Finding aid for the Rev. Franze J. Cöln Collection


Title:
Rev. Franze J. Cöln Collection
Repository:
Archdiocese of Cincinnati Archives
Phone: 513-421-3131
http://www.catholiccincinnati.org/ministries-offices/archives-office/
Creator:
Cöln, Franze J.
Dates:
1903-1949
Quantity:
2.4 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection consists of personal correspondence and professional papers that document Coln's career at the Catholic University of America.
Identification:
RG 6.19
Language:
The records are in German, English, Latin and Italian

Biography of Franze J. Cöln

Franze Joseph Coln was born in 1879 and was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Trier, Germany, in 1897. In 1911, he received an appointment from Bishop Thomas J. Shahan as an instructor of the Old Testament at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C., where he taught until his dismissal in 1931. During those years, he became dean of the School of Sacred Sciences and was very active in the growth of the university. He was an authority on the source of ecclesiastical law as preserved in the Arabic language. After his dismissal from Catholic University in 1931, Dr. Coln appealed his case to Rome, resulting in a compromise settlement. From 1935 until his death in 1946, Dr. Coln was a guest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, residing and working at St. Joseph Orphanage, Cincinnati.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of personal correspondence and professional papers that document Coln's career at the Catholic University of America. His personal papers include correspondence between Dr. Coln and his bishop, family, and associates in Germany. These are primarily in German. Coln's professional papers contain correspondence, minutes, and reports between Dr. Coln and the faculty and administration of the Catholic University of America. The bulk of the university related material deals with the falling out between Rector James Ryan and the Department of Theology between 1928 and 1932. Included are correspondence, reports and meeting minutes related to the new constitution, the reorganization under the rectorship of James Ryan, and Dr. Coln's dismissal and subsequent appeal. There are documents related to Dr. John J. Rolbiecki's dismissal and reinstatement in 1930 and Dr. Henry Schumacher's dismissal in conjunction with Dr. Coln's in 1931. Coln appealed his case to Rome and eventually a settlement was reached. Coln and Schumacher were not reinstated despite the settlement with the University. These materials are in English, German, Italian, and Latin. Dr. Coln was active with the Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium (CSCO) throughout his career. Included in this collection is a manuscript of Coln's work on the sources of ecclesiastical law as preserved in Arabic.

Statement of Arrangement

This collection is arranged in three series:
Series 6.19-01: Personal, 1903-1949
Series 6.19-02: Catholic University of America, 1910-1941
Series 6.19-03: Manuscript, Liber Collectionis Canonum Auctore Farag Allâh Achmimensis, circa 1937

Restrictions on Access

This record group is open for research.

Related Material: Related Material

The following record groups held by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Archives contain materials relevant to the Rev. Franze J. Coln Collection: RG 6.1: Deceased Priests The following
collections held by the Catholic University of America contain materials relevant to the Rev. Franze J. Coln Collection: Franz Joseph Coln Papers, 1897-1949,
Archbishop John Timothy McNicholas Papers, 1912, 1925-1949, Nomocanonical literature of the Copto-Arabic Church of Alexandria. Coln, Franz Joseph


Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Persons:

Curley, Michael Joseph, 1879-1947
Cöln, Franze J.
Rolbiecki, John Joseph, 1889-1983
Ryan, James H. (James Hugh), 1886-1947
Schumacher, Heinrich, 1883-1949
Shahan, Thomas J. (Thomas Joseph), 1857-1932
Turner, William, 1871-1936

Organizations/Corporations:

Catholic University of America
Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium

Preferred Citation

Item Description, date, box number, folder number, Record Group 6.19, Rev. Franze J. Coln Collection, Archdiocese of Cincinnati Archives.

Processing Information

Processing completed in July 2019 by Michelle Smith


Detailed Description of The Collection



Personal, 1903-1949

Scope and Content
This series of personal papers includes correspondence between Dr. Coln and his bishop, family, and associates in Germany. These are primarily in German.

