-series Description

1.0 Name Files of Newfoundland Doctors 1497-1900

Scope and Content: It is not certain if all the surgeons identified in 1.01.007 actually came

to Newfoundland but the names are listed in the guide since there is a brief write-up about

each. Also in that file, there is an alphabetical list of army surgeons.

Related material:

Note: Titles are taken from the file folders. Dr. A. Carney is named on the folder, 1.01.037,

but the contents refer to a Dr. Cornage. A few files contain information about institutions and

medicine.

1.01 Newfoundland Doctors and Places 1497-1900

1.01.001 Adams, Thomas

1.01.002 Alexander, James

1.01.003 Allan, Dr. William A.

1.01.004 Allen, Dr. William Munden

1.01.005 Anderson, Dr.

1.01.006 Angel

1.01.007 Army Surgeons (Horsman, William; Ochiltree, Robert; Storey, James; Collier,

Samuel; MacLean, John; Jenkyn, Meredith; Fletcher, William; Hill, Trotter)

1.01.008 Aspland, W.H. Graham

1.01.009 Barclay, John

1.01.010 Bay St. George

1.01.011 Bayly, John

1.01.012 Beaufils

1.01.013 Bedell, John

1.01.014 Bellevue Hospital Medical college

1.01.015 Bellows, Robert

1.01.016 Bennion, Dr.

1.01.017 Berney, Richard

1.01.018 Bethune, Donald J.

1.01.019 Bowden, George F.

1.01.020 Bowdoin Medical College

1.01.021 Boyle, Albert D.

1.01.022 Bradshaw

1.01.023 Brasen, Dr.

1.01.024 Brennan, Peter

1.01.025 Brigus

1.01.026 Brookman, John S.

1.01.027 Brown, William Appleby

1.01.028 Brown, William H.

1.01.029 Buchanan, Arthur

1.01.030 Bullock, Rev. William

1.01.031 Bunting, Dr. Frederick

1.01.032 Bunting, Dr. John C.

1.01.033 Bunting and Findlater

1.01.034 Burgeo

1.01.035 Candow, James J.

1.01.036 Carey, Dr. Robert H.

1.01.037 Carney, A

1.01.038 Carpenter, Charles

1.01.039 Carpon

1.01.040 Carson, Dr. Samuel

1.01.041 Carson, Dr. William

1.01.042 Cartwright, George

1.01.043 Chamberlain, Rev. George Seymour

1.01.044 Chisholm, Dr. Archibald

1.01.045 Chisholm, Murdoch

1.01.046 Chloroform/Ether

1.01.047 Clinch, Rev. Dr. John

1.01.048 Clinton, Henry

1.01.049 Coke, Dr. D’Ewes

1.01.050 College of New Jersey (Princetown)

1.01.051 Conception Bay

1.01.052 Connors, Daniel

1.01.053 Corner Brook Museum and Archives

1.01.054 Coughlan, Dr. Daniel Bryan

1.01.055 Crowdy, Charles

1.01.056 Crowdy, Frederick H.

1.01.057 Curry, Margaret

1.01.058 Cutt, Edward

1.01.059 D’Artis, Madame

1.01.060 Dalhousie University

1.01.061 Dearin, Dr. John J.

1.01.062 Delaney, Martin

1.01.063 Dingle, John

1.01.064 Disney, Henry P.

1.01.065 Dobie, Dr. James

1.01.066 Dobie, Dr. Robert

1.01.067 Dodd, Thomas

1.01.068 Donergan, Dr. William

1.01.069 Dow, Dr. William

1.01.070 Dowsley, Felix (12 photographs were removed from this folder. Their numbers

are: XXXXXXX)

