[Autograph Letter, Signed, from Rev. John O'Connell, Rector of the St. Joseph's Industrial School for Colored Boys]

Clayton, De: July 9, 1920. Very good.. [1]p., on St. Joseph's Industrial School for Colored Boys letterhead. Minor wear, original mailing folds. A rare correspondence from Reverend John O'Connell, the rector of the St. Joseph's Industrial School for Colored Boys in Clayton, Delaware. Here, O'Connell writes to Mr. A. Huizinga in New York City, thanking him for his help in a recent case involving the citizenship or immigration status of a student or perhaps a teacher at the school. O'Connell thanks Huizinga for "advising me that the visum for Mr. Houtman's passport has been received. It is good news for me and I am sure it will be for Mr. Houtman." Evidently, there was some issue with Houtman's citizenship or immigration status which seems to have been rectified. This is the first letter we have seen from any officials at St. Joseph's, a school founded by the St. Joseph Society of the Sacred Heart in 1896. The school educated around 7,000 students during its years of operation.