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

A common experience for students, parents, and alumni of most American universities is receiving a copy of their institution’s alumni magazine in the mail. These publications, ranging from annual newsletters to quarterly magazines, are a fixture of academic outreach and public relations. But more than just serving as a connection between campus and alumni, these Read More

Over the past year, Special Collections staff continued tackling conservation challenges that have arisen within the University’s Rare Books collection. Our past conservation projects can be seen in: “Part I”, “Part II”, “Part III”, and Part IV. As in years past, we have continued working alongside Quarto Conservation and have another incunabulum (a book printed Read More

“New developments in industry, new techniques striking out on new paths, changed relations of employer and employee, abounding wealth among a very small number and destitution among the masses, increased self reliance on the part of workers as well as a closer bond of union with one another, and, in addition to all this, a Read More

As a new year and semester dawns, you may notice a new look for the library’s digital collections. We are pleased to announce that our digital collections have moved to the JSTOR Forum platform: https://www.jstor.org/site/catholic-university/ We recently reached our institutional end of life for the Islandora platform, which has hosted our digital collections for the Read More

As the campus quiets down with students departing for the holiday break, our staff is readying the stacks for the season. As this archivist goes about his work, his mind wanders off to all the holiday traditions that he will soon partake in: the food, the decorations, the gift exchanges, the religious services, and more! Read More