Patrick Joseph Boland

Patrick Joseph Boland (January 6, 1880 – May 18, 1942) was an American tradesman and Democratic politician who served six terms as a United States Representative from Pennsylvania’s 11th Congressional District. Serving in Congress from 1931 until his death in 1942, he represented his Scranton-based district during a significant period in American history that encompassed the Great Depression and the early years of World War II, and he rose to a key leadership position as House Majority Whip.

Boland was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Irish immigrant parents. Raised in a Roman Catholic household, he was educated in local schools and went on to attend St. Thomas College in Scranton, an institution that later became the University of Scranton. His early life in an industrial city with a large working-class and immigrant population helped shape his outlook and later political commitments, particularly his identification with the Democratic Party and its appeal to labor and ethnic communities in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Before entering national politics, Boland worked as a carpenter and general contractor, establishing himself in the building trades. His involvement in local affairs led to a series of municipal and county offices. He served on the Scranton city council from 1905 to 1906, where he gained experience in city governance at a time of rapid urban growth. He then served on the Scranton Board of Education from 1907 to 1909, participating in the oversight of public schools in the city. Expanding his public service to the county level, Boland was a county commissioner of Lackawanna County from 1915 to 1919, a role in which he helped administer county services and infrastructure for the broader region surrounding Scranton.

A member of the Democratic Party, Boland was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1930 and took his seat in March 1931, beginning the first of six consecutive terms in Congress. Representing Pennsylvania’s 11th District, he participated in the legislative process during a transformative era in federal policymaking. His tenure coincided with the New Deal period, and as a Democratic representative he was part of the congressional majorities that considered and enacted wide-ranging economic and social legislation in response to the Great Depression. Over the course of his service, he became an influential figure within the House Democratic caucus, contributing to the development and passage of measures important to his constituents and to the national recovery effort.

Boland’s prominence in Congress increased when he was chosen by his colleagues to serve in the House leadership. Beginning in 1935, he held the position of Majority Whip, making him responsible for helping to marshal Democratic votes, maintain party discipline, and manage the legislative agenda on the House floor. In this capacity, he played a significant behind-the-scenes role in coordinating support for key administration and party initiatives during the mid-1930s and early 1940s, as the federal government expanded its role in economic regulation, social welfare, and national defense.

In his personal life, Boland married Sarah Jennings on November 24, 1908. After her death, he married Veronica Barrett on October 27, 1931. His second wife, Veronica Boland, would later enter public life herself; following his death, she was elected to serve out the remainder of his final term in Congress, thus continuing the representation of the district under the Boland name. Outside of elective office, Patrick Boland was active in civic and fraternal organizations, including membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus, reflecting his ties to community life and to Catholic and Irish American networks in Scranton.

Patrick Joseph Boland died in Scranton on May 18, 1942, while still serving in the House of Representatives. His death placed him among the members of the United States Congress who died in office during the first half of the twentieth century. A Roman Catholic, he was interred in Cathedral Cemetery in Scranton. His congressional career, spanning from 1931 to 1942, left a record of sustained service to Pennsylvania’s 11th District during a period of profound economic and political change in the United States.