The M.V. O'Shea Papers Original Collection is comprised mostly of correspondence relating to his editorial work, writing, and communications with publishers. Occasionally there are letters exchanged with other educators of note, but few of these reveal his educational philosophy; they refer more often to publications and organizations. For his ideas and opinions on education the researcher is referred to his correspondence with other writers, with parents who read and had questions concerning O'Shea's editorials, and with school superintendents. Note: Attention is called to O'Shea's habit of using the back of a letter he received, for the carbon of a reply he sent.

Subjects treated in the correspondence include:

1. Problems of children, their health, development, and training. (See especially correspondence for the years 1917-1921.)
2. Education of children and youth.
3. Educational surveys for Virginia, Mississippi and Norfolk, Virginia, 1925-1927.
4. The Zona Gale scholarship program of the University of Wisconsin, 1921-1929.
5. The National Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teachers Associations, 1912-1921.
6. Testimonials relating to tobacco studies, 1919-1920.
7. O'Shea's own publications, particularly his relation to the World Book, 1915-1913, 1927-1932; Junior Home Magazine, 1925-1926; Mother's Magazine, 1917-1921; and The Nation's Schools, 1927-1929.
8. Teacher-training requirements, 1914.
9. Student and teacher recommendations for positions. (Representative correspondence was kept; most was not retained.)
10. Private investments, correspondence on household matters, and disconnected family letters. (Not retained)
11. Publishers letters relating to proof, transmittal of contracts, and book orders. (Not retained)

Persons of some note with whom M.V. O'Shea corresponded include:

1. Baruch, Bernard: December 17, 1919 (letter from)
2. Birge, Dean Edward A.: 1914-1925
3. Burbank, Luther: December 20, 1919 (letter from)
4. Dewey, John: January 7, 1904
5. Gala, Zona: 1920-1929
6. Hall, G. Stanley: January 8, April 18, 1904
7. Harding, Senator Warren G.: January 23, 1920 (letter from)
8. Kellogg, J.H.: 1907
9. Parkhurst, Helen: 1922-1924
10. Stoner, Winifred Sackville: 1912-1929
11. Roosevelt, Eleanor: April 8, July 27, 1931 (letters from) and April 21, 1931 (letter to)
12. Van Dyke, Henry: December 19, 1919 (letter from)
13. Van Hise, Charles R.: January 26, November 16, 1907; January 11, 1911 (letters from)
14. Young, Ella F.: January 2, 1904

There are also five boxes of articles, editorials, speeches, and class plans. Many of the editorials O'Shea wrote for Junior Instructor, 1920-1923, are filed here.

The final two boxes of documents are designated Miscellaneous. They include biographical material; book manuscripts, reviews, and brochures; notes on schools in Europe, 1906; reports on O'Shea's smoking survey and on the Newark, New Jersey all-year schools; and other materials.

The 10 photographs include images of Michael O'Shea, Harriet O'Shea, Mary McAdams, and a group of people in front of an unidentified residence.