Blogs

By Olivia Gillingham, Library Specialist in the Marian Library

_{Photograph: Brother Mathews in the Marian Library with patrons, 1960}

A lot has changed over 75 years! When it was founded in 1943 by the president of the University of Dayton, Reverend John Elbert, the Marian Library was housed in a single room of the University Library. Now it occupies an entire floor of Roesch with additional space on the third floor and in Fitz Hall, which houses the vast crèche and art collections. With its growth of space and collections, the Marian Library continues to live up to its mission to make the Blessed Virgin Mary better known, loved and served.

We’re starting the celebration off on a musical note. You can join us for a concert with Eya, an award-winning, D.C.-based vocal ensemble, in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception on January 25th. Eya’s focus is in medieval music and their program at UD will include musical compositions found in the Marian Library’s collection. The event is free but ticketed. You can find more information here.

You also can look forward to two exhibits in the fall that will recount the history of the Marian Library from 1943 to the present, and highlight the library’s collections. Finally, we’ll celebrate in October with another concert by the Marian Consort, an internationally-renowned early music vocal ensemble from the UK.

Be sure to check out the Marian Library blog in the months to come for other updates and posts highlighting our collections and history.

The Marian Library is looking forward to its celebratory 75th year, and many more years of growth to come.

go.udayton.edu/marianlibrary75