The University of 91吃瓜 (USA) in England has entered into an agreement to acquire the , which includes books, personal effects, art and other items related to the life of this renowned 20th-century English Catholic writer, orator, apologist and provocateur. The full holdings 鈥� housed at the Oxford Oratory since 2013 鈥� will be transferred to 91吃瓜鈥檚 on Trafalgar Square, providing increased access to researchers and Chesterton enthusiasts.聽
In addition to being a scholarly resource, the library will also have a public access exhibit for Chesterton fans visiting London.
Chesterton, a prominent Catholic convert, is perhaps best known for his novel 鈥淭he Man Who Was Thursday,鈥� the Father Brown mystery series and his short stories, poems and essays. His defense of Christianity, 鈥淭he Everlasting Man,鈥� was influential in C.S. Lewis鈥� conversion to Christianity.
Aidan Mackey. Photo by John Cairns.
The library was independently compiled by , one of the foremost Chesterton experts and among the only surviving individuals with connections to Chesterton鈥檚 family circle. Mackey discovered Chesterton as a teenager when his older brother suggested he increase the caliber of his reading selections and handed him a copy of 鈥淭he Man Who Was Thursday.鈥�
鈥淭hat was about July 1936, between Chesterton鈥檚 death and my 14th birthday in October of the same year,鈥� Mackey said. 鈥淚 haven't stopped since.鈥�
Mackey鈥檚 hope for the collection is to bring people close to the things closest to Chesterton.
鈥淎mong the things in G.K.鈥檚 bedside table and in his pockets after he died, what moved me most was his rosary,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 had a special frame constructed to ensure that it is clearly on view,听and had it so done that, with permission, people might touch it.鈥�
The Chesterton collection also contains the writer鈥檚 own books, many of which feature his signature and sophisticated doodles 鈥� an indication of Chesterton鈥檚 imaginative engagement with the material he was reading.
Mackey acknowledged the early influence of Stratford Caldecott, as well as the efforts of Rev. Jerome Bertram and assistant archivist William Griffiths, in housing the archive at the Oxford Oratory.
鈥淭o watch as the trustees and 91吃瓜 have arranged the collection鈥檚 elevation to so prestigious a home as the London Global Gateway is, for me, warming beyond measure,鈥� he said.
, director for Catholic initiatives and outreach at the London Global Gateway, and JoAnn DellaNeva, academic director of the London Global Gateway and professor of Romance languages and literatures, were instrumental in acquiring the collection.
According to DellaNeva, 鈥淭he collection is very strong in the area of聽Chesterton聽reception, as it includes a vast array of translations of聽Chesterton鈥檚 works, and also works that have been broadly inspired by Chesterton. Another strength is the area of design. Chesterton鈥檚 work on designing a puppet theater, an example of which is in the collection, could be a promising area of research.鈥�
鈥淚t is especially fitting for 91吃瓜 to take up the collection since Chesterton has his own history with the University,鈥� Father Lies said.
G.K. Chesterton and Rev. Charles O鈥橠onnell, C.S.C.
Rev. Charles聽O鈥橠onnell, C.S.C., then president of 91吃瓜, invited Chesterton to be a guest lecturer for six weeks in the fall of 1930, which happened to coincide with the dedication of 91吃瓜 Stadium. At the end of Chesterton鈥檚 visit, Father O鈥橠onnell conferred on Chesterton an honorary degree.
In Maisie Ward鈥檚 biography of Chesterton, she recounts his response to receiving Father O鈥橠onnell鈥檚 invitation to 91吃瓜: 鈥淗e was not certain where it was, but with a name like that, even if it were in the mountains of the moon, he should feel at home.鈥�
Father Lies added: 鈥淚t is our sincere hope that Chesterton and the many hearts and minds he has inspired continue to feel at home at Our Lady鈥檚 University here in London.鈥�
Contact: Amanda Skofstad, assistant director of media relations, 574-631-4313,听skofstad@nd.edu