Mary Onahan Gallery

Mary Josephine Onahan was born in Chicago, Illinois, July 22, 1866.[2] She was the daughter of William J. Onahan, a Chicago civic leader, and Margaret (Duffy) Onahan. There were five older siblings, all of whom died in infancy.[3]

Gallery was educated at the Sacred Heart Academy in Chicago, graduating at an early age.[1] Her aunt was one of the most valued and accomplished members of the order. Her family then moved temporarily to St. Louis, Missouri, where she continued her education. Gallery was also self-taught, reading many books from William Onahan's extensive library.[4] At the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893, Gallery attended a congress of women's representatives.[5]

On September 5, 1898, Mary Gallary married Daniel Vincent Gallery, a Chicago lawyer, at the Cathedral of the Holy Name in Chicago. According to the New York Times, the marriage was an elopement. Her parents had disapproved of Mary dating Daniel, so the couple kept their plans secret. When a reporter contacted William Onahan for comment, he called the story preposterous and a hoax. Onahan then discovered a letter from Mary that revealed their plans.[5]

Mary and Daniel Gallary had six children:

• U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Daniel V. Gallery, Jr.
• John Ireland Gallary
• Rear Admiral William Onahan Gallary
• Mary Margaret Gallary
• Navy Rear Admiral Phillip Daly Gallary
• Martha Nancy Gallary[6]

Mary Gallery was a contributor to the Chicago daily papers, with many of her articles republished by the dailies in New York City. She believed that one of the important duties of American Catholics was to see that the church was done justice to in the columns of the daily press.[4] Gallary also edited many Catholic newspapers and wrote numerous magazine articles. These articles covered literary, musical and philanthropic topics. Gallary took her greatest interest in human nature stories about the practical betterment of the world, for, as one writer said of her:— "'Molly' Onahan would take more pleasure in the approving whoop of a lot of 'newsies' than in prim congratulations from all the prelates of a general council."[7]

Gallery also wrote verse, but did not publicize it. Her papers at the Representative Women's and the Catholic Congress were among the best read. Of her style, Author Walter Lecky said:

Although the youngest of Chicago's literary coterie, she is a writer of marked ability. There is a graceful mingling of strength and delicacy in her writings. If she will have patience, learn to use the pruning hook, her future is assured. The product of Ireland in America, a Celt in artistic environment—the only environment natural to a Celt—she points to what the Celt must be before another century lapses.[8][7]

• "John Mitchel's Daughter", Catholic World, 1886
• "Chicago's White City by the Sea", The Irish Monthly, 1893
• Catholic Women's Part in Philanthropy, 1893[9]
• "An Incident in Old Bologna, The Irish Monthly, 1895
• "Pierre Loti", Catholic World, 1895

• Life of William J. Onahan : stories of men who made Chicago, 1929

• This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Illinois State Historical Society (1919). Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. Vol. 11, Part 2 (Public domain ed.). Illinois State Historical Society.
• This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Marquis, Albert Nelson (1911). The Book of Chicagoans: A Biographical Dictionary of Leading Living Men of the City of Chicago, 1911 (Public domain ed.). A.N. Marquis.
• This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: McBride, D. H. (1897). Immortelles of Catholic Columbian Literature: Compiled from the Work of American Catholic Women Writers (Public domain ed.). D. H. McBride.
• This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Paulist Fathers (1897). Catholic World. Vol. 65 (Public domain ed.). Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press.
• This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Sewall, May Wright (1894). The World's Congress of Representative Women: A Historical Resume for Popular Circulation of the World's Congress of Representative Women, Convened in Chicago on May 15, and Adjourned on May 22, 1893, Under the Auspices of the Woman's Branch of the World's Congress Auxiliary. Vol. 2 (Public domain ed.). Rand, McNally.

• Pahorezki, Sevina (Sister) (1942). The social and political activities of William James Onahan. The Catholic University of America.