As Special Collections at Catholic University celebrates our three hundredth blog post and eleven years with The Archivist’s Nook we reflect upon how we got here and offer a few staff favorites from across the spectrum of our holdings of university records, museum objects, rare books, and American Catholic History manuscript collections. Eleven years ago, this month, our parent Mullen Library asked us to consider writing a monthly blog post highlighting our varied collections. Upon reflection, and wishing to avoid common blog pitfalls of being lengthy and esoteric, we decided to have a rotating cast of authors (nearly fifty so far) including staff, students, and researchers to provide diverse viewpoints and experience, combined with a consistent format of brief texts with supporting weblinks and a select few embedded images. Honorable mention should go to our former colleague, Dr. Maria Mazzenga, who authored 47 notable posts, including our most popular ‘The Dress at the End of the Rainbow’.

W.J. Shepherd, University Archivist and Head of Special Collections, who coined the title ‘The Archivist’s Nook’ and author of seventy-two posts, had a difficult time selecting from the wealth of materials that he has already written about with great joy, from the museum’s Etruscan (Faliscan) Vase and rare books’ Scottish Church texts to the Treasure Chest of Fun and Fact comic book and labor history collections. However, he chose a trinity of university foundational records, without which we would have none of these precious holdings and he would not have such a rewarding career! These are the 1885 deed signed by the DC Recorder of Deeds Frederick Douglass conveying the property to founder and first chancellor Cardinal James Gibbons, the April 10, 1887 Vatican letter from Pope Leo XIII to Cardinal Gibbons formally approving the establishment of the university, and the 1904 check generously donated to the university by the Knights of Columbus to enable its financial survival.

Shane MacDonald, Curator of Digital and Museum Collections, and author of sixty-eight posts, reflects upon Fr. Gilbert Hartke, O.P. who casts a long shadow over both CatholicU and the story of drama in DC. Not only did he found the Drama program on campus – and head it for nearly 40 years – but he was instrumental in DC theater desegregation, connected to every President from Truman to Reagan, and knew many celebrities (and inspired numerous) of the stage and screen. He was a beloved teacher, encouraging young actors like Jon Voigt and Susan Sarandon, and getting students involved in USO tours. Hartke’s papers tell a story of his love of the theater and of teaching/mentoring. Among all the objects that stand out to Shane are Hartke’s license plates – items he held alongside other keepsakes as honorary doctorates and framed letters from Presidents. His personal car bore these custom plates, which embody his life and legacy, and that listed the standard start time for CatholicU productions during his tenure – 8:30pm. He is reported to often hand the keys to his car and have students drive him to prominent city events, having them join him in meeting dignitaries of stage and politics.

Abigail Hibbs, Graduate Library Pre-Professional (GLP), enjoys the Robert Laessig watercolor prints for President and First Lady, Lyndon Baines and Lady Bird Johnson’s Christmas cards sent to members of their staff, Congress, military, diplomats, and of course friends and family. During the Johnson administration (1963-1969), they had Laessig paint a White House scene each year that could be used for the card. While a majority of the recipients received a widely produced standard sized holiday card, a select number received original large prints. Among these lucky few, was Fr. Hartke, who donated the prints to the University Archives, which are listed as ‘White House East Facade 1964’, ‘Winter Scene Back Portico 1965’, ‘Winter Scene Front Portico 1966’, ‘Blue Room Christmas Tree 1967’, and ‘Summer Scene 1968’. Johnson’s final holiday card in 1968 also happens to hold the Special Collections ID number NMC 300 making it extra appropriate for our 300th blog post!

Sarah (Sally) Kendrick, Rare Books Librarian, admires an early 16th-century copy of The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. Following rapid dissemination in manuscript form during the second and third quarters of the 15th century, the first printed edition of this text was published in 1471 or 1472. By 1500, publishers had produced a staggering 98 additional printed editions. Its popularity has continued, with the total number of published editions by the late 20th century approaching 6,000! We hold several dozen editions, including one published in 1507 by Martin von Werden in Cologne, Germany. This copy is particularly noteworthy not only as an example of a long-term bestseller, but also as evidence of the way a Kempis’ words were treasured by one particular reader. In the 16th century, an as-yet-unidentified reader marked nearly every page with handwritten underlining, Latin annotations, and manicula (pointing hands drawn to indicate important passages), a testament to the seriousness and care with which he (or possibly she) read the text. Subsequent generations preserved these annotations, and the book was gifted to Catholic University by Msgr. Arthur Connolly, who donated many museum items, manuscripts, and early printed books to the University between 1915 and 1933.

Alexis Howlett, Special Collections Librarian, shares her regard for an early 17th c. printed book A Recollection of such Treatises as haue been heretofore seuerally published and are nowe reuised, corrected, augmented / by Jos. Hall, Dr. of Diuinitie ; With addition of some others not hitherto extant includes several of Hall’s earlier works: Meditations and Vowes, Heaven upon Earth, The Art of Divine Meditation, Characters of Vertues and Vices, and Epistles in sixe Decads[Cite wikipedia]. She encountered this significant volume of religious, devotional, satirical, and controversial prose from this English Bishop 411 years later at Catholic U’s own Rare Books Library.  Illustrations at the end of each chapter depict varying angles of the human skull, a few miniature skeletons, and even an execution scene– each framed within an ornate divider. These spooky details quickly made Hall’s book her favorite rare books edition. Considering Hall’s text is primarily concerned with the higher virtuous qualities of life and ponderance of the divine, why is it filled with so many awesome skulls and skeletons? The reason for the memento mori emphasis seems clear enough: Life is short; therefore, live each day virtuously.