Percival J. Cooney was the son of John W. Cooney and Mary Ann O’Callahan; he had three brothers (Frank H., Howard C., and Byron E.) and one sister (Florence). The Cooney family left Arnprior for the United States in 1891.
Percival Cooney is the author of the Kinsmen. In the Kinsmen, Cooney based his fictional hero of Barclay Craig (a former high school teacher of Cooney’s who taught him English and Classics; Craig died in 1905); apparently, Cooney idealized this teacher. The great nephew of Barclay Craig (who also has the same name) still lives in Arnprior (at 50 Ottawa Street).
Language
English
Acquisition Source
Donated by Pat Bolger in September 1996 and January 1997.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of a copy of a b/w photograph of the Cooney family circa 1888. Also included is an article about Irish migration to Canada in the 1840’s, in particular, about the grave site at Grosse Ile (50 kilometres east of Quebec City in the St. Lawrence), the world’s largest Irish grave site and other articles.
Accruals
Further accruals are expected.
Related Material
See also: Craigs of Arnprior, Accession #2006-0202
See also: Arnprior Chronicle article January 8, 1931 page 1by Frank H. Cooney.