Religion Collections in Libraries and Archives: A Guide to Resources in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia Table of Contents - Preface/Acknowledgements - Abbreviations Lists of Entries: District of Columbia - Maryland - Virginia

Georgetown University

Special Collections Division

Access Policies

The collections are open to users who present photographic identification. Advance notice is highly recommended, but not required.

Reference Policy:

Reference requests are accepted by mail, telephone, and e-mail, and provided on-site.

Borrowing Privileges:

The Special Collections Division is not a lending institution.

Networks/Consortia:

None.

Background Note:

In 1789 Archbishop John Carroll initiated the establishment of the institution that would eventually become Georgetown University. The Library was begun in 1796 with the gift of some one hundred volumes from Father Louis Guillaume Valentin DuBourg, third president of Georgetown College. The University Archives was formally organized in 1898. The Special Collections Division was established in 1970, shortly after the Lauinger Library building was opened for use.

Description of Collections

Books and monographs:

The Special Collections Department has approximately 7,500 volumes related to religion, primarily devoted to the history of American Catholicism and Jesuitica. Significant religion-related holdings include the Georgetown College Library Collection, a group of some 2,500 volumes with a strong emphasis on Jesuit history; early English and American Catholic editions of the Bible, dating from 1582 to the present; a virtually complete collection of first editions of the works of Cardinal Newman; the Parsons Collection of some 500 volumes of Catholic works printed in the U.S. between 1720 and 1830; early (1586, 1591) editions of the Ratio studiorum, the principal Jesuit educational treatise; extensive holdings of the literary works of William Everson (Brother Antoninus); several 18th- and 19th-century Qur'ans in Arabic and Persian; and a 17th-century Japanese Buddhist scroll. The 650 volumes of the library of the American Teilhard Association have been integrated into the general collections of Lauinger Library.

Guides to many of the collections can be found on the Special Collections Division's Web site at http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/.

Periodicals and newspapers:

Approximately 300 volumes, ca. 1825-1890, consisting primarily of American Catholic newspapers.

There is a card catalog available in the Special Collections Division.

Archives, manuscripts, correspondence, and oral histories:

The Special Collections Division has extensive materials relating to Catholic history, with particular emphases on American Catholicism and Jesuitica. Major collections include the Archives of the Maryland Province, Society of Jesus (1638-1975), which consists of the administrative records of the Maryland Province of Jesuits and contains voluminous source material on Catholicism in colonial America; the Catholic Historical Manuscripts Collection, which contains papers from over 95 American Jesuits dating from the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries; the Generals’ Archives, which includes over 300 bound volumes of reproduced records documenting Jesuit activities worldwide (with a particular emphasis on East Asia) up to 1773; the Maryland Province Collection (1683-1970), which focuses on the activities of specific Jesuit missions, colleges, seminaries, and other institutions in what is now the eastern United States; two collections of letters from John Cardinal Newman--one group of 350 to his friend Henry William Wilberforce, and another group of 33 to Dr. Thomas Hayden; and the Georgetown Jesuits' Papers (1920-present), a group of unprocessed papers of prominent contemporary Jesuits. Other collections with significant materials on religion include:

