Joseph Halpin
a Happy Xmas and a Merry
New Year
from one of his pupils
John E. McNamara [not signed by O'Neill]
830 W. 36th St.
Chicago
December 7 1911
Biography:
From an obituary in the Chicago News
By Wm. J. Gleason.
"Thousands of New Yorkers will learn with regret of the death here of Prof. John E. McNamara in his 55th year. Prof. McNamara was ill for nearly a year and leaves a widow, Margaret Gallagher McNamara, and six children. 'Jack,' as he was best known to his thousands of friends and pupils, was born in Galitzen [Gallitzin], Pa., in 1874. His parents took him to Parteen, Co. Limerick at the age of six and he soon became a pupil of that famous dancing master, Prof. Halpin. In 1902 he came to Chicago and and was soon teaming it with Tom Ennis, the greatest of the present day pipers. Prof. McNamara took part in many contests and had classes in all the leading parochial school halls in Chicago, as well as classes in Milwaukee, Wis.; Gary, Ind.; Evanston, Ill., and Oak Park, Ill. He was a member of Dowling Council, K. of C., Holy Name Society and G. A. A.
A possible successor to Prof McNamara appears to be one of his pupils, Miss Mae Kennedy, who some New Yorkers will probably recall. ..."
Thanks to Nick Whitmer for sending on this mention of John E. McNamara.
Provenance: While it does not have an inscription by O'Neill, this dedication page caught our attention as it is from a student to his teacher.
Alexandria's Library