The Canon Law Collections were acquired in 1999 by Dr. Raymond Van De Moortell, STH Head Librarian. The Collection consists mostly of doctoral dissertations from The Catholic University of America in the field of Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Law. The Collection also contains some trade edition titles on various topics in canon law. The Collection was the private library of Monsignor Richard G. Cunningham, faculty member at St. John’s Seminary, Brighton, and Blessed John XXIII National Seminary, Weston. Monsignor Cunningham was a graduate of the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome, and the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. A noted American canonist, Monsignor Cunningham was the President of the Canon Law Society of America for many years, a major contributor to the 1983 Code of Canon Law and Commentary, and has made significant intellectual contributions to the research and study of canon law.
Click on the pages at left to explore some of the unique collections acquired by the School of Theology Library, beginning with the institution’s founding in 1839 to the present day. These collections include many rare and not-widely owned or accessible materials.
Special Collections are located in our closed-stack archival area and are in-library use only. Permission to access any item in the Special Collections may be obtained from library staff during regular hours.
For questions or access, please use our “Ask The Archivist” form .