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By Kayla Harris

As part of the 2024 Marian Forum, scholars Karen Park and Kate Dugan visited the University of Dayton in February. Park and Dugan are co-editors of American Patroness: Marian Shrines and the Making of US Catholicism. Each of the 12 essays in this volume, published by Fordham University Press, explores a particular Marian shrine; most of the shrines featured are represented in the collections of the Marian Library, and several of the authors conducted research at the Marian Library for their essays.

Neomi De Anda, professor of religious studies and executive director of the International Marian Research Institute, assigned American Patroness to her graduate seminar course exploring Mary from the 15th century to the 21st century. Park and Dugan visited this course and two sections of history professor Una Cadegan’s survey course American History Since 1865. 

“Kate and Karen's class session with my students showed that they are not only accomplished scholars of Marian studies, but also terrific teachers,” Cadegan said of the experience. “They led the students through a discussion that helped them to see in the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio — from the article in their volume by Father David Endres — many of the ideas and themes we've been studying in our U.S. history survey. It was a great addition to the course. I'm really grateful to the Marian Library for giving us the opportunity.”

A recording of Park and Dugan’s Marian Forum lecture is now available in eCommons. Copies of American Patroness are also available for purchase online through March 31 in the University Libraries marketplace at a discounted price using the code Forum24. 

— Kayla Harris is an associate professor in the University Libraries and the director of the Marian Library.