February 2003--Rare Book News |
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| The Libraries are pleased to report
that the entire rare book collection has been cataloged. Rare books in select areas
began to be cataloged as early as 1985, but in July 1994, a project to systematically
catalog the entire rare book collection was initiated. At that time, over 6000 items
awaited cataloging and the project was expected to take ten years to complete. Now
completely cataloged, well ahead of schedule, the collection is ready for its move to new
quarters in the Raynor Library. Items in the Rare Books collection will be exhibited
and used in the Department of Special Collection's Francis Paul Prucha, S.J., Reading Room
on the Third Floor, and faculty are encouraged to explore teaching opportunities using the
collection. Some of the rare works found in Special Collections have been in the University's possession since its founding in 1881. Among the collection strengths are Jesuit history, Catholic theology, the exploration of North America, early 20th century American and British literature, and the history of typography. See an overview of the collection. Archivists in Special Collections are engaged in an ongoing project to present digital displays of the collection's highlights, such as the set of 1562 antiphonals (medieval choir books), donated to the University in 1952 by Colonel Howard M. Greene, and the incunabula (pre-1500 early printed books), represented by St. Augustine's De Civitate Dei (The City of God), printed on the Gutenberg presses in 1473 and presented to the University Libraries at a Millionth Volume celebration in 1999 by Frank Matusinec and alumna Rose Mary (Sullivan) Matusinec. |
An example of the intricate illumination work found within De Civitate Dei. |
| While an important and valuable
feature of the Libraries' collections, rare books and access to them were deemed a lower
priority during the 1960s-1980s, when all available cataloging effort was directed
successively at reclassification from Dewey Decimal, digitizing all bibliographic records
for the online catalog, and inventory/barcoding for the new (1990) online catalog.
The cataloging of books which are not widely owned by other libraries requires knowledge
of classical languages, early printing and bookbinding, and obscure subjects. Mike Schilke was the primary rare books cataloger throughout the project, with at least another dozen staff lending support. Reflecting on the project, Mike said, "the most daunting experience I've had is to open a book, look it over, and not know what it's about. Or how about cataloging a book without a title page, preliminary information, in an unrecognizable language? At the time it was sure a problem! But the reward came in eventually figuring it all out. Cataloging is detective work. No clue is overlooked." |
 Makataimeshekiakiah, or Black Sparrow Hawk, Sauk leader, a lithograph within The History of Indian Tribes of North America, by McKenney and Hall (1842). |
Newest addition to the collection |
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| Alums Dr. Patrick A. Roe (A&S
'60, MD '64) and Joan Stout Roe (A&S '60) recently presented one of the rarest of all
Irish books to the Marquette Libraries; Triadis Thaumaturgae, seu Divorum
Patricii, Columbae et Brigidae (The Triad of Miracle-Workers: St. Patrick, St. Columba,
and St. Brigid of Ireland). In the 1640s the Rev. John Colgan, an Irish Franciscan, transcribed original manuscripts and prepared the book for publication at Irish College in Louvain, Belgium. One of 34 Irish colleges across Europe in the 17th century, Irish College set the standard for Irish printing in the 17th century, developing the font for Gaelic. Parts of the folio-size Triadis Thaumaturgae are printed in both Latin and Gaelic. The Roes donated the volume to support the continued development of Irish studies at Marquette, and to celebrate the opening of the John P. Raynor, S.J., Library. |
 Sample page from Triadis Thaumaturgae, seu Divorum Patricii, Columbae et Brigidae |
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The department is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. For more information please contact Matt Blessing at (414) 288-5901 or matt.blessing@marquette.edu. |
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