Resources
Special CollectionsAmong the art and religion archival collections are: Board of Trustees: Art Exhibit Records, GTU 2000-9-2 and online exhibit; and the Douglas G. Adams Collection, GTU 2008-1-01, and online exhibit. Our sacred dance collection includes Margaret Palmer Taylor, one of the pioneers in the 20th century: finding aid and digital content. On this page is a 1948 film of her dance group.
Forthcoming collections include archival material from Jane Dillenberger, longtime professor of art and religion at GTU, and Carla DeSola, another pioneer in sacred dance.
DissertationsAlong with its considerable collection on religious art, the library contains an impressive number of unique dissertations and thesis on the topic. See the online catalog: GRACE
Art Exhibitions at the GTUThe GTU Art Exhibition Committee presents two to three different art exhibitions a year in the library. (Occasionally, as with this exhibition of works mostly from the library, the library staff curates a GTU related display.) The three other exhibit spaces at member schools are the Doug Adams Gallery at PSR, managed by the Center for Art, Religion and Education (CARE); archeological exhibits at PSR by the Bade Institute; and the Blackfriars Gallery at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology (DSPT).
Over the years there have been many wonderful events at or sponsored by GTU, primarily in the form of dance and dramatic (or comedic) performaces. However, today some of the most popular events are film screenings. DSPT does an excellent job in consistently featuring outstanding films, such as its current offering Kieslowski's The Decalogue .
AuthorsA few recommended authors on religion and art, as well as religion and material culture, are: Jane Dillenberger, Margaret R. Miles, Wilson Yates, David Morgan, Sally M. Promey, and Michel Pastoureau.
GTU HistoryIn January, Special Collections and Archives completed digitizing two oral history collections about the GTU. See the following: Graduate Theological Union Digital Library
Additional related digital content can be linked to from the GTU Digital Content landing page.
For a recent assessment of Catholic involvement in the early years see: Bishop John S. Cummins, "Bishop Floyd L. Begin’s Bold and Steady Service in the Development of the Graduate Theological Union: A Personal Reflection," U.S. Catholic Historian, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 39-54, 2010. The library has books and a few videos (see this blog post) on Graduate Theological Union, but most materials are in the form of primary sources.