Historical Timeline : University of Dayton, Ohio

"Devotion to Mary in the 20th Century" book cover; by Rev. John. A. Elbert, S.M.

Oct. 20, 1943: The first title in the Marian Library: "Devotion to Mary in the 20th Century," written in 1940 by Father John A. Elbert, S.M., president of the University of Dayton.

photo of Elbert handing first book to Monheim

Oct. 20, 1943: Father John A. Elbert, S.M., right, founds the Marian Library and appoints Father Lawrence Monheim, S.M., left, its first director; here, Elbert contributes a book he wrote, "Devotion to Mary in the 20th Century," to Monheim to start the collection.

October 1944: The Marian Library publishes the first issue of the "Marian Library Newsletter."

Father Edmund Baumeister, S.M. working with two female students at a table in a reading room

1944-49: Father Edmund Baumeister, S.M., is director of the Marian Library.

bound booklist with tattered edges and "Booklist of the Marian Library" printed in a script font on the cover

April 1945: The Marian Library publishes its first Marian booklist.

Father Lawrence Monheim, S.M. working at a desk in the library

1949-54: Father Lawrence Monheim, S.M., serves a second term as director.

circular seal consists of "Marian Library" set on a curve around the top; Dayton 1943 Ohio curved at the bottom; an open book with "

1949: The Marian Library introduces its motto and seal.

wooden statue of Our Lady of the Marian Library

1951: A woodcarver in Oberammergau, Germany, creates the statue that would become known as “Our Lady of the Marian Library.”

Monheim on left hands a medal to Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, right, both are looking straight ahead

June 10, 1953: The Marian Library honors Bishop Fulton J. Sheen with the first Marian Library Medal for his book "The World’s First Love: Mary, the Mother of God" (1952).

31 participants grouped together outside a building posing for a photograph

1953-64: The Marian Library holds its Marian Institute workshops and Summer Mariological Institutes at the University of Dayton.

Book cover that is an olive brown, with gold ornamental flourish. "Lassere" is at the top center. In a reddish circle reads "Historia de la Pastorgilla Bernardita" and smaller at the bottom, "Subirana, Barcelona."

1954: The Marian Library acquires the Léon Clugnet Collection — more than 8,000 rare volumes, many of them about Marian shrines; the collection includes items from the mid-16th century through 1918.

Father Philip Hoelle, S.M. smiles at the camera, wearing black and his priestly white collar, standing in front of bookshelves

1954-67: Father Philip Hoelle, S.M., serves as director of the Marian Library and editor of "The Marianist" magazine.

Black and white cover of the periodical. The masthead reads "The Marianist" in a script font. An emblem is the right. The bottom 2/3 of the cover is a reproduction of a painting of the Blessed Virgin in the sky above a brick building (Alfred Emanuel Hall) with columns. The words "Our Lady of the Marian Library" are arched above her. Under the building is an open book with the words "De Maria" on the left page and "Numquam Satis" on the right.

1955-67: The Marian Library publishes the popular Catholic periodical "The Marianist," later named "Mary Today."

Mildred Sutton is sitting at a desk and typing on a typewriter. She is wearing glasses and a floral dress.

1959: Marian Library volunteer Mildred Sutton takes leadership of the Marian newspaper and magazine clippings file and grows it over time into a collection of 70,000 items.

A young Brother William Fackovec, S.M. is in front of a bookcase of papers and books and looking down as if reading. He had dark hair and thick-framed glasses and is wearing a suit and tie.

1960-2011: Brother William Fackovec, S.M., serves the Marian Library as a librarian, cataloger and chief research consultant. In 2006, the Marian Library honors him with the Marian Library Medal.

Blue circle containing a white icon of the top of the UD Chapel of the Immaculate Conception. Two lines of text below read "University of Dayton" and "University Libraries"

1962: The Marian Library becomes a part of the University of Dayton Libraries.

Bas relief of Mary looking straight ahead cradling an open book on her lap.

1965: The Marian Library moves into its new space in Albert Emanuel Hall.

Hoelle on the left looking down and reading a book with Father Robert Maloy, S.M. looking over his should from the right.

1967-69: Father Robert Maloy, S.M., right, serves as acting director; he succeeds Father Philip Hoelle, S.M., left.

Father Theodore Koehler, S.M., wearing glasses and a dark beret, smiles as if laughing.

1969-87: Father Theodore Koehler, S.M., serves as director of the Marian Library.

Book cover with masthead "Marian Library Studies" other text includes "New series 26, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio, 1998-2000" below is ornamental line art with a depiction of Mary in a rectangle. Additional text is a the contents including authors and article titles in very small text.

1969: The Marian Library publishes the first edition of "Marian Library Studies."

Exterior view of the circa 1970-style building with a pillar and an Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception statue on top of the pillar in the foreground.

December 1970: The Marian Library moves to the seventh floor of the newly constructed Roesch Library.

Pamphlet cover reads small at top "A New Institute for Postconciliar Studies." Angled in the center in an in-lined font reads "The Marian Library Institute." Small footer reads "University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio."

1975: Father Theodore Koehler, S.M., director, founds the Marian Library Institute, which later becomes the International Marian Research Institute.

Bright blue cover with text that reads from top, "Marian Studies, Volume LII (2001), The Marian Dimension of Christian Spirituality, Historical Perspectives, I. Early Period." Artwork below is an oval containing a line drawing of Mary hold the Child Jesus.