1.01.071 Drevar, Arthur

1.01.072 Duggan, David

1.01.073 Dutton, Michael

1.01.074 Eales, Henry

1.01.075 Eastaff, Dr. William Grant

1.01.076 Edgar, Dr. John

1.01.077 Esnault, Louis

1.01.078 Farnell, Charles P.

1.01.079 Ferrers, Francis

1.01.080 Findlater, Hayward

1.01.081 Fiset, Jean-Baptiste

1.01.082 Fitzgerald, Dr. Conrad

1.01.083 Fitzsimon, Dr.

1.01.084 Fleming, Rt. Rev. M. A.

1.01.085 Flynn, Dominick

1.01.086 Flynn, Edward

1.01.087 Forbes, Dr. A. McK.

1.01.088 Forbes, Robert E.

1.01.089 Fraser, John

1.01.090 Fraser, James Nutting

1.01.091 Fraser, Nutting S.

1.01.092 Fraser, Dr. William MacKay

1.01.093 Freebairn, Robert Jardine

1.01.094 Freke, Absalom

1.01.095 Gardiner, Dr. Sylvester

1.01.096 Gilbert, Sir Humphrey

1.01.097 Gill, William R.

1.01.098 Goddard, D. William

1.01.099 Gouthro, Harry Peter

1.01.100 Green, Francis

1.01.101 Grenfell, Dr. (Photocopy of photograph; See 4.03.001 for the original photograph)

1.01.102 Gure (Guy)

1.01.103 Haddock, Dr. Joseph Griffith

1.01.104 Hanrahan, Dr. William

1.01.105 Harbour Breton

1.01.106 Harbour Grace

1.01.107 Harris, Dr. Samuel

1.01.108 Harris, Thomas Robert

1.01.109 Harvard University

1.01.110 Henderson, David

1.01.111 Hendrick

1.01.112 Henley, Samuel

1.01.113 Hiley, Richard Farrar

1.01.114 Hogan, William Patrick

1.01.115 Horlock, Joseph

1.01.116 Hospital, First Civilian

1.01.117 Hospitals

1.01.118 Howley, Thomas

1.01.119 Hubert, Philip

1.01.120 Hunt, George Q.

1.01.121 Hunter, Dr. George

1.01.122 Jefferson Medical College

1.01.123 Jenner, George

1.01.124 Johnson, Isaac Wellwood

1.01.125 Jones, Dr. William E.

1.01.126 Joseph, Louis

1.01.127 Juer, James

1.01.128 Kavanagh, Joseph

1.01.129 Kendall, Henry Ernest

1.01.130 Kennedy, William Francis

1.01.131 Kielley, Dr. Edward

1.01.132 Kingwell, Rev. John

1.01.133 Kinnear, Beverley O.

1.01.134 Krippner, E.R.

1.01.135 Lane, Harry Angell

1.01.136 Lane, John

1.01.137 Larrey, Dominique-Jean

1.01.138 Leeming, Thomas

1.01.139 LeVisconte, Charles George

1.01.140 Levisconte, Dr. Philip John

1.01.141 Lombard, Thomas

1.01.142 Long Island Medical College

1.01.143 McCullough, J.W.

1.01.144 Macurdy, John

1.01.145 MacDonald, Dr. Alan

1.01.146 MacDonald, Finlay

1.01.147 MacDonald, John

1.01.148 MacDonald, Michael Roderick

1.01.149 McGill University

1.01.150 McGregor, Edwin

1.01.151 McIntyre, Duncan Kenneth

1.01.152 McKay, Dr. Alexander Peter

1.01.153 McKendrick, Neil

1.01.154 McKenzie, Alexander

1.01.155 MacKenzie, Alexander Sydney

1.01.156 MacKenzie, Kenneth D.

1.01.157 MacKesey, Henry

1.01.158 McKie, John L.

1.01.159 McLeod, John Knox

1.01.160 McLeod, Thomas

1.01.161 Mack, Joshua N.

1.01.162 Malcolm, J.

1.01.163 Malcolm, Thomas

1.01.164 Marble, Dr. Allan

1.01.165 Martin, Edward Needham

1.01.166 Marten, Henry Oake

1.01.167 Martin, James C.

1.01.168 Mayne

1.01.169 Medical Faculty

1.01.170 Medical Society

1.01.171 Mitchell, T. M.

1.01.172 Molloy, Patrick Edward

1.01.173 Molloy, Dr. William

1.01.174 Monier, John

1.01.175 Monkhouse, William Brougham

1.01.176 Moore, John

1.01.177 Moran, Dr. James

1.01.178 Morris, Edward

1.01.179 Morrison, Andrew

1.01.180 Murphy, George N.

1.01.181 Murphy, T.J.F.

1.01.182 Navy Surgeons

1.01.183 Nelson, Roland

1.01.184 Newlanders Cure by Sir William Vaughan

1.01.185 Oakes, Dr. Milledge

1.01.186 Oakley, James

1.01.187 O’Dwyer, Dr. Michael

1.01.188 O’Flynn, Edward

1.01.189 Ogden, Dr. Johnathan

1.01.190 O’Shaughnessy, John S.

1.01.191 Page, James

1.01.192 Paterson, Lamont

1.01.193 Phaire, Robert

1.01.194 Pharmacy Correspondence

1.01.195 Pike, Dr. A. Stewart

1.01.196 Placentia

1.01.197 Poore, George Vivian

1.01.198 Porsh, Geo. Goodlove

1.01.199 Prebble, George

1.01.200 Proctor, George

1.01.201 Public Record Office, Kew

1.01.202 Reid, George

1.01.203 Rendell, Herbert

1.01.204 Rennell, John

1.01.205 Renouf, Charles Hugh

1.01.206 Research

1.01.207 Rice

1.01.208 Rochfort, John

1.01.209 Row(e), Dr.

1.01.210 Royal College of Physicians – Edinburgh

