Evening star., 1941-03-09
Booklet Describes
Rare Treasures at
RiggsLibrary
Distribution of 200
Copies Will Be Made
To Leading Libraries

Treasures Of the Riggs Memorial
Library of Georgetown University,
which contains the university's rare
first editions, its collections of Bibles,
manuscripts and early Americana,
are described in beautifully illus
trated booklet made possible through
the generosity of certain members
Of the faculty, alumni and friends.
Printed in limited edition of 200
volumes, the booklets are being dis
trlbuted among the leading libraries
and educational institutions of the
country. 1t contains much infor-
nation for research students and
also traces the antecedentS of the
Riggs Library. which is the oldest
and most important at the univer-
sity.
The booklet was published under
the supervision of the Rev. Charles
Foley, S. j. In his foreword, Father
Foley explains the purpose of the
volume. which is to make known the
more precious possessions of the
library.
Contributors 10 BOOK.
Prof. Bernard Wagner of the Eng
lish department contributed a sec
ton on the library's manuscripts.
and DR.. Walter Wilkinson. assistant
to the librarian, wrote the section
on incunabula. One of the sections
deals with early Americana. pre-
pared by the Rev. Wilfrid Parsons.
S. j., noted authority and former
director of libraries at Georgetown.
The Riggs Library lacks only a few
of all the early Catholic books
printed in the United States. a COM
pllation of which was made by
Father Wilfrid in preparing a work
on Catholic Americana. 1929 1890
Georgetown's collection of Catholic
Americana is probably the most
complete one in the United States.
Phillips Temple, the university
librarian. wrote the section on The
Library and It's Work To-day"
The Riggs Library was founded as
memorial to E. Francis Riggs. one
of the leading citizens of the Dis
trict of Columbia and a Georgetown
benefactor. Its original collection
dates back to the volumes in the
library of the historic Bohemia
Manor of Colonial Maryland, one
of the first schools established by
the Jesuit fathers in Maryland. The
Very Rev Arthur A. OLeary, S. j..
who was formerly librarian at
Georgetown before he assumed the
presidency of the university, still
serves as director of libraries.
Rare Letter Found.
A very rare letter which gives un-
usual insight and an intimate touch
to the activities of Father Grassi,
president Of Georgetown from 1912
until 1877. was uncovered in the
archives of the Library of Congress
recently by Father Ruben Vargas
Urgarte, S. j., of Peru. Father Ur-
CARTE, who is associated with the
Catholic University of Peru. is in
Washington to do research in Peru
Wan history. The Library of Con-
gress, he found, contains many man
uscripts and books that were printed
in Peru but are no longer to be
found in that country.
The letter by the former George
town president was written to
Father Jose Ignacio Amaya, Jesuit
South American missionary. who
was in Mexico at the time. 1t was
found in the Jeremy Robinson pa
perS, portfolio 18l8-1820. The letter
was written in Italian and a trans
lation was provided for the uni
versity by Father Urgarte, who is
making Georgetown his headquar-
ters during his stay in Washington.
Mr.. Temple, the librarian, an
nounced that Georgetown Uni
versity will be host Tuesday evening
at o'clock to the Washington
Chapter of the Special Libraries As
sociation. About 100 librarians of
this city and vicinity will meet in
COpley Lounge to hold a conference
on Libraries and National De-
fense,"
There will be addresses by DR..
Luther H Evans, chief assistant
librarian of Congress; Miss Clara j.
Widger, librarian of the Army In
dustrial College, and Miss Carol F.
Wanner, librarian of the National
Advisory Defense Commission. DR..
Evans will tell of the work the
Library of Congress is doing to CO.
ordinate the Nations bibliographi-
cal resources in the interest of de-
tense.