Box 1 / Folder 1
Correspondence with the bishop of Trier, 1903-1909




Box 1 / Folder 2
furslbischoflichen delegator, 1905-1909




Box 1 / Folder 3
Correspondence with Grosser, 1907-1909




Box 1 / Folder 4
der Dermaltungs-Direktor, 1908




Box 1 / Folder 5
St. Katharinen-Stittes, 1908-1909




Box 1 / Folder 6
Dominikanerinnen Kloster (St. Kathatrinen-Stittes), 1908




Box 1 / Folder 7
Correspondence with A. Lafaglinge and G. M. Gehard, 1908




Box 1 / Folder 8
Correspondence with D. Publer, 1908-1909, 1916




Box 1 / Folder 9
Correspondence between Coln and Wickert, 1908




Box 1 / Folder 10
Correspondence between Coln and Wickert, 1909




Box 1 / Folder 11
Correspondence between Coln and Wickert, 1909




Box 1 / Folder 12
Correspondence between Coln and Sister M. Emanuela, 1908




Box 1 / Folder 13
Correspondence between Coln and Sister Maria Cherubine Aloysia O. L. D. (Dominikanerinnen-Kloster), 1908-1909




Box 1 / Folder 14
Correspondence between Coln and Aug. Ametz, 1909




Box 1 / Folder 15
Correspondence to Kardinal ?, 1909




Box 1 / Folder 16
Correspondence between Coln and P. Thomas Plassman, O. F. M., 1911




Box 1 / Folder 17
Correspondence with Augsburger Postizeitung, 1911




Box 1 / Folder 18
General personal correspondence, 1908-1909




Box 1 / Folder 19
General personal correspondence, 1909-1911




Box 1 / Folder 20
General personal correspondence, 1909-1911




Box 1 / Folder 21
Correspondence and general notes, 1908




Box 1 / Folder 22-23
Letter by Coln concerning the "Child Welfare League" and European children during WWI, 1915

Quantity: 2 folders



Box 1 / Folder 24
Newspaper clipping concerning priests in the German Army and Rev. Dr. Peter Guilday, 1916




Box 1 / Folder 25
Coln's personal certificates, diplomas, and documents, circa 1890s-1910




Box 1 / Folder 26
Correspondence with Salvatorian Provincial concerning their possible purchase of Coln's property, 1934-1935




Box 1 / Folder 27
Correspondence with Gladel (Arenberg, Mutterhaus der Dominikanerinnen), 1935




Box 1 / Folder 28
Correspondence with Dr. V. Gladel (Arenberg, Germany), 1935-1936




Box 1 / Folder 29
Correspondence with Mr. and Mrs. Burg, 1937-1939




Box 1 / Folder 30
Correspondence with the American Consolate in Italy, 1937-1939




Box 1 / Folder 31
Correspondence concerning Carola Kopf-Seitz (Coln's cousin), 1937-1949




Box 1 / Folder 32
Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium (CSCO)- Publications and correspondence, 1914, 1917




Box 1 / Folder 33
Correspondence with Rev. Pere L. Rigoulet (Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium ), 1931-1933




Box 1 / Folder 34
Correspondence with Dr. Chabot (General Secretary, Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium), 1912-1924




Box 1 / Folder 35
Correspondence with Dr. Chabot (General Secretary, Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium), 1930-1931




Box 1 / Folder 36
Correspondence with Dr. Chabot (General Secretary, Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium), 1932-1938




Box 1 / Folder 37
Correspondence concerning the Corpus Iuris Ecclesiastici Arabicum, 1940




Box 1 / Folder 38
Correspondence with Pontifical Commission Oriental Canon Law concerning the publication of Coln's work, 1940




Box 1 / Folder 39
General personal correspondence, 1930-1949




Box 1 / Folder 40
Photographs from Germany, unidentified woman, and autographed photo of William Turner, Bishop of Buffalo, circa 1900-1949





Catholic University of America, 1910-1941

Scope and Content
Coln's professional papers contain correspondence, minutes, and reports between Dr. Coln and the faculty and administration of the Catholic University of America. The bulk of the university related material deals with the falling out between Rector James Ryan and the Department of Theology between 1928 and 1932. Included are correspondence, reports and meeting minutes related to the new constitution, the reorganization under the rectorship of James Ryan, and Dr. Coln's dismissal and subsequent appeal. There are documents related to Dr. John J. Rolbiecki's dismissal and reinstatement in 1930 and Dr. Henry Schumacher's dismissal in conjunction with Dr. Coln's in 1931. Coln appealed his case to Rome and eventually a settlement was reached. Coln and Schumacher were not reinstated despite the settlement with the University. These materials are in English, German, Italian, and Latin.

