Father Flanagan of Boys Town by Fulton Oursler and Will Oursler

Father Flanagan of Boys Town

By Fulton Oursler and Will Oursler

Published by Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, NY, 1949

First Edition

Description

This is the first edition of Father Flanagan of Boys Town, the moving biography co-authored by Fulton Oursler and Will Oursler. It tells the warm human story of Father Edward J. Flanagan, founder of Boys Town, Nebraska, and his unwavering devotion to children in need. Through interviews, case histories, and personal recollections, the authors capture both the struggles and triumphs of the man whose vision created one of America’s most beloved institutions.

Highlights include:

• Personal accounts from Father Flanagan’s family, friends, and associates.
• Anecdotes and reflections on Boys Town’s founding and growth.
• A detailed history of Father Flanagan’s work with orphans and disadvantaged youth.

The book preserves the legacy of Father Flanagan’s unshakable belief in human nature, compassion, and faith.

Physical Description

Format: Hardcover with dust jacket
Pages: xv + 269 pages (approx.)
Binding: Tan cloth with green and gilt spine label
Endpapers: Illustrated map of Boys Town, Nebraska

Condition:

• Dust jacket shows significant wear, including chipping, creases, and staining, but remains intact
• Book itself is solid and clean with only mild age toning to pages.
• No writing or markings noted inside.

Historical & Collectible Significance

This 1949 first edition was published shortly after Father Flanagan’s death in 1948. As the founder of Boys Town, Flanagan became a national figure of compassion, inspiring books, films, and movements for child welfare. This biography remains one of the most comprehensive contemporary accounts of his life and mission, making it highly collectible for those interested in religious history, Catholic biography, and American social reform.