1.01.211 Royal College of Physicians – Ireland

1.01.212 Royal College of Physicians – London

1.01.213 Royal College of Surgeons – Edinburgh

1.01.214 Royal College of Surgeons – Glasgow

1.01.215 Royal College of Surgeons – Ireland

1.01.216 Royal College of Surgeons – London

1.01.217 Royal Dispensary

1.01.218 Ryall, John

1.01.219 Ryan, George

1.01.220 Scott, Thaddeus

1.01.221 Scully, Dr. W. T.

1.01.222 Shea

1.01.223 Shea, Richard

1.01.224 Sheehan, Richard L.

1.01.225 Sheppard, Dr.

1.01.226 Simms, William Cawley

1.01.227 Skelton, George

1.01.228 Skelton, George – Trinity

1.01.229 Skelton, John

1.01.230 Skene, Dr. William

1.01.231 Skues, William McKenzie

1.01.232 Smallpox

1.01.233 Smith, Rev. Benjamin

1.01.234 Smith, Herbert

1.01.235 Smith, John Peter

1.01.236 Smith, Owen Van B.

1.01.237 Smith, Sandy Simon

1.01.238 Smith, T.H.

1.01.239 Smith, Rev. Canon Walter Redfearn

1.01.240 Society of Apothecaries

1.01.241 Somerville, Beverley R.

1.01.242 Spence, Gilbert William

1.01.243 Spry, John

1.01.244 Stabb, Fred

1.01.245 Stafford, F.S

1.01.246 Steph(v)enson, H.G. [Stephenson Stevenson]

1.01.247 Stirling

1.01.248 Stokesbury, Minchin

1.01.249 Strachan, James Coulter

1.01.250 Strapp, Walter A.

1.01.251 Tait, Dr. J. Sinclair

1.01.252 Teulon, Joseph Samuel plus [reference to a Mr. Tullidge, surgeon]

1.01.253 Teulon, Dr. William Frederick

1.01.254 Thompson, Ebenezer

1.01.255 Thompson, George John Ainley

1.01.256 Thompson, Dr. Henry

1.01.257 Thompson, John

1.01.258 Thompson, W.E.

1.01.259 Tobin, William

1.01.260 Toussaint, Dr. Charles F.

1.01.261 Trinity

1.01.262 Trinity College

1.01.263 Tulk, William

1.01.264 University of Aberdeen

1.01.265 University of Dublin

1.01.266 University of Edinburgh

1.01.267 University of Glasgow

1.01.268 University of Maryland

1.01.269 University of Paris

1.01.270 University of Pennsylvania

1.01.271 Vance, George

1.01.272 Waiblinger, Christopher J.

1.01.273 Waldron, John

1.01.2 74 Walsh, John

1.01.275 Walsh, William Henry

1.01.276 Walters, Arthur Pierefield

1.01.277 Warner, William

1.01.278 Warren, Alfred C.J.

1.01.279 Webber, George

1.01.280 Weeks, Charles James

1.01.281 Weeks, Edith

1.01.282 White, Dr. Arthur

1.01.283 White, Robert

1.01.284 Wills (requested)

1.01.285 Williams, John

1.01.286 Wilson

1.01.287 Winter, John

1.01.288 Warthman

1.01.289 Wright, John

1.01.290 Wyman, Jeffries

1.01.291 Yonge, James

1.01.292 Yonge, John

1.01.293 Young, A.

1.01.294 Allan, Dr.

1.01.295 Barron, Henry Winston

1.01.296 Bennett, Dr. W. H.

1.01.297 Brehm, Robert Alman

1.01.298 Campbell, Alexander

1.01.299 Cody, James

1.01.300 Collins, Thomas

1.01.301 Follett, Dr. Joseph Vincent

1.01.302 Gosse, William

1.01.303 Kinnear, Beverley Oliver

1.01.304 Leeming, Thomas

1.01.304 Morris, William A.

Roddick, Sir Thomas

Sprague, Thomas F.

Syme, William Smith

White, Dr. Fred C.

2.0 Manuscript

Scope and Content:.

2.01 Manuscript

2.01.001

3.0 Index Cards

Scope and Content:

3.02 Index Cards

4.0 Photographs

4.01 John O’Mara


4.03 Dr. Grenfell

4.01 John O’Mara

4.01.001 John O’Mara, col. ; 10x15cm ; no negative


Note: The photographs were originally in folder, 1.01.070, Dowsley, Felix.

Titles supplied from the contents of the images.

4.02.001 Tilt Cove, Newfoundland col. ; 15x10 cm ; no negative


4.02.003 Monument erected in Tilt Cove by Messrs. Richards, Power and Company of

Swansea, the owners of the Queen of Swansea, in memory of those lost in the

1867 disaster col. ; 15x10 cm ; no negative














1867 disaster and gravestones col. ; 15x10 cm ; no negative



1867 disaster and gravestones col. ; 15x10 cm ; no negative

4.03 Dr. Wilfred Grenfell

Note: The photograph was originally in folder, 1.01.101, Grenfell, Dr.

Title supplied from the contents of the images. A photocopy of the photograph is in

1.01.100.

4.03.001 Grenfell, Dr. b&w ; 13.5x17cm ; no negative

john o’mara fonds - faculty of medicine · 2021. 1. 25. · john francis o’mara (1943-2007),...

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