Box 1 / Folder 1
Announcements of the School of Sacred Sciences, report of the sub-committee on the Catholic University of America, 1910-1911, 1923




Box 1 / Folder 2
Meetings of faculty concerning new constitution, 1926-1927




Box 1 / Folder 3
Recommendations submitted by the professors for the revision of the constitution, 1926 March




Box 1 / Folder 4
Constitution of Catholic University, 1926 July 24




Box 1 / Folder 5
Meetings of Rules and Regulations Committee concerning the new constitution, 1926-1927




Box 1 / Folder 6
Report of Rules and Regulations Committee concerning the new constitution, 1927 March




Box 1 / Folder 7
Report of Rules and Regulations Committee concerning the new constitution, 1927 April




Box 1 / Folder 8
Revision of the constitution by the Deans, circa 1926-1927




Box 1 / Folder 9
"Report of Council on Legal Status of New Constitution", 1927




Box 1 / Folder 10
Faculty remarks concerning proposed university seminary, 1927




Box 1 / Folder 11
Memorandum concerning proposed university seminary, undergraduate department in the School of Sacred Sciences, 1927




Box 1 / Folder 12
Proposed Seminary statement of the faculty of theology, seminary courses, and newspaper clipping, 1927




Box 1 / Folder 13
Faculty resolutions concerning the seminary, 1927-1928




Box 1 / Folder 14
Coln's notes concerning seminary admissions, lectures, 1929




Box 1 / Folder 15
Correspondence concerning the use of Music Hall building for seminary classes, 1930-1931




Box 1 / Folder 16
Report "The Organization of the School of Theology and its relation to the Seminary", 1931




Box 1 / Folder 17
Coln's personal notebooks of excerpts from various authors, circa 1911-1931




Box 1 / Folder 18
Excerpta notebook, circa 1911-1931




Box 2 / Folder 1
Bishop T. J. Shahan's (rector of C.U., 1909-1927) correspondence with F. Coln and the bishop of Trier, 1911-1912




Box 2 / Folder 2
Minutes of faculty meetings with and reports to Bishop T. J. Shahan, 1910-1917




Box 2 / Folder 3
Correspondence between F. Coln and T. J. Shahan concerning the possible publication of a Biblical Review, 1925




Box 2 / Folder 4
Correspondence between Bishop T. J. Shahan and F. Coln, newspaper concerning Shahan's life, 1926-1929, 1932




Box 2 / Folder 5
Correspondence between James Ryan (rector of C.U., 1928-1935) and F. Coln, 1928




Box 2 / Folder 6
Correspondence between James Ryan and F. Coln, 1929




Box 2 / Folder 7
Correspondence between James Ryan and F. Coln, 1930 January-June




Box 2 / Folder 8
Correspondence between James Ryan and F. Coln, 1930 July-December




Box 2 / Folder 9
Correspondence between James Ryan and F. Coln, 1931




Box 2 / Folder 10
Correspondence between James Ryan and F. Coln, 1932




Box 2 / Folder 11
Correspondence between James Ryan and Bernard McKenna, 1930




Box 2 / Folder 12
Nine page letter from the faculty concerning James Ryan, 1930




Box 2 / Folder 13
James Ryan's report to Board of Trustees, copies of letters to Ryan, and newspaper clipping concerning Ryan, 1931




Box 2 / Folder 14
Annual reports from faculty to James Ryan, 1926-1931




Box 2 / Folder 15
Inaugural address of Joseph M. Corrigan (rector of C.U., 1936-1942) and correspondence between Corrigan and F. Coln, 1936-1938




Box 2 / Folder 16
Correspondence between P. J. McCormic (acting rector, 1936), R. MacEachen, and F. Coln, 1932-1933




Box 2 / Folder 17
Correspondence between P. J. McCormic and F. Coln, 1936-1938




Box 2 / Folder 18
Correspondence between Vice-Rector Edward A. Pace and F. Coln, 1927-1934




Box 2 / Folder 19
Correspondence between J. Harvey Cain (auditor, asst. treasurer) and F. Coln, 1929-1935




