McNiff, Philip J., 1912-1994

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Philip J. McNiff was born on February 10, 1912 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He attended Brookline High School and graduated from Boston College in 1933. After graduating from Columbia University Graduate School of Library Science in 1940, McNiff began his library career in the Brookline and Newton public libraries.

McNiff later moved to Harvard University Libraries before becoming director and librarian of the Boston Public Library in 1965. Under his eighteen-year leadership at the Boston Public Library, the Johnson building was constructed and the regional library system was developed. In 1983, McNiff retired from the Boston Public Library.

Together with his wife Mary, McNiff was a devoted Catholic. They participated actively in the communities of Boston College and St. John’s Seminary by attending or sponsoring events for visitors. In particular, the McNiffs supported the Boston College Humanities Series, overseen by Father Francis Sweeney. Mary Stack McNiff died in 1976. McNiff remarried in 1979, and died in 1994.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf McNiff, Philip J. Philip J. McNiff Irish music collection, 1950-1985 [sound recording]. Boston College. John J. Burns Library
creatorOf Stanbrook Abbey Press Collection Boston College. John J. Burns Library
referencedIn John Mason Brown papers, 1922-1967. Houghton Library
referencedIn Harry Levin papers Houghton Library
referencedIn Horace Mason Reynolds papers, 1895-1965. Houghton Library
referencedIn Harvard University Archives Photograph Collection: Portraits, ca. 1852-ca. 2004 Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Philip J. and Mary Stack McNiff Papers Boston College. John J. Burns Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Brown, John Mason, 1900-1969 person
associatedWith Catholic Church corporateBody
associatedWith Early Massachusetts Records. corporateBody
associatedWith Leonard, William J. person
associatedWith Levin, Harry, 1912-1994 person
spouseOf McNiff, Mary Stack. person
associatedWith National Council of Catholic Men (U.S.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Reynolds, Horace Mason, 1896-1965 person
associatedWith Stanbrook Abbey. Press. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Newton MA US
Brookline MA US
Cambridge MA US
Boston Public Library, Central Library in Copley Square
Subject
Catholicism
Public libraries
Liturgical movement
Public librarians
Occupation
Librarians
Public librarians
Activity

Person

Birth 1912-02-10

Death 1994-11-09

English

Information

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