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He was buried in [[Dardistown Cemetery]], [[Dardistown, Dublin]] that had opened a couple years prior in west Dublin<ref>{{Cite web |title=Past and Present |url=https://www.dctrust.ie/about-us/past-and-present.html |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=Dublin Cemeteries Trust |language=en}}</ref>. His gravestone reads "In Loving Memory of Michael Hewson'', Glasnevin Park'', Died 3rd Feb 1992".
He was buried in [[Dardistown Cemetery]], [[Dardistown, Dublin]] that had opened a couple years prior in west Dublin<ref>{{Cite web |title=Past and Present |url=https://www.dctrust.ie/about-us/past-and-present.html |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=Dublin Cemeteries Trust |language=en}}</ref>. His gravestone reads "In Loving Memory of Michael Hewson'', Glasnevin Park'', Died 3rd Feb 1992".

== Legacy ==
It was during Hewson’s directorship that responsibility for the funding of NLI passed from the Department of Education to the [[Department of the Taoiseach]]. It remained the responsibility of this department until 1992 when a new government department was established with responsibility for culture. These steps paved the way for the 2005 establishment of the NLI as an autonomous national cultural institution<ref>{{Cite web |last=nli |title=Our History |url=https://www.nli.ie/about-us/our-history |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.nli.ie |language=en}}</ref>.


Michael Hewson raised the profile of the NLI by represented it at various national and international committees such as the Irish Manuscripts Commission. He was instrumental in establishing cooperation with the [[British Library]] with the founding of the Newsplan project, a co-operative preservation project for newspapers in Ireland and the United Kingdom<ref>{{Cite web |last=nli |title=Newspapers |url=https://www.nli.ie/collections/our-collections/newspapers |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=www.nli.ie |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |date=1995 |title=Obituary: Michael Hewson |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25511067 |journal=Analecta Hibernica |issue=36 |pages=xiv-xv |via=JSTOR}}</ref>.


Despite his directorship coinciding with significant budget constraints, he started extensive refurbishment of the library, redeveloping the Kildare Street Club premises to house the Department of Manuscripts<ref name=":1" />.


As well as working for the NLI, Michael Hewson was a keen user of the NLI’s manuscript collection, seeing it as an important resource for Irish history<ref name=":1" />. As such he researched and wrote various articles on local and national history. Between 1965 and 1981 he published four articles in the North Munster Antiquarian Journal<ref>{{Cite web |title=Journal {{!}} Thomond Archaeological & Historical Society |url=https://tahs.ie/journal/ |access-date=2023-11-13 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>[https://tahs.ie/journal/ Thomand Archaeological & Historical Society, Journal,] Index of Authors Volumes 1 (1936) - 30 (1988), https://celt.ucc.ie/NMAI1-30.pdf</ref> on various aspects of the history of Munster and Co. Clare, his home county. Three of these have been digitised and are available from Limerick City Library<ref>{{Cite web |last=Council |first=Limerick City |title=Limerick City Council |url=http://www.limerickcity.ie/Library/LocalStudies/BooksJournals/NorthMunsterAntiquarianJournal/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Limerick City Council |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hewson |first=Michael |date=1965 |title=A word-list from south-west Clare |url=http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/nmaj%20vol%209,%20no%204%2018%20A%20word-list%20from%20South-West%20Clare,%20by%20Michael%20Hewson.pdf |journal=North Monster Antiquarian Journal |volume=9 |issue=4 |pages=182-186 |via=Limerick City Library}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hewson |first=Michael |date=1975 |title=The diaries of John Singleton, of Quinville, Co. Clare |url=http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/NMAJ%20vol%2017%2015%20The%20diaries%20of%20John%20Singleton%20of%20Quinville,%20Co.%20Clare,%20by%20Michael%20Hewson.pdf |journal=North Munster Antiquarian Journal |volume=17 |pages=103-109 |via=Limerick City Library}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hewson |first=Michael |date=1981 |title=Emigration to 'The North American Colonies' from the Port of Limerick in 1841 |url=http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/NMAJ%20vol%2023%2005%20Emigration%20to%20the%20North%20American%20Colonies%20from%20the%20Port%20of%20Limerick%20in%201841,%20by%20Michael%20Hewson.pdf |journal=North Munster Antiquarian Journal |volume=23 |pages=67 - 76 |via=Limerick City Library}}</ref>. Between 1962 and 1964 Michael Hewson published five popular history articles in [[Irish Independent|The Irish Independent]] on a wide array of Irish social history topics: the history of the animal designs on early [[Coins of the Republic of Ireland|coinage of the Republic of Ireland]]<ref>Hewson, Michael (Monday 5 March 1962) "Did our coinage depend on a wrong address?" ''Irish Independent''. p.7.</ref>; the history of [[Edward Jenner]]<ref>Hewson, Michael (Monday 29 January 1962) “Edward Jenner’s Great Discovery.” ''Irish Independent''. p.6.</ref>, inventor of the smallpox vaccine; the surprising history of [[Litter (vehicle)|sedan chairs]]<ref>Hewson, Michael (Thursday 7 March 1963) “In the days of the sedan chair.” ''Irish Independent''. p.10.</ref> in 1800s Dublin; the story of [[Henry Ford]]’s<ref>Hewson, Michael (Tuesday 30 July 1963) “The Father of Tin Lizzie.” ''Irish Independent''. p.8</ref> connection with Co. Cork; and of [[Vere Foster]]<ref>Hewson, Michael (Thursday 13 February 1964) “Vere Foster: generous friend of Ireland.” ''Irish Independent.'' p.10.</ref>, inventor of a style of handwriting copybook for young school children.


