NY College Houses Endangered Thomas Paine Writings
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. September 2, 2013 (AP)
By JIM FITZGERALD Associated Press
- snip -
But now a historic endangered collection, including first editions of "Common Sense," Paine's eyeglasses and locks of his hair, has found a safe new home at Iona College in the New York City suburbs, barely a mile from what was once Paine's farm.
When the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies formally opens Sept. 9 at Iona, it will be a widely welcomed resolution to a battle over the fate of the memorabilia.
- snip -
But despite the success of the war, Paine's popularity soon plummeted over his part in the French Revolution, his writings against organized religion and his letter denouncing George Washington and federalism.
Theodore Roosevelt called Paine a "filthy little atheist," though modern scholars say he believed in God — but not churches. "My religion is to do good," he wrote.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/ny-college-houses-endangered-thomas-paine-writings-20136271
http://www.iona.edu/library/libraries/paine/
I am happy to say I am a proud dropout from Iona College. It is a small college run by what were formerly known as the Irish Christian Brothers, of recent infamy. I wonder what Thomas Paine would say about this.
Maybe this: "Priests and conjurors are of the same trade." - The Age of Reason
Still, I think they will take good care of the papers.