Encyclopedia Titanica

Anna Katherine Kelly

Annie Kelly

Miss Anna Katherine ("Annie Katie") Kelly , 21, was born on 4 February 1892 in Cuilmullagh, Co Mayo, Ireland; the daughter of John Kelly and Ellen Flaherty. She was travelling from Cuilmullagh to Chicago, Illinois to join her cousins, Anna and Mary Garvey, who lived at 303 Eugenie Street. Anna boarded the Titanic at Queenstown as a third class passenger (ticket number 9234, £7 15s). She joined a group of passengers leaving Co Mayo, led by Katherine McGowan.

Kelly said that the stewards did not wake the steerage passengers in time the night of the collision. Those third-class passengers who became alarmed and went up on deck were told to go back as there was no danger. Annie was saved in lifeboat 16 after, she claimed, the Bourkes vacated and made room for her to enter. Later, she was haunted by the "wild scenes on the boat just before it went down."

Kelly was hospitalized in New York City and later travelled from New York with fellow survivor Anna McGowan. They had been released from the hospital wearing their nightgowns, old shoes someone had given them, and coats. They were met in Chicago by Dr. Mary O'Brien Porter of the Catholic Woman's league protectorate. Dr. O'Brien Porter appealed to the Mayor of Chicago to give some of the funds raised in the city to the two young women.

After the disaster Anna became a nun, and upon ordination assumed the name of Sister Patrick Joseph Kelly. She did return to Ireland to visit her sister, Mrs Agnes Kelly Flanagan of Gortnaden, Crossmolina, Co Mayo.

Sister Patrick Joseph spent most her life after the Titanic teaching in the Chicago, Illinois area although she also spent time in Detroit, Michigan and Des Moines, Iowa.  She retired to the motherhouse in Adrian, Michigan in 1969 and died shortly afterwards.  She is buried in Adrian Dominican Sisters Cemetery, Adrian, Michigan, section Circle two 1961-1976.

Sister Patrick Joseph

Notes

Ray (1999) gives her address as Athenry, Co Galway.

Research Articles

John Kelly Titanica! (2011) Anna Katherine Kelly 1892 - 1969

Newspaper Articles

Chicago Daily Journal (19 April 1912) Only One Of Irish Party Bound For Chicago Lives
Chicago Examiner (20 April 1912) Miss Annie Kelly In Hospital
Chicago American (23 April 1912) Chicago Girl In Last Lifeboat
Chicago Inter Ocean (23 April 1912) Chicago Girl Last To Leave Titanic
Chicago Daily News (23 April 1912) Girl Titanic Survivor Is Here
Chicago Record-Herald (23 April 1912) Survivor In Chicago
Chicago Daily Journal (24 April 1912) Suffered In Titanic Horror, Is Paid $25
Toronto Daily Star (25 April 1912) Forced To Sign, She Says
Chicago Daily Tribune (25 April 1912) Horrors Of Titanic Haunt Girl Ill After Her Escape
Chicago Record-Herald (25 April 1912) Ruse Scented To Avoid Claim
Chicago Inter Ocean (25 April 1912) Titanic Men Force Girl To Sign Paper
Chicago American (25 April 1912) Titanic Steerage Passengers Left To Die, Says Girl
Chicago Daily Tribune (26 April 1912) Plea For Titanic Arrivals
Girl Immigrants Here Get Only Nightgowns in New York
Chicago Examiner (28 April 1912) Examiner Fund Aids Girls From Titanic
Connaught Telegraph (25 May 1912) Loss Of The Titanic.

Documents and Certificates

(1912) Contract Ticket List, White Star Line (Southampton, Queenstown), National Archives, London; BT27/776,780

Miscellaneous

Three members ring the Timoney Bell in daylight
by a great-nephew of Anna Katherine Kelly
Addergoole Titanic Society (2011) New Titanic Themed Church Stained Glass Window
New window for Church in Lahardane; Ireland's Titanic Village

Bibliography

Noel Ray (1999) List of Passengers who Boarded RMS Titanic at Queenstown, April 11, 1912, The Irish Titanic Historical Society
Senan Molony (2000) The Irish aboard Titanic, Wolfhound Press, Dublin
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Titanic Passenger Summary

Name: Miss Anna Katherine Kelly
Age: 20 years 2 months and 11 days (Female)
Nationality: Irish
Marital Status: Single
Embarked: Queenstown on Thursday 11th April 1912
Ticket No. 9234, £7 15s
Rescued  
Disembarked Carpathia: New York City on Thursday 18th April 1912
Buried: Adrian Dominican Sisters Cemetery, Adrian, Michigan, United States

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