Lynn Doyle Collection

Libraries NI, Belfast Central Library |

Lynn Doyle or Lynn C. Doyle were both pseudonyms for the writer Leslie Alexander Montgomery (1873-1961). The collection held at Belfast Central Library is his complete archive. The collection consists of records ranging from financial, broadcasts and lectures, manuscripts of his works right through to personal correspondence, photographs, documentation on land leases, wills and legal documents.

Leslie A. Montgomery was born in Downpatrick, County Down. He became a clerk in the Northern Bank in Belfast and was later transferred to Skerries County Dublin as a Bank Manager. He was part of the Ulster Literary Theatre movement. He wrote more than twenty books, many of them set in a fictious northern village called Ballygullion. They are of a humorous nature and are said to reflect, with reasonable accuracy, life in East Ulster at that time. The first book in the Ballygullion series was published in 1908 and the last in 1957. He also wrote "Love and Land", 1913; "The Summons", 1918; "The Lilac Ribbon", 1919; "The Turncoats", 1922 amongst others. Montgomery was one of the first writers appointed to the "Censorship of Publications Board" in 1937. However he resigned soon afterwards saying it was "so easy to read only the passages, so hard to wade through the whole book afterwards". He wrote an autobiography entitled: "An Ulster Childhood" in 1954. In later life he was in demand as a lecturer.

Physical characteristics

The Lynn Doyle Collection consists of 30 archival boxes. It covers such topics as finance, broadcasts & lectures, manuscripts, essays, short stories, poetry, personal correspondence, photographs, land leases, wills and legal documents.

Description or Catalogue

Itemised hand list in each box.

Collection Dates

Created

1732

1961

Additional Details

Name(s)

Doyle, Lynn, 1873-1961

Subjects

Literature

Geographic Coverage

Ireland

Languages

English

Custodial Information

Legal Status

Libraries NI have legal owership of this collection. All enquiries regarding access and permissions should be directed to Libraries NI.

Accrual

Accrual Policy

Closed

Accrual Method

Purchase

Accrual Periodicity

Closed

Added by Libraries NI | Last updated on: 24 May 2018

Location

Access

The material may be consulted at Belfast Central Library. Enquiries should be made to the Local History Department on the second floor. The material is for reference only. An appointment is not necessary.

Collector

Montgomery, Leslie Alexander (1873-1861)

Private collector and Novelist

Leslie Alexander Montgomery (1873-1961) was better known as the popular novelist Lynn Doyle. He was well known as the author of the series concerned with Ballygullion, a ficticious village in East Ulster. Montgomery worked as a Bank Manager for the Northern Banking Company in Skerries, County Dublin. He was most productive as a writer in his sixties. He was one of the first writers appointed to th...

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Owner

Libraries NI

Public Library Service

The Northern Ireland Library Authority (Libraries NI) was established in April 2009 as a result of the Review of Public Administration. Libraries NI has the statutory responsibility for the provision of public library services in Northern Ireland. Its functions are laid down in the Libraries Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. It is a Non Departmental Public Body which reports to the Department of Cultur...

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