Today I had reason to look up a number of entries in the new Dictionary of Irish Biography. I was impressed by some of the entries but disappointed by others and even more disappointed by some omissions. There were two in particular that came to my attention today and I will interested to see what other significant omissioners I come across.
The two omissions I picked up on today were:
- Eileen Percy (1900-1973), who was born in Belfast but emigrated with her family to America, where she became one of the stars of the silent film era, starring with Douglas Fairbanks.
- Henry Arthur McArdle (1836-1908), who was also born in Belfast and emigrated from Ulster to America, where he became a notable painter. His work included a number of historical paintings relating to the history of Texas and some of these hang in the Texas Capitol.
This is an example of what I call the 'hidden history of Ulster'. There are many notable figures who were born in Ulster, such as Percy and McArdle, but who are now forgotten.
I welcome the publication of the Dictionary of Irish Biography but there is a need for a modest but more comprehensive and inclusive Dictionary of Ulster Biography, that includes those forgotten figures. I intend to make a note of other omissions that come to light and return to this again.
Thanks for McArdle. Here's a link to his article in the "Handbook of Texas Online," http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/MM/fmc3.html
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link to the Handbook of Texas Online. It is a resource that I have often visited in relation to the Scotch-Irish influence in Texas. Are you aware of any other information or source of information about McArdle? As yet I have been unable to find any other information about his early years in Belfast.
ReplyDeleteI hope to visit Texas, possibly in March, but that will be dependent on political circumstances here at home.