Department of Special Collections
University of St. Thomas Libraries
Collection Development Statement (rev. 6/2002)
I. Purpose of Collection
The mission of the Department of Special Collections is to identify, select, preserve, create access to, provide reference assistance to and promote the use of the rare and unique materials of the UST Libraries as well as the historical records of the University of St. Thomas. These collections support the research interests of university administrative departments and several university academic departments (Catholic Studies, English, Irish Studies, History) as well as researchers from around the world.
II. Areas for Collection
Celtic Collection
Founded on three significant donations from the Ancient Order of Hibernians (1917), the Peter O'Connor Family (1936) and the Foxley family gift of the Eamon O'Toole Library (1956), the Celtic collection documents the history, culture, and literature of the Celtic peoples (Irish, Scot, Welch, Manx, and Breton). The collection is especially strong in its holdings of Irish local history and politics, folklore, modern Irish poetry and Irish/Scots Gaelic language.
With the assistance, of the Kennedy and Ryan endowed funds, the department continues to purchase books to enhance the strengths of this collection. Where appropriate, the Department seeks manuscript collections that complement the strengths of the book collections.
Bach-Dunn Luxembourgiana Collection
Founded in 1993 through a gift from the Luxembourg Heritage Society, the collection seeks to document the history, culture and language of the people of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg and Americans of Luxembourg heritage living in the United States.
With the assistance of the Luxembourg endowed fund, the department continues to purchase books to enhance the strengths of this collection. Additionally, the Department will seek manuscript collections that complement the strengths of the book collection.
Chesterton-Belloc Collection
Founded on two significant donations of the works of Hilaire Belloc (1984) and G. K. Chesterton (1991), the Chesterton-Belloc collection composes a nearly complete set of first editions by these English-Catholic writers.
With the assistance of the Kellen endowed fund, the department continues to purchase newly published and older editions by Chesterton and Belloc in an attempt to develop a comprehensive collection of their published works.
Christopher Dawson Collection
In 1996, the Center for Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas purchased the papers and scholarly library of the English Catholic historian Christopher Dawson. The papers and the library were deposited with the Department of Special Collections where the books were cataloged and the papers were arranged for scholarly research.
While the department is committed to maintaining this collection, there is no attempt made to enhance this collection.
Franz Mueller Library
In 1998, the personal library of Franz Mueller, retired University of St. Thomas economics professor was acquired by the Department of Special Collections. The collection is especially strong in German-language materials related Mueller's study of the work of Heinrich Pesch and other areas of economic thought.
While the department is committed to maintaining this collection, there is no attempt made to enhance its holdings.
French Memoir Collection
The French Memoir Collection consists of a group of approximately 300 French-language volumes which came to the University in 1918-1919 from the estates of Archbishop John Ireland and Fr. William Etzel (the college's first librarian). The works are mainly 18th and 19th century editions of journals, letters and memoirs from the French Court and aristocracy covering the period 1500 - 1815.
While the department is committed to maintaining this collection, no attempt will be made to enhance its holdings.
University Archives
The University Archives serves as the official repository for the permanent records of the University of St. Thomas and its environs (including the St. Paul Seminary, the St. John Vianney Seminary, the Catholic Digest [through 2001], and the St. Thomas Military Academy [through 1965] and the Nazareth Hall Pro-Seminary [1923 - 1970]). It accessions, organizes, preserves and provides controlled access to those records which possess continuing historical, administrative, legal and fiscal value. These records are collected regardless of format (paper, electronic, audio-visual, microformat). Additionally, the University Archives will seek the scholarly papers of faculty members and alumni who are prominent in their fields.
The University Archive collects all theses, dissertations and master's level capstone papers produced by any graduate degree program of the University. The University Archives also seeks to purchase for its collection any book length monograph written by members of the faculty or staff of the University as well as any work relating to the history of the University.
III. Acquisition of New Materials
The Department of Special Collections will consider the acquisition of new collections under the following conditions:
1. The collection under consideration must reflect the existing subject strengths of the Department of Special Collections.
2. The collection must be substantial enough to provide a basis for scholarly research in a subject area.
3. Adequate funds must be available to insure that the collection can be maintained and developed.
4. There should be some relationship between the subject matter of the collection and the curriculum of the university.
5. Realia and artifacts are not collected.
6. Works of art being offered for acquisition will be referred to the Executive Vice President's Office.
