Saint Louis University Builds a Modern Library

   In a letter dated January 2, 1953, His Holiness Pope Pius XII gave permission to Saint Louis University President Father Paul Reinert, for the new library being planned for the University to be named in his honor. With the opening of the Pius XII Memorial Library in May 1959, the University library at long last had a magnificent new facility for its growing collections.

   Although plans for a new library building for Saint Louis University were being seriously discussed as early as 1940, a conversation between two Jesuits in August 1950 would be the catalyst for the construction of Pius Library. Father Lowrie Daly, a member of the University’s history faculty, approached University Librarian, Father Joseph Donnelly, with an idea. Father Daly believed that if he could go to Rome and microfilm books and manuscripts from the Vatican Library and then bring the films back to Saint Louis University, scholars throughout the world would come to the University for their research. After discussing the idea with Father Reinert, Father Daly sent a letter on November 1, 1950, describing the proposed project to the Vatican Librarian. Much to everyone’s surprise, the Vatican replied in only six weeks--"Yes, we are ready whenever you are!"

   What was expected to be a 20 month project costing approximately $150,000 took four years and $350,000 to complete. This cost, extraordinary at the time, was borne entirely by the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Men’s organization. In gratitude for the Knights’ generosity, the University named the microfilm manuscript collection the Knights of Columbus Vatican Film Library. At the time, Saint Louis University’s Vatican Film Library was the only repository outside of the Vatican to hold copies of these more than 14 million manuscript pages. With such a research jewel to serve as the anchor of a new library, planning for a new building began again in earnest. Pope Pius XII gave permission for the building to be named after him, and ground was broken for the Pius XII Memorial Library on June 3, 1957, with the building opening to the public in May 1959. Today, Pius XII Library continues to serve as the University’s main library, containing more than 1 million books and bound volumes, an automated catalog and circulation system, and dozens of additional computer workstations providing patrons with direct access to research materials from all over the world.

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