The Walsh Family Endowed Collection in Irish Studies was established in 1997 by Joseph and Theresa Walsh. In addition to honoring their son, John (’99), the couple hopes to promote scholarly interest in Irish history, society, and culture through the collection.

Joe is a first-generation Irish-American whose parents came from County Cork. Terri can also trace her ancestry back to County Cork. All five of the Walsh’s children have become Irish citizens.

Joe is chairman and chief executive officer of the Curtis Circulation Company, the largest distributor of magazines in the world. Joe and Terri are both involved in Project Children, an organization that brings Catholic and Protestant children from strife-torn Northern Ireland to stay with American host families during the summer months.

The Walsh Endowment has aided the Libraries in acquiring newspaper microfilm sets and some rare travel accounts of Ireland. One example is the 1824 illustrated book, A picturesque tour through Ireland by Dennis Sullivan, held only in fifteen libraries. Additionally, there are works relating to early and medieval Ireland, Ireland to 1800, the 1798 Revolution, the Catholic question (1690–1830), Protestant dissent in Ireland, and the United Irishmen. The Walsh Endowment has also funded purchases relating to women in Ireland.