Bishop Patrick J. Donahue was born in Malvern, England, April 15, 1845. He graduated from the University of London in 1869. In 1873, at age 24, he immigrated to the United States and studied law at Columbia College in New York, and by 1876 he had established himself as an attorney in Washington D.C.

However, in 1882, at age 33, he abandoned his law practice and entered St. Mary’s seminary in Baltimore. In 1855 he was ordained a priest by then Archbishop James Gibbons. Donahue then spent a year as assistant pastor at St. John’s church, Baltimore, after which he was appointed Chancellor of the Archdiocese and served as the newly appointed Cardinal Gibbons secretary. In 1893, Bishop John J. Kain, was moved from Wheeling to St. Louis, and on January 22, 1894, Donahue was ordained his successor.

During his term as Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling, Bishop Donahue fought for the working man, the immigrant, and endeavored to spread the Faith into the most remote parts of West Virginia. He struggled against national conflicts including friction from immigration, the hardships industrialization, and socialism. By his death in 1922, Bishop Donahue had earned the respect not only of the community in which he served, but the respect of politicians and Presidents as well.

	Bishop Donahue - Letters
	The following collections of letters provides a sampling of the issues faced by Bishop Donahue on a regular basis throughout his years as Bishop of Wheeling. View category

	Bishop Donahue - Newspaper Articles
	The following collection contains several newspaper articles featuring Bishop Donahue. View category

	Bishop Donahue - Photos
	A collection of images of Bishop Donahue form his ordination to the priesthood until his death.  View category

Sara Tracy

The Bishop and Ms. Tracy met on a ship to England and became good friends over a few games of chess. Aside from various donations in her lifetime, Ms. Tracy willed her estate to the Bishop, directing that the fund be used to support the Diocese. Since her death, the funds from her will have funded numerous improvements to the Diocese including the establishment of St. Mary’s hospital and Wheeling Jesuit University. Included in this collection are Sara Tracy’s will, as well as a sample correspondence form Ms. Tracy to Bishop Donahue. View category