Father Edward Doyle, O.P. collection

Edward P. Doyle, O.P., Ph.D. (1907-1997) was a Catholic priest and member of the Dominican Order, who also served as Chaplain with the U.S. Army’s 104th Infantry Division during World War II. Father Doyle taught philosophy and theology at Providence College before and after his service in the military. In 1943, he was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant and assigned to the 104th Infantry Division. By April 1945, the division captured the town of Nordhausen, Germany, which they discovered was a sub-camp of the notorious death camp Buchenwald. Deeply impacted by his experiences during World War II, Fr. Doyle participated in multiple Holocaust remembrance events in the 1980s and 1990s, sharing his story with others so that it would never be forgotten. The collection is primarily composed of clippings, correspondence, and documents relating to his military service, his personal witness of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp at Nordhausen, and his involvement in Holocaust memorial events. The collection also contains photographs taken in April 1945 by Fr. Doyle at the Nordhausen concentration camp.

Content Warning: As a historical resource, this collection reflects the terminology, language, and imagery of the era in which it was created, and some items may include content which could be considered offensive or oppressive. The use of harmful, offensive, or misrepresentative language is not condoned by the library, but we are committed to providing accurate and unaltered access to historical material. We are equally committed to building collections that reflect and celebrate the diverse stories and experiences of our community based on professional best practices.