Box 2 / Folder 20
Correspondence between M. Curley (Archbishop of Baltimore) and F. Coln concerning "white and colored missions" in Washington DC, 1923




Box 2 / Folder 21
Correspondence between Archbishop M. Curley and F. Coln, 1928-1929




Box 2 / Folder 22
Correspondence between Archbishop M. Curley and F. Coln, 1930 May-October




Box 2 / Folder 23
Correspondence between Archbishop M. Curley and F. Coln, 1930 November-December




Box 2 / Folder 24
Correspondence between Archbishop M. Curley and F. Coln, 1931




Box 2 / Folder 25
Correspondence between Archbishop M. Curley and F. Coln, 1932




Box 2 / Folder 26
Correspondence between Archbishop M. Curley and F. Coln, 1933




Box 2 / Folder 27
Correspondence between Archbishop M. Curley and F. Coln, 1934




Box 2 / Folder 28
Correspondence between Archbishop M. Curley and F. Coln, 1935




Box 2 / Folder 29
Correspondence between William Turner (Bishop of Buffalo) and F. Coln, 1927-1928




Box 2 / Folder 30
Correspondence between William Turner (Bishop of Buffalo) and F. Coln concerning Dr. Schumacher, 1933




Box 2 / Folder 31
Report by F. Coln on the Seminary division (to W. Turner?), 1929




Box 2 / Folder 32
Copies of correspondence between Archbishop McNicholas and James Ryan and F. Coln, 1931-1933




Box 2 / Folder 33
Correspondence between bishop Albers (Cincinnati) and Archbishop McNicholas and F. Coln, 1935-1939




Box 3 / Folder 1
Correspondence with Episcopal Committee appointed to investigate problem in the Faculty of Theology, 1931 April




Box 3 / Folder 2
Correspondence with Episcopal Committee, 1931 May




Box 3 / Folder 3
Correspondence with Episcopal Committee, 1931 June




Box 3 / Folder 4
Correspondence with Episcopal Committee, 1931 August




Box 3 / Folder 5
Correspondence with Episcopal Committee, 1931 September




Box 3 / Folder 6
Correspondence with Apostolic Delegation concerning the Faculty of Theology, 1931




Box 3 / Folder 7
Correspondence between Apostolic Delegation and F. Coln concerning the conflict between Coln and M. Curley (Archbishop of Baltimore), 1934-1935




Box 3 / Folder 8
Board of Trustees minutes of meeting and correspondence concerning F. Coln and Dr. Henry Schumacher, 1930-1931




Box 3 / Folder 9
Statement to Board of Trustees from the Faculty of Theology [handwritten draft], 1931




Box 3 / Folder 10
Statement to Board of Trustees from the Faculty of Theology [final], 1931 April




Box 3 / Folder 11
"Pro Memoria" presented to the visiting committee of the Board of Trustees, 1931 April




Box 3 / Folder 12
Report: "Is the Catholic University of America to remain Catholic and Pontifical?", 1931




Box 3 / Folder 13
By-laws of the Board of Trustees, 1931




Box 3 / Folder 14
Ways and means report of the Executive Committee to the Board of Trustees, 1931




Box 3 / Folder 15
Correspondence between F. Coln and the Rota, 1932-1933




Box 3 / Folder 16
Correspondence with Dr. J. B. Nicola (Coln's representative before the Rota), 1933




Box 3 / Folder 17
Correspondence with Dr. J. B. Nicola, 1934




Box 3 / Folder 18
Correspondence with Dr. J. B. Nicola, 1937




Box 3 / Folder 19
Correspondence with Dr. J. B. Nicola, 1938




Box 3 / Folder 20
Correspondence with Dr. J. B. Nicola, 1939




Box 3 / Folder 21
Correspondence with Dr. J. B. Nicola, 1940




Box 3 / Folder 22
Correspondence with Dr. J. B. Nicola, 1941




Box 3 / Folder 23
Correspondence with Dr. Creagh (who advised Coln on his case), 1930-1933




Box 3 / Folder 24
Correspondence with Monsignor Arthur Wynen concerning Coln's case, 1932




