Recollections of My Life and Reflections on Times and Events During It: A Memoir by Father W. J. Howlett Main Menu Introduction Table of Contents Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Timeline Howlett Family Tree William J. Howlett Family Tree Maps and Geography: Howlett's First Trip West Fr. Howlett moved with his family to Denver when he was a child, and then moved to St. Thomas Seminary in Bardstown, KY several years later. This map recounts the path he took to get to both places. Maps and Geography: Howlett's European travels Fr. Howlett traveled far and wide during his trip to Europe. Here is a map of the places he recorded visiting. Maps and Geography: Howlett in Paris, 1872-1873 This map shows the locations that Fr. Howlett mentioned visiting while in Paris, France. Maps and Geography: Howlett in London, 1874 This map shows the locations that Fr. Howlett mentioned visiting while vacationing in London, England Maps and Geography: Colorado Missions with Terrain Fr. Howlett's Colorado mission locations, with Colorado terrain. Index Acknowledgements Contributors' Biographies HIST 394 at CUA, Spring 2020

Other Writings by Father W. J. Howlett

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Father Howlett wrote many other works besides his own memoir, many of which are mentioned in his memoir. He wrote biographies and collected writings of other priests as well as a tribute to the seminary he attended. Most of his works have close ties to the people and places he knew personally or were related to his vocation as a priest. This page provides a short description of his other available works with links to access those works.

A Fortuitous Find of Some Letters of Ira B. Dutton, The Brother Joseph of The Lepers of Molokai
This work is a collection of Ira B. Dutton's letters which depict “Brother Joseph,” a man who worked with lepers in Molokai, Hawaii. Brother Joseph was not a priest or a Brother, but he did stay at a monastery for some time as a postulant and a novice. The letters provide insight into his path to the Lepers of Molokai and his work there. Father Howlett copied these letters, providing an introduction to Ira B. Dutton and Howlett’s own intention for the work. He also included short explanations for some of the letters as well as a very brief conclusion to the letters.

Bishop Flaget's Diary
Bishop Flaget's Diary (Continued)
Bishop Flaget's Diary (Conclusion)
This work was published in three installments (each reached by a different link). Father Howlett once again provided an introduction to Bishop Flaget and a brief description of the format and contents of the diary entries. While Bishop Flaget lived before Father Howlett’s time, they shared a connection to Saint Thomas’ Seminary, which Bishop Flaget helped found. Bishop Flaget was born in 1763 and died in 1850, and the diary entries are all from 1812. The diary itself was mostly composed of very brief daily entries that were only a line or two long. The repetition found in the diary entries reveals the life of a missionary on the western frontier just prior to the time of Father Howlett. One of the more notable topics discussed in the diary is Bishop Flaget’s own disagreements with a priest, Father Badin. Father Howlett contextualized this conflict and emphasized their good intentions and eventual friendship, all while allowing the readers to make judgements for themselves based on the text.

Historical Tribute to St. Thomas’ Seminary at Poplar Neck, near Bardstown, Kentucky
Father Howlett wrote a historical tribute to the seminary he attended, St. Thomas’ Seminary. It contains both an account of the history of the seminary as well as his and others’ personal recollections of the seminary. It reveals a seminary full of life from its opening in 1811 to its closing in 1869. Father Howlett also details the related institutions and religious history of the before describing the ways the Seminary’s campus was used after it’s closure.

Life of the Right Reverend Joseph P. Machebeuf, D.D.
This is a biography of Bishop Machebeuf.  Father Howlett personally knew Bishop Machebeuf, but this biography goes far beyond his personal experience with him. The book is an extensive look into his life and his role in the Catholic missions on the western American frontier. It is accompanied and supported by Machebeuf’s personal letters. Bishop Matz expressed the heart of the work best: “You have rescued from oblivion the life, virtues and heroism of the saintly Bishop Machebeuf—the Apostle of Colorado… my heart filled with enthusiasm for your hero, over flowing with admiration for his sanctity and zeal, and with a determination to emulate his great virtues as far as may be within my power.”

Life of Rev. Charles Nerinckx: Pioneer Missionary of Kentucky and Founder of the Sisters at the Foot of the Cross
This biography was about Father Nerinckx, an important pioneer missionary in Kentucky who lived from 1761 to 1824. Father Howlett also had a personal connection to him, as Fr. Nerinckx preceded him as a priest in Kentucky and was a founder of the Sisters of Loretto. Father Howlett explained that there had been previous biographies done of Charles Nerinckx, which he indeed referred to, but wrote this biography to include information from newly-discovered documents and provide more context to the historical details surrounding his life and labors.

W. J. Howlett papers, [191-?]-1933
These papers are only available at the Denver Public Library, and include a variety of other writings related to Father Howlett.

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