Yes I am still looking for information - and I hope primary source records - of his stay at St. Joseph's in Columbus. Donald and his brother Eugene (now both deceased) were there in 1930 (McGrath in the census listing was spelled Mc Grath, with a space between the Mc and Grath). Their mother shows up in the 1930 census as a boarder in Marion, Ohio. The whereabouts of their father, Michael Anthony McGrath, is a mystery at this time. I believe this may have been a "hardship" case and the boys were put there because mom and/or dad were unable to care for them properly. Just a theory but that practice was more common than most people realize during the Depression.

Below is a excerpt and citation of the census for 1930 of St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum, 812 East Main Street, Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio. It is image 1 of 1 at Ancestry.com. The bracketed [ ] entries are mine taken from birth records for both Donald and Eugene.

1930 U.S. Census for: St. Joseph’s Orphan Asylum, City of Columbus, Ward 4, Franklin Co., Ohio, ED # 34. Apr. 3rd 1930, page 1A.

Ancestry.com source: Year: 1930; Census Place: Columbus, Franklin, Ohio; Roll: 1795; Page: ; Enumeration District: 34; Image: 947.0.

Line # 25: McGrath, Donald; Orphan; male; white; age at last birthday 8 [b. Aug 22,1921]; single; attended school any time since Sept. 1 1929 – yes; Able to read and write – blank [may have been recent admissions]; born in Ohio, Father born in Ohio; Mother born in Ohio; no occupation or trade.

Line #26: McGrath, Eugene; Orphan; male; white; age at last birthday 7 [b. August 31, 1922]; single; attended school any time since Sept.1, 1929 – yes; Able to read and write – blank [may have been recent admissions]; born in Ohio, Father born in Ohio; Mother born in Ohio; no occupation or trade.

Hope this is the information you wanted.

Lynn