His most significant published work is the 1975 Catalogue of Irish Topographical Prints and Original Drawings, which he co-authored with Rosalind M Elmes<ref name=":03">{{Cite book |last=Elmes |first=Rosalind M |title=Catalogue of Irish Topographical Prints and Original Drawings |last2=Hewson |first2=Michael |publisher=Malton Press for National Library of Ireland Society |year=1975 |edition=New |location=Dublin}}</ref>.


==Publications==
==Publications==

Revision as of 11:40, 22 November 2023

Michael Hewson
Born
Ballynacally, County Clare, Ireland
Died1992
Mater Hospital, Dublin
NationalityIrish
Occupationlibrarian

Michael Hewson (died 1992) was an Irish librarian and director of the National Library of Ireland.

Life

Michael Hewson was born in Ballynacally, County Clare.[1] He was the keeper of printed books and later the director of the National Library of Ireland from 1982 to 1988.[2] In 1985, he oversaw the donation of a large collection of material relating to W. B. Yeats.[3] He died in the Mater Hospital in 1992.[1]

Later Career and Death

The pinnacle of Michael Hewson's career came with his promotion to director of the National Library of Ireland in 1982, when the previous director Alf Mac Lochlainn left the Library for the University of Galway[4]. He also became the Honorary Secretary of the National Library of Ireland Society for a year, handing the position over to Dònall Ò Lùanaigh in 1983[5].

Unfortunately for Hewson, his directorship coincided with the most difficult time in the Library's history. In 1986, the Irish government decided to change the department responsible for the National Library from the department of education to first the Taoiseach’s department and then the Department of Arts and Culture, now known as the Department on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media[5].This resulted in issues with funding, leading to minimised staffing and shorter library hours.

The 1980’s was a time of economic crisis in Ireland. The shift of the National Library’s funding from the Taioseach’s department to the Department of Arts and Culture meant that its funding decreased to the point where the National Library Society filed a motion with the Taioseach in order for it to provide its accustomed high standard of scholarly services[4].

Though overshadowed by the economic crisis, there were some highlights during Hewson’s directorship. One such highlight was in 1985. W.B. Yeats’ son Michael donated a collection of 1,000 of his father’s writings to the Library[6].

Hewson retired from the National Library in 1989, handing off the directorship to Dr. Patricia Donlon[5].

Michael Hewson died on Monday, February 3rd, 1992. His death was unexpected and came only four years after his retirement from the National Library[7]. He had continued to visit the Library as a reader, including the Saturday before he died[5].

He was buried in Dardistown Cemetery, Dardistown, Dublin that had opened a couple years prior in west Dublin[8]. His gravestone reads "In Loving Memory of Michael Hewson, Glasnevin Park, Died 3rd Feb 1992".

Legacy

It was during Hewson’s directorship that responsibility for the funding of NLI passed from the Department of Education to the Department of the Taoiseach. It remained the responsibility of this department until 1992 when a new government department was established with responsibility for culture. These steps paved the way for the 2005 establishment of the NLI as an autonomous national cultural institution[9].


Michael Hewson raised the profile of the NLI by represented it at various national and international committees such as the Irish Manuscripts Commission. He was instrumental in establishing cooperation with the British Library with the founding of the Newsplan project, a co-operative preservation project for newspapers in Ireland and the United Kingdom[10][11].


Despite his directorship coinciding with significant budget constraints, he started extensive refurbishment of the library, redeveloping the Kildare Street Club premises to house the Department of Manuscripts[11].