• America Magazine Archives (1909-present) - records of the prominent American Jesuit magazine
• American Catholic Sermons Collection (1723-1800) - 456 manuscript sermons, including texts by Archbishop John Carroll
• Archives of the Church of St. John the Evangelist (1856-1862) - records of an Anglican church in Yorkshire
• Argentinian Jesuits Collection (1800-1820) - manuscripts relating to Jesuits in Argentina
• Rev. Virgil S. Barber, S.J., Papers (1804-1847) - manuscripts and published works related to a Jesuit active in missions in New England
• Rev. Francis A. Barnum, S.J., Papers (1869-1985) - papers related to Jesuit missions in Alaska and the Eskimo language
• Mrs. Walter R. Benjamin Papers (1937-1953) - letters to Mrs. Benjamin from Italian Catholic prelates, including the future Pope Paul VI (Giovanni Battista Montini)
• Michael de la Bedoyere Papers (1929-1960) - correspondence related to the Catholic Herald and other Catholic periodicals
• Anna M. Brady Papers (1940-1982) - 22 linear feet of material related to the career of a Catholic journalist and former dean of the Vatican press corps
• Sophy Burnham Papers (1980-1992) - writings on angels and the paranormal
• Rev. Philip Cardella, S.J., Papers (1872-1920) - papers related to religious work with the Spanish community in New York City
• Rev. James Clark, S.J., Papers (1825-1885) - Jesuit correspondence
• Richard H. Clarke Papers (1863-1911) - writings on American Catholic history and contributions to Catholic periodicals
• Rev. John Digges, Jr., S.J. Papers (1734-1746) - manuscripts of an 18th century Maryland Jesuit
• Rev. George Fenwick, S.J. Papers (1796-1887) - correspondence of an American Jesuit in 19th-century Rome
• Robert T. Francoeur Papers (1938-1975) - 1.5 linear feet of letters and other materials relating to Teilhard scholarship in Britain and the U.S., including one letter from Pierre Teilhard du Chardin to Lucile Swan
• Gallery of Living Catholic Authors (1920-1960) - manuscripts, letters, and photographs by and about 900 20th-century Catholic authors
• Rev. Andrew Graves, S.J. Papers (1932-1973) - records of a Jesuit mission in rural North Carolina
• Martin I.J. Griffin Papers (1848-1912) - correspondence of the Catholic journalist and historian, editor of American Catholic Historical Researches
• Holy Trinity Church, Georgetown, Archives (1792-1982) - parish and schoolrecords with information on the history of Catholics, particularly black Catholics, in Washington
• Jesuit School Manuscript Collection (1660-1730) - manuscripts related to the training of English Jesuit missionaries eventually sent to Maryland
• Constantin Kluge - Pierre Leroy Collection (1976-1993) - 34 letters from Kluge to Leroy, mainly regarding Pierre Teilhard du Chardin
• Rev. John LaFarge, S.J. Papers (1844-1984) - writings on ecumenism, civil rights, and race relations
• Col. Daniel S. Lamson Papers (1855-1904) - U.S. Catholic history, ephemera of Catholic organizations
• Lancicius Collection (1808-1834) - English translations of treatise by Lancicius (1574-1652), "On the Duties of Lay Brothers"
• Pierre Leroy, S.J. Papers (1947-1984) - correspondence with Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
• Leroy-Warre Collection (1982-1987) - over 100 letters from Pierre Leroy to Janetta Warre, mainly concerning the works of Pierre Teilhard du Chardin
• Rev. José Antonio López, S.J. Papers (1781-1840) - papers of the chaplain to the family of Mexican emperor Agustín de Iturbide
• Rev. Daniel Lord, S.J. Papers (1909-1956) - papers and published materials on contemporary Catholicism, popular religious literature, and social issues
• Lukas-Teilhard du Chardin Collection (1899-1985) - letters, photographs, and other research materials compiled by Mary and Ellen Lukas during the writing of their biography of Pierre Teilhard du Chardin
• Milton House Archives (1575-1775) - papers relating to Catholicism and Jesuit activities in England
• John B. Molloy Collection (1591-1704) - documents in Latin from the Jesuit mission in Peru
• John Courtney Murray, S.J. Papers (1927-1976) - 42 linear feet of letters, manuscripts, and other materials relating to Murray’s academic work and writings on theology
• Paraguayan Jesuits Collection (1639-1744) - manuscripts regarding Jesuit activities in Latin America and conflicts between the Jesuits and the Spanish colonial government
• Raphael-Teilhard du Chardin Collection (1938-1952) - 37 letters from Pierre Teilhard du Chardin to François Raphael, as well as two manuscripts and other materials
• Edward Rice Papers (1940-1991) - includes research materials for Rice’s biography of Thomas Merton, and letters from Merton to Rice and other correspondents
• Jan Philip Roothaan, S.J. Archive (1804-1852) - nearly 140 letters from the General of the Society of Jesus to various family members
• George Schwarz Collection (1672-1681) - Latin letters relating to Jesuits in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific
• Russell Shaw Papers (1959-1995) - manuscripts and correspondence of a Catholic journalist, author, and director of public information for the Knights of Columbus
• Frederick and Maria Shrady Papers (1951-1992) - includes correspondence from Catholic writers and theologians such as Bernard Lonergan and John Courtney Murray
• Spanish Jesuits Collection (1750-1850) - manuscripts and correspondence about Spanish Jesuits and their activities in Mexico; anti-Jesuit correspondence
• Lucile Swan Papers (1932-1955) - includes 205 letters from Pierre Teilhard du Chardin and other materials related to Teilhard’s work in China
• Teilhard-Cosme Collection (1926-1955) - includes three letters written by Pierre Teilhard du Chardin and the original 1926 manuscript of his Milieu Divin
• Teilhard-de Margerie Collection (1923-1975) - signed articles and photocopied letters of Pierre Teilhard du Chardin
• Teilhard-Houdin Collection (1951-1955) - 18 letters from Pierre Teilhard du Chardin to Mme. R.J. Houdin
• Rev. Richard H. Tierney, S.J., Papers (1904-1917) - research materials assembled for a series of articles on New York charities in the Jesuit magazine America
• Rev. Gustave Weigel, S.J., Papers (1920-1964) - materials on ecumenism and Vatican II; correspondence with leading Protestant theologians