1979: The Mariological Society of America (MSA) moves its headquarters to the Marian Library. The Marian Library becomes the publisher of the society’s journal, "Marian Studies."

Marian Library director and IMRI professor Father Theodore Koehler, S.M., and renowned theologian, professor and Marian scholar Father René Laurentin, second and third from left in the back row, pictured with 8 IMRI students. Some standing in the back row. Others sitting in the front row.

Circa 1982: Marian Library director and IMRI professor Father Theodore Koehler, S.M., and renowned theologian, professor and Marian scholar Father René Laurentin, second and third from left in the back row, with IMRI students.

Father Thomas Thompson, S.M, wearing a sports jacket and his collar, smiles and looks straight ahead while pointing to a musical score in an open book.

1987-2015: Father Thomas Thompson, S.M., serves as director of the Marian Library.

A head and shoulders shot of Father Johann Roten, S.M. in front of a bookcase.

1987-2009: Father Johann Roten, S.M., is director of IMRI; in 2009, Roten is appointed director of research and special projects.

Framed watercolor depicting traditional Our Lady of Guadalupe imagery.

1988: The Marian Library Gallery opens. The inaugural exhibit is a selection of art from the Marian Library’s collection.

1988: The Marian stamp collection begins with the donation of an extensive collection from Brother Eugene Claret, S.M.

1993: Father Johann Roten, S.M., begins writing the Art and Spirituality book series, which reflects on Marian art.

1994: The Marian Library launches The Mary Page, now known as All About Mary.

1997: The Marian Library begins displaying crèches from its growing collection.

photo of the central pieces of the structure

2000: Commissioned by the Marian Library in 1996, “Mirror of Hope,” a 12-foot-wide, 5-foot-tall structure featuring 200 clay figures depicting 22 events in the history of salvation, is placed on year-round display.

2007: The Marian Library receives the Elisabeth van Mullekom-Cserep crèche collection from Australia. It adds more than 2,000 Nativity scenes to the library’s existing collection.

Two small children looking at a Nativity set

2009: University of Dayton Libraries host At the Manger: World Nativity Traditions, an open house and exhibit of the Marian Library Crèche Collection. It becomes an annual event.

2009-16: Father François Rossier, S.M., serves as executive director of the Marian Library/IMRI.

2010: The Marian Library dedicates the Brother William Fackovec, S.M., Rare Book Collection in celebration of his 50 years of service to the library.

John S. Stokes tending to a garden near a statue of Mary

2013: The Marian Library receives the John S. Stokes and Mary’s Gardens Collection from the family of the late John Stokes, co-founder of the Mary’s Gardens organization.

2016: Sarah Burke Cahalan is appointed director of the Marian Library.

2016: The Marian Library completes its collection of the seven-volume "Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition."

2016-17: The Marian Library expands to the third floor of Roesch Library and moves its rare books and archival collections there to provide researchers and others with greater access.

2018: The Marian Library had a year-long celebration to commemorate its 75th anniversary. Events included collection and history exhibits, plus two concerts held in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.

2018: The initial donation of holy cards from Julie and Christina Brown was received. Christina is a University of Dayton alumna. The Julie Ann Brown and Christina Brown Holy Card Collection is a valuable addition to the library’s collections since it is one of the world’s most significant collections of holy cards.

Photo of the interview in the gallery space

December, 2019: “CBS Sunday Morning” highlighted the Marian Library Crèche Collection and the “At the Manger” exhibit in a nationally broadcast segment on Nativity sets.

Cloth mask with Our Lady of Guadalupe image pattern

March, 2020: The focus turned to documenting and sharing digital collections, virtual research assistance and the online presence of the Marian Library during the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic. University Libraries faculty and staff began a successful return to campus in July 2020 and began to progress back to in-person exhibits, research assistance, class instruction and patron visits.

photograph of IMRI grad with faculty in cap and gowns

Summer, 2021: The International Marian Research Institute awarded its final pontifical degrees and began its transition from the University Libraries to the College of Arts and Sciences.

Summer, 2022: The first resident scholar (Liz Hutter) and visiting scholar (Alyssa Maldonado-Estrada) to be awarded Marian Library Fellowships. Both fellowships were made possible by a gift to the University of Dayton by the Marianist Province of the United States and will continue annually.

photo of three students working with materials

February, 2023: “Rituals of Healing: Body, Mind, Spirit” was the first Marian Library exhibit curated by University of Dayton students. First-year ENG 100 students created displays of Marian Library artifacts and wrote narratives to explore what individuals or groups believe about religion, medical expertise, and healing of the body, mind and spirit.

2023: Kayla Harris is appointed director of the Marian Library.

Historical Timeline

It Started with One Book

Oct. 20, 1943

Oct. 20, 1943

Oct. 20, 1943

Oct. 20, 1943

October, 1944

October, 1944

1944–49

1944–49

April, 1945

April, 1945

1949–54

1949–54

1949

1949

1951

1951

June 10, 1953

June 10, 1953

1953–64

1953–64

1954

1954

1954–67

1954–67

1955–67

1955–67

1959

1959

1960–2011

1960–2011

1962

1962

1965

1965

1967–69

1967–69

1969–87

1969–87

1969

1969

December, 1970

December, 1970

1975

1975

1979

1979

Circa 1982

Circa 1982

1987–2015

1987–2015

1987–2009

1987–2009

1988

1988

1988

1988

1993

1993

1994

1994

1997

1997

2000

2000

2007

2007

2009

2009

2009–16

2009–16

2010

2010

2013

2013

2016

2016

2016

2016