Each year, the staff of Special Collections choose several items from the Rare Books collection to undergo conservation [1]. We prioritize rare or unique items that we believe are likely to be of broad academic interest and whose condition would otherwise make it difficult for researchers to consult them without causing further damage. The goal Read More

“Preservation is documents and artifacts, recordings, digital media and all the tangible information that requires our professional advocacy and stewardship–the love and sweat of our labor. However, beyond all of that, most importantly, preservation is MEMORY and memory is the people and the communities who make them…” – Tamar Evangelestia-Dougherty, Preservation Week Honorary Chair Since Read More

The Metrorail subway system arrived in Washington Saturday and the response was so overwhelming that prospective riders waited in lines for up to four hours to ride in trains that were often so overloaded that they refused to move because of the weight of the overcapacity crowds. – John Koppish, The Tower, Vol 54, Issue Read More

Dear readers, do you ever look up in Mullen Library and notice a blank spot on the wall? Was anything displayed there, if ever? And if there was once something there, what happened to it? Well… The portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart, which His Eminence Cardinal Spellman presented to the Catholic University in Read More

Today when most people think of Mardi Gras in New Orleans they think of big parades and parties with plastic beads and cheap masks. It turns out that there is an entirely different side to Mardi Gras where after the parade, guests attend lavish balls to honor the chosen king and queen of carnival. The Read More

As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the nation is looking back on its history, institutions, and peoples. During the spring semester 2026, Special Collections will showcase highlights from the University’s collections, reflecting on the founding and ensuing generations of Americans. Beyond giving examples of our national history, the Read More

For more than a century, Catholic University has drawn remarkable individuals who have shaped its culture, inspired its students, and enriched its archives. The latest exhibit in the John K. Mullen of Denver Library’s May Gallery celebrates a sample of the luminaries who have led with light in their fields and in their lives. This Read More

“The wonder of sound! I believe the most distinctive, the most telling facet of any actor’s ability is the way he sounds. What sound is there in him that strikes the fire in us?…[sound] paints the picture, tells us the whole story of the person who is making the sound.” -Mercedes McCambridge, The Quality of Read More

“My CU experience helped me the most…They taught me how to work together with a team for success. I found that, in doing this, you don’t think of yourself and feel that people are just watching you.” – Catholic University Alumnus, Volume 18, no. 2 (Winter 1955) Born on March 6, 1930 as Mary Jane Read More

Working in Special Collections is a joy, but it is not without its terrors. The persistent challenge of preserving collections for long-term access requires vigilance, patience, and the courage to face entropy each and every day. This semester – just in time for Halloween – you can experience some of the chills that archivists face Read More