Children of the Healy family Patrick Francis Healy

three-quarters european in ancestry (as mother mixed race , father irish), , identifying irish-american catholics, patrick francis healy , siblings among many mixed-race americans of 19th century passed european american. according james o toole, wrote healy family, not until 1960s healys mixed-race ancestry known. patrick f. healy recognized first african-american earn phd, become jesuit priest, , become president of predominantly white college.

michael a. healy, brother of patrick healy

his brother james augustine healy became bishop of portland, maine. brother michael a. healy joined united states revenue cutter service, becoming celebrated sea captain, sole representative of u.s. government in vast reaches of alaska. brother sherwood healy became priest , earned doctorate @ saint-sulpice in paris. became director of seminary in troy, new york, , rector of cathedral in boston.

three of healy sisters became nuns. eliza, sister mary magdalen, advanced become mother superior of villa barlow academy , convent in st. albans, vermont, run order based in montreal, canada. martha left order , moved boston. married irish immigrant , had son him.

aided father s wealth , own educations, healy sons accepted u.s. catholic society irish americans. daughters achieved education , status first in catholic church in canada, people may have been less concerned mixed ancestry, given many catholic métis in montreal area.

the coast guard captain michael a. healy married irish catholic woman , had family her. james m. o toole, biographer, wrote him:

he repeatedly referred white settlers [in alaska] our people, , able pass racial identity on subsequent generation. teenage son fred, accompanied father on voyage in 1883, scratched name rock on remote island above arctic circle, proudly telling diary first white boy so.