As well as working for the NLI, Michael Hewson was a keen user of the NLI’s manuscript collection, seeing it as an important resource for Irish history[11]. As such he researched and wrote various articles on local and national history. Between 1965 and 1981 he published four articles in the North Munster Antiquarian Journal[12][13] on various aspects of the history of Munster and Co. Clare, his home county. Three of these have been digitised and are available from Limerick City Library[14][15][16][17]. Between 1962 and 1964 Michael Hewson published five popular history articles in The Irish Independent on a wide array of Irish social history topics: the history of the animal designs on early coinage of the Republic of Ireland[18]; the history of Edward Jenner[19], inventor of the smallpox vaccine; the surprising history of sedan chairs[20] in 1800s Dublin; the story of Henry Ford’s[21] connection with Co. Cork; and of Vere Foster[22], inventor of a style of handwriting copybook for young school children.


His most significant published work is the 1975 Catalogue of Irish Topographical Prints and Original Drawings, which he co-authored with Rosalind M Elmes[23].

Publications

  • Rosalind M. Elmes and Michael Hewson, (1975) Catalogue of Irish topographical prints and original drawings.[24]
  • Hewson, Michael, (1977) Robert Stearne's diary of the Williamite campaign. An Cosantóir, 33 49–53.
  • Ainsworth, J. F., & Hewson, M. (1985). Manuscript Collections in Private Keeping: Reports in National Library of Ireland. Analecta Hibernica, 32, 27–33.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b "Recent Death". Clare Champion. 14 February 1992.
  2. ^ "Corporate Information". www.nli.ie. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  3. ^ "William Butler Yeats Donation". RTÉ Archives. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b Ó Lúanaigh, Dónall (2010). Friends of the National Library : forty years of the National Library of Ireland Society. Internet Archive. Dublin : Associated Editions on behalf of the National Library of Ireland Society. ISBN 978-1-906429-13-3.
  5. ^ a b c d Felix M. Larkin (2007). Librarians, poets and scholars : a festschrift for Dónall Ó Luanaigh. Internet Archive. Dublin ; Portland, OR : Four Courts Press : In association with The National Library of Ireland Society. ISBN 978-1-84682-017-5.
  6. ^ "Yeats, (William) Michael Butler | Dictionary of Irish Biography". www.dib.ie. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  7. ^ D., P. (1995). "Obituary: Michael Hewson". Analecta Hibernica (36): xiv–xv. ISSN 0791-6167.
  8. ^ "Past and Present". Dublin Cemeteries Trust. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  9. ^ nli. "Our History". www.nli.ie. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  10. ^ nli. "Newspapers". www.nli.ie. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  11. ^ a b c "Obituary: Michael Hewson". Analecta Hibernica (36): xiv–xv. 1995 – via JSTOR.
  12. ^ "Journal | Thomond Archaeological & Historical Society". Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  13. ^ Thomand Archaeological & Historical Society, Journal, Index of Authors Volumes 1 (1936) - 30 (1988), https://celt.ucc.ie/NMAI1-30.pdf
  14. ^ Council, Limerick City. "Limerick City Council". Limerick City Council. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  15. ^ Hewson, Michael (1965). "A word-list from south-west Clare" (PDF). North Monster Antiquarian Journal. 9 (4): 182–186 – via Limerick City Library.
  16. ^ Hewson, Michael (1975). "The diaries of John Singleton, of Quinville, Co. Clare" (PDF). North Munster Antiquarian Journal. 17: 103–109 – via Limerick City Library.
  17. ^ Hewson, Michael (1981). "Emigration to 'The North American Colonies' from the Port of Limerick in 1841" (PDF). North Munster Antiquarian Journal. 23: 67–76 – via Limerick City Library.
  18. ^ Hewson, Michael (Monday 5 March 1962) "Did our coinage depend on a wrong address?" Irish Independent. p.7.
  19. ^ Hewson, Michael (Monday 29 January 1962) “Edward Jenner’s Great Discovery.” Irish Independent. p.6.
  20. ^ Hewson, Michael (Thursday 7 March 1963) “In the days of the sedan chair.” Irish Independent. p.10.
  21. ^ Hewson, Michael (Tuesday 30 July 1963) “The Father of Tin Lizzie.” Irish Independent. p.8
  22. ^ Hewson, Michael (Thursday 13 February 1964) “Vere Foster: generous friend of Ireland.” Irish Independent. p.10.
  23. ^ Elmes, Rosalind M; Hewson, Michael (1975). Catalogue of Irish Topographical Prints and Original Drawings (New ed.). Dublin: Malton Press for National Library of Ireland Society.
  24. ^ "Catalogue of Irish topographical prints and original drawings / National Library of Ireland ; Rosalind... - Catalogue | National Library of Australia". catalogue.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  25. ^ Ainsworth, John F.; Hewson, Michael (1985). "Manuscript Collections in Private Keeping: Reports in National Library of Ireland". Analecta Hibernica (32): 27–33. ISSN 0791-6167.
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