Box 3 / Folder 25
Correspondence from Coln to Monsignor Giobellina (of the Cong. of Seminaries and Studies) concerning Coln's case, 1933




Box 3 / Folder 26
Correspondence between Coln and his bishop in Trier, 1932




Box 3 / Folder 27
Correspondence between Coln and his bishop in Trier, 1933-1934




Box 4 / Folder 1
Minutes of faculty meetings, 1929




Box 4 / Folder 2
Minutes of faculty meetings, 1930




Box 4 / Folder 3
Minutes of faculty meetings, 1931




Box 4 / Folder 4
Correspondence concerning faculty promotions, 1931




Box 4 / Folder 5
Correspondence and reports of the Academic Senate, 1927-1930




Box 4 / Folder 6
Correspondence with Right Rev. Filippo Bernardini (Dean of the School of Canon Law), 1930




Box 4 / Folder 7
Correspondence with Roy J. Deferrari (Acting Dean of the Graduate School), 1930




Box 4 / Folder 8
Correspondence with Dr. DesLongchamps, 1930




Box 4 / Folder 9
Correspondence with Rev. Patrick J. Healy, 1931, 1934




Box 4 / Folder 10
Correspondence between F. Coln and Prof. H. Hyvernat, 1916, 1928, 1936




Box 4 / Folder 11
Correspondence between F. Coln and Prof. H. Hyvernat, 1937-1939




Box 4 / Folder 12
Correspondence with Dr. A. Landgraf, 1929




Box 4 / Folder 13
Correspondence with Dr. A. Landgraf, 1930




Box 4 / Folder 14
Correspondence with Dr. A. Landgraf, 1931-1934




Box 4 / Folder 15
Correspondence with Dr. A. Landgraf, 1935-1939




Box 4 / Folder 16
Correspondence between F. Coln and Asst. Prof. Rev. Bernard A. McKenna, 1929, 1933-1934




Box 4 / Folder 17
Correspondence of Rector Ryan concerning Rev. Dr. John J. Rolbiecki [who was dismissed in 1930 and reinstated in 1931], 1930




Box 4 / Folder 18
John J. Rolbiecki's statement and related information concerning his case, 1930-1931




Box 4 / Folder 19
John J. Rolbiecki's "rejoinder", 1931




Box 4 / Folder 20
Reports and correspondence of the bishops' committee concerning the Rolbiecki case, 1931




Box 4 / Folder 21
Correspondence of D. Guiseppe Stella (representative before the Congr. Pro Studies and the Rota) concerning Robiecki, 1930




Box 4 / Folder 22
Correspondence of F. Coln concerning the Robiecki case, 1930-1931




Box 4 / Folder 23
Correspondence of Dr. John T. Creagh (legal advise) concerning the Rolbiecki case, 1930




Box 4 / Folder 24
Correspondence with Prof. Rev. John A. Ryan, 1930, 1932-1933




Box 4 / Folder 25
Correspondence concerning Dom Maur Sablayrolles, O.S.B. (Instructor in Gregorian Chant), 1930




Box 4 / Folder 26
Correspondence between Prof. Rev. Henry Schumacher and William Turner (Bishop of Buffalo), 1931-1932




Box 4 / Folder 27
Correspondence between F. Coln and H. Schumacher, 1931-1932




Box 4 / Folder 28
Correspondence between F. Coln and H. Schumacher; minutes of 1933 meeting of the Board of Trustees concerning Coln and Schumacher, 1933-1934, 1939, 1941




Box 4 / Folder 29
Correspondence and notes concerning Dr. Fulton J. Sheen, 1927, 1929-1930




Box 4 / Folder 30
Correspondence and report concerning Rev. L. Brockmann, O.F.M. (student who's thesis was rejected), 1930




Box 4 / Folder 31
Reports and correspondence concerning Rev. Pedro O. Monleon (student for S.T.L. degree), 1926-1928





Manuscript, Liber Collectionis Canonum Auctore Farag Allah Achmimensis, circa 1937

Scope and Content
Dr. Coln was active with the Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium (CSCO) throughout his career. Included in this collection is a manuscript of Coln's work on the sources of ecclesiastical law as preserved in Arabic.

Box 1
Manuscript, Liber Collectionis Canonum Auctore Farag Allah Achmimensis, circa 1937