John A. Ryan Collection
Finding aid created by Loyola Marymount University, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library
staff using RecordEXPRESS
Loyola Marymount University, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library
2015
1 LMU Drive
Los Angeles, California 90045-2659
(310) 338-5710
Special.Collections@lmu.edu
http://library.lmu.edu/
Title: John A. Ryan Collection
Dates: 1933-1940
Collection Number: 087
Creator/Collector:
Extent: 1 pamphlet binder
Repository:
Loyola Marymount University, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library
Los Angeles, California 90045-2659
Abstract: A collection of materials related to the life and work of Right Reverend John A. Ryan, D.D., a leading Catholic thinker on
a just economy.
Language of Material: English
Collection is open to research under the terms of use of the Department of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount
University.
Materials in the Department of Archives and Special Collections may be subject to copyright. Unless explicitly stated otherwise,
Loyola Marymount University does not claim ownership of the copyright of any materials in its collections. The user or publisher
must secure permission to publish from the copyright owner. Loyola Marymount University does not assume any responsibility
for infringement of copyright or of publication rights held by the original author or artists or his/her heirs, assigns, or
executors.
John A. Ryan Collection. Loyola Marymount University, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library
Per the MARC record, the items previously belonged to the pamphlet file at Loyola Marymount University. They were later de-accessioned
and claimed by Anthony Amodeo, a reference librarian, who donated them to the university's Archives and Special Collections
in 2009.
The presence in this collection of correspondence of Arthur D. Spearman, S.J., relating to his publication of a biographical
article on John A. Ryan suggests that these materials were originally Spearman's. Spearman was the former librarian of Loyola
University, Los Angeles.
Biography/Administrative History
John A. Ryan (1869-1945) was the foremost social justice advocate and theoretician in the Catholic Church during the first
half in the 20th century. He entered St. Paul Seminary in 1892, graduated in 1898, and received his holy orders the same year.
Throughout his life, Ryan focused most of his intellectual attention on economic and political issues. His Ph.D. dissertation
was an influential early economic and moral argument for minimum wage legislation. It was published as "A Living Wage" in
1906. His published material sometimes included social issues, such as sterilization and birth control, that were important
to the teachings of the Catholic Church. Ryan's economic thought led to his alliance with the New Deal and its creator, Franklin
D. Roosevelt, who agreed with his economic positions. In 1920, Ryan became the first Director of the National Catholic Welfare
Council's Social Action Department, a position which he held for 25 years until his death in 1945.
Scope and Content of Collection
An assortment of materials relating to John A. Ryan. Collection consists of a newspaper clipping giving the history of two
traditional Lenten hymns, two typed letters to Rev. A.D. Spearman, S.J., regarding the publication of a biographical article
on Ryan, a commemorative program from a "Testimonial Dinner to Right Reverend John A. Ryan, D.D., on the occasion of His Seventieth
Birthday Anniversary," two issues of the Catholic University Bulletin containing articles on Ryan, three issues of the Annals
of St. Joseph containing the memoirs of John A. Ryan, a typescript list of books and magazine articles by John A. Ryan, an
additional manuscript page of notes, and a carbon copy of a "Retreat Reading List."
Economics -- Moral and ethical aspects
Distributive Justice
Economics -- Religious aspects -- Catholic Church
Ryan, John A. (John Augustine), 1869-1945