Guide to the Peter Masten Dunne, S.J. Papers
5600 DunP
Finding aid prepared by Mary Kenney
California Jesuit Archives
Santa Clara University
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA, 95053
(408) 554-5432
dpeterson@calprov.org
Title: Peter Masten Dunne, S.J. Papers
Identifier/Call Number: 5600 DunP
Contributing Institution:
California Jesuit Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
8.625 Linear feet
20 boxes
Date (bulk): 1930-1950
Date (inclusive): 1889-1957
Abstract: Peter Masten Dunne was a Jesuit priest, educator, and historian, known for his publications on the work of the Jesuits in
northern colonial Mexico, from Tarahumara to Lower California and Arizona. A member of the California Province he served as
chair of the History Department at the University of San Francisco, 1934-1957.
Language of Materials note: Although English is the predominant language of the collection, Spanish is used extensively, and some Latin.
Biography
Peter Masten Dunne (1889-1957) was born in San Jose, California and attended Santa Clara College, 1901-1906, then entering
the Society of Jesus. He studied theology at the French seminary at Ore Place in Hastings, England, 1919-1923, where he was
ordained in April 1921. After completing his Tertianship in Ohio, he served as Associate Editor of "America" magazine in New
York City, 1924-1925. He taught History and English at Santa Clara University and at the Sacred Heart Novitiate, 1925-1930.
He began his career as a professor of history at the University of San Francisco in 1931, completing his doctorate in philosophy
at the University of California in 1934 under the direction of Herbert E. Bolton. He authored ten books and numerous articles
on Jesuit mission activities in colonial Mexico and the New Southwest. He died in San Francisco 15 January 1957.
Scope and Contents note
The collection contains Jesuit Provincial’s curia and personnel files, correspondence, photographs, research notes and secondary
material used in research. Personal items created during Dunne’s religious formation include a scrapbook, clippings, devotional
writing, sermons, class notes, retreat presentations, teaching materials, and devotional items. Published and unpublished
manuscripts of monographs and articles form the largest part of the collection.
Preferred Citation note
California Jesuit Archives, Santa Clara, CA.
Access Terms
Bolton, Herbert Eugene, 1870-1953
Dunne, Peter Masten, 1889-1957
Indians of Mexico -- Missions
Jesuits -- California Province
Jesuit historians
Jesuits -- Mexico
Jesuits -- Southwest, New
Missions -- Mexico -- Baja California
University of San Francisco
Series I. Personnel files, California Province of the Society of Jesus,
1918-1957
General note
This series contain Provincial Curia files, 1927-1957, biographical material, information on earned royalties, academic records,
and devotional items.
Box 1
Provincial Curia files, biographical material,
1927-1957
Language of Material:
English
Series II. Correspondence
Box 2
Personal and professional correspondence,
1920-1957
Language of Materials note: English, Spanish, French, and Latin
General note
This subseries includes publisher's responses, letters dealing with historical research related to Peter Dunne's writing,
and news clippings arranged in chronoligical order. Also included is documentation of the estate settlement of Peter and Josephine
Dunne, 1936-1952.
Box 3
Correspondence foldered by individual
Individual correspondents
Pierre Bouscaren, S.J., 1924-1925
Gerard Decorme, S.J., archivist of Mexican Province, 1934-1953
Herbert E. Bolton, 1933-1953
Joseph Vraštil, S.J., 1934
Mabel Adelaide Farnum, 1941
Marquis McDonald 1952-1954
Ernest J. Burrus, S.J., 1953-1954
John F. Bannon, S.J., 1957-1958
Box 3
Annotated pamphlets included in correspondence files
Series III. Religious Formation and Devotional Life
Box 3
Devotional writing and notes
Box 4
Course notes and materials
Box 4
Early clipping file with devotional notes (topical)
Box 5
Theologate, Hastings, England,
1919-1923
Box 6
Retreat outlines and talks
Series IV. Personal Items
Box 6
Miscellaneous from 1920s
General note
This subseries contains address books and notebooks, devotional objects, and items used in traveling.
Box 8-9
Series V. Published monograph manuscripts,
1929-1958
Language of Material:
English
Box 9-11
Series VI. Unpublished monograph manuscripts,
1951-1954
Language of Materials note: The series contains, among other manuscripts, translations of other authors' work from French and Latin.
Box 12
Series VII. Archival materials
Language of Materials note: Most of the photostat copies in this series are in Spanish with a few in Latin.
General note
Peter Dunne gathered photostat copies of documents from archives he visited in the United States, Mexico, and South America.
Sources include: Codigo de Misiones, 1610-1764; Juan Nentvig letters; and "Establemento y progresos de las Misiones de la
Antiga California" among others. These copies represent sources he used in his research.
Box 12-14
Series VIII. Research notes
Language of Materials note: Peter Dunne's notes were made in English. Typescripts and copies from original documents are written mainly in Spanish and
some Latin.
General note
Folders in this series represent the original order of Peter Dunne with his hand-written notes and annotations, mostly undated.
There are included in the folders transcriptions of documents and some photostat copies. Research resources ennumerated include:
Archivo General de Indias (Seville), Archivo Historico de Hacienda, and Archivo General y Público de la Nación (Mexico), among
others.
Box 14-16
Series IX. Published articles,
1919-1957
Box 16
Series X. Published book reviews,
1927-1956
Box 17
Series XI. Unpublished articles and book reviews,
1920-1956
General note
This series includes texts of two radio broadcasts by Peter Dunne, 1942 and 1955.
Box 18
Series XII. Other historical resources
South American sabbatical trip,
1943-1944
California History file,
1936-1956
Spain History file,
1937-1950
Box 19-20
Series XIII. Photographs
General note
The subject matter of the photographs are personal, including portraits and Dunne's early years, and photographs related to
his historical research. Also include are ordination cards of Peter Dunne and his Jesuit associates, 1906-1947.