Extensive finding aids, many including folder- and item-level inventories, can be found on the Special Collections website at http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/. There is a searchable index for these finding aids.

Maps:

The Division has a few relevant maps, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Paintings, photographs, slides, and prints:

The John S. Brosnan, S.J., Collection (1900-1940) contains over 5,000 glass plate and film negatives documenting Jesuit activities in the Maryland Province. The Lucile Swan Papers and Raphael-Teilhard du Chardin Collection contain photographs of Pierre Teilhard du Chardin.

Researchers should explore the detailed listing of the department’s fine prints available on the website at http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/fineprnt.htm. A number of the items listed there have religious subject matter.

Subject Headings

Bibliography

Georgetown University. Library. Special Collections at Georgetown: A Descriptive Catalog. Third ed., revised. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Library, 1996. Available free by request from the Special Collections Division.

Georgetown University. Library. Special Collections Division websites:

Please note that the URLs for most collection descriptions contain the two-letter prefix "cl" and then a number. Do not mistake the letter "l" for the numeral "one" ("1").

America Magazine Archives [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl60.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Archives, Maryland Province, Society of Jesus [Online]. AvailableHTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl119.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Argentinian Jesuits Collection [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl93.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Rev. Virgil H. Barber, S.J. Papers [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl8.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Rev. Francis A. Barnum, S.J. Papers [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl56.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Sophy Burnham Papers [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl129.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Rev. Philip Cardella Papers [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl44.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Catholic School Manuscripts [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/csmb.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Rev. James Clark, S.J. Papers [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl21.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

The Richard H. Clarke Papers [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl92.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Michael De La Bedoyere Papers [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl123.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Rev. John Digges, Jr. S.J. Papers [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl14.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

European History [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/eurhist.htm. November 1997.

Rev. George Fenwick, S.J. Papers [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl45.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Rev. Andrew Graves, S.J. Papers [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl59.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Granger-Teilhard de Chardin Collection [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/granger.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Martin I.J. Griffin Papers [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl61.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

The Jesuits in America [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/sj.htm. June 1995.

Rev. John LaFarge, S.J. Papers (First and Second Accessions) [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl69.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

The Colonel Daniel S. Lamson Papers [Online]. Available HTTP. URLhttp://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl109.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Lancicius Collection [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl32.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Pierre Leroy Papers [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl78.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Literature and Linguistics [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/lit.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Rev. Daniel Lord, S.J. Papers [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl66.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

The Maryland Province Collection [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl53.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

John B. Molloy Collection [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl28.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Paraguayan Jesuits Collection [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl101.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

George Schwarz Collection [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl29.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.

Spanish Jesuits Collection [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl113.htm. No date given; accessed May 1996.

Visiting Special Collections at Georgetown [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/visit.htm. June 1995.

Rev. Gustave A. Weigel, S.J. Papers [Online]. Available HTTP. URL http://gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl65.htm. No date given; accessed November 1997.