Collection Items: Villanova Digital Library

Villanova Digital Library

Villanova University's Digital Library initiative assembles, presents, and preserves digital collections that support the teaching and research of the campus and the global community of scholars. We work with faculty, staff and regional partners to select and develop resources that enhance access for a wide range of disciplines and audiences.

Learn more about the Digital Library

Americana

This diverse collection brings together rare works published in America and collections of documents and personal papers from Americans, and about America. Note this collection specifically excludes those works published in Pennsylvania and from Pennsylvanians; these works are included in the Pennsylvaniana collection. Digitization Status: Ongoing.

Autographed Books Collection

The Autographed Book Collection at Villanova University contains many items related directly to the university. Digitization Status: Ongoing.

Catholica Collection

This collection makes available digital content of Catholic materials including books, journals, papers, and manuscripts dealing with the Roman Catholic Church in general, and in particular works created or published in the Americas. Much of the digitalized content will come from physical works made available from our Digital Partners. Digitization Status: Ongoing.

Contributions from Augustinian Theologians and Scholars

This collection includes works by members of the Augustinian Order, as well as resources by and about Saint Augustine of Hippo. For other works please see the Catholica Collection, the Manuscript Collection; for works by and about Gregor Mendel please see the Flora, Fauna, and the Human Form Collection. Digitization Status: Ongoing.

Cuala Press Broadside Collection

An almost complete collection of limited editions of books and broadsides printed by the Cuala Press (formerly the Dun Emer Press). This Irish press published many important writers from the early twentieth century. Digitization Status: Completed.

Digitization note: Blank last leaf not digitized on most broadsides.

Dime Novel and Popular Literature

This collection brings together pre-Pulp era tales initially depicting scenes of early America, the Frontier, and the West. Ranging roughly from 1860 to 1930 these often serial publications record the attitudes of 19th and early 20th Century society: including racist, sexist, and ethnic stereotypes. Also included in the collection are the precursors to "Dime Novels", known as "Story Papers", Mass Market Literature - containing non-fiction texts, some of which are manifested as textual series - in a variety of subjects - including "self-help" and "how-to" titles, and medical cures, and International Dime Novels - both translations of English language original texts, as well as native creations. Digitization status: ongoing.

Flora, Fauna, and the Human Form

Included here are biological and natural history studies depicting plant and animal forms, including works on herbs, insects, human physiognomy, genetics, and eugenics. This collection also includes works by and about Gregor Mendel. Digitiation Status: Ongoing.

The German Society of Pennsylvania

Founded in 1764, The German Society of Pennsylvania is America’s oldest German organization. Its Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library, housed in a beautiful 19th century reading room, holds one of the largest private collections of German-language books in the U.S. The German American Collection contains a wealth of material documenting all aspects of German American life, beginning with the first settlers in Germantown in 1683. In addition to books, the library houses sizable collections of 19th century Philadelphia German newspapers, periodicals, pamphlets, and manuscripts. The online catalog can be viewed at: gsp.library.net For more information, please visit: www.germansociety.org For finding aids to these collections, click here.

Hubbard Collection

This collection consists of personal papers, books, and serials printed at the Roycrofter Press, and/or authored by Elbert G. Hubbard. Digitizaiton Status: Ongoing.

Image Collection

This is a collection of noteworthy digital images captured from the Villanova print collections and from digital and film photography. Digitization Status: Ongoing.

Independence Seaport Museum

This collection brings together materials owned by the Independence Seaport Museum. Included are items that feature nautical related themes and the Barry-Hayes Papers with content from Commodore John Barry.

Joseph McGarrity Collection

The collection of personal papers, books, and newspapers of Joseph McGarrity.Digitization Status: Ongoing.

La Salle University

This collection contains materials owned by our partner La Salle University, focusing on materials from the Susan Dunleavy Collection of Biblical Literature. These materials are maintained by the Connelly Library Department of Special Collections, 1900 W. Olney Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19141. For more information please visit: http://library.lasalle.edu/special-collections

MacSwiney Club

The MacSwiney Club evolved from Camp 100, Clan-Na-Gael and was officially organized in Jenkintown in 1935 although minutes bearing the name go back to at least January 1926. It was named in honor of Terence MacSwiney (1879-1920), Irish patriot, statesman, and martyr. Originally located at 222 Old York Road, the club purchased its current facilities at 510 Greenwood Avenue from the Loyal Order of Moose, and moved there in 1946. For many years the MacSwiney Club was home to the Timoney Irish Dancers, and Irish music and dancing were regular events.

Manuscript Collection

Ancient and rare manuscripts from diverse sources. Also includes other modern manuscript materials owned by Villanova University that are not collected elsewhere. Digitization Status: Ongoing.

Pennsylvaniana

This collection contains materials published in Pennsylvania dealing with Pennsylvania history, biography of notable Pennsylvanians, Pennsylvania organizations and geography; and personal paper sub-collections including correspondence and ephemera of Pennsylvanians involved in the development of shorthand, in the American Civil War, and in Philadelphia's Main Line history. This collection also includes health statistics related to Pennsylvanians. Digitization Status: Ongoing.

Philadelphia Ceili Group

The Philadelphia Ceili Group is devoted to the promotion and perpetuation of Irish music, dance and culture in Philadelphia and throughout the Greater Delaware Valley. Villanova University's Digital Library archives the music of the Group's past festivals and makes Irish song and dance freely available to the community in inline audio and video and downloadable formats.

The tape archives of the Philadelphia Ceili Group are significant in their documentation of traditional Irish and Irish American music. Performers include prominent members of the musical profession in Ireland and America. In addition to providing information on how such music is performed through the recording of concerts and festivals, the tapes of workshops and concerts document the connections between music in the old country and the new, and the development and transformation of traditional Irish playing styles in the transfer to the United States. The lectures given by historians and folklorists shed light on the history of the Irish in Ireland and America as well as on particular aspects of Irish culture. The tapes span the years 1977 – 1996. For more information, see the Inventory of The Philadelphia Ceili Group Tape Archives.

Digitization status: Ongoing

Rambles, Travels, and Maps

Here reside narratives of wanderings real or imaginary, travel guides, charts, and maps. Digitization Status: Ongoing.

Saint Augustine Reference Library

As a dimension of the Augustinian dimension of the mission of Villanova University, the Saint Augustine Reference Library is a resource for the current scholarship on Saint Augustine, one of the most important figures of Late Antiquity and of the Christian tradition. Currently featuring the work Augustine through the Ages: an Encyclopedia, this library will be amplified with guides for the study of Augustine (methodology, bibliographical orientation and thematic aspects). An already-existing and expanding bibliography for the study of St. Augustine can be found at http://www.findingaugustine.org.

Access to some materials is currently limited to the Villanova University Community.

Sherman Thackara Collection

The correspondence in this collection contains courtship letters exchanged between Eleanor Sherman and Alexander M. Thackara, letters from Eleanor to her father, General William Tecumseh Sherman, frequently referencing public events and personalities. Another feature of the correspondence that calls for special attention is the local color and references to many individuals, events, and institutions of Philadelphia and the Main Line in the 1880's and 1890's. A unique part of the collection is A. M. Thackara's correspondence, photographs, and memorabilia relating to his years at Annapolis up until his marriage. Here can be found an unusual first-hand picture of Navy life in the post-Civil War period. Click here for a Guide and Finding Aid to most materials in this collection. Digitization Status: Completed.

Villanova Digital Library

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