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Ex Libris Setonia
An Introduction to the Bibliographic, Literary and Print History of Seton Hall University

Book Notes of Setonia

          The collective material memory of Seton Hall is found in the University Archives collection which dates from the school’s founding in 1856 to the present day, and encompasses approximately 1,300 cubic feet of documentation related to the school in some form or function. Chartered as the first Catholic college in New Jersey, Seton Hall holds an important place in the annals of religious higher education, and the resulting historical data reflects this unique status. A broad range of print resources combined with photographs, audio- and videotapes, and artifacts provide a detailed record of the varied aspects of campus life including governance, curriculum, student activity and physical plant development from its origins in Madison to its current location in South Orange. The school archival collection includes a continuous series of general bulletins/catalog(ues) dating from 1861, handwritten ledger books which provide detailed accounts of college endeavors over the last two centuries and close to 200 different campus publications including the White & Blue/Galleon (student annual yearbook) and Setonian (student newspaper) which both date from 1924 onward. Hundreds of other resource types may be found in specialized collections, record group arrangements, or in a constantly growing subject file found within the confines of this repository which also includes print materials related to the Archdiocese of Newark and Catholic New Jersey proper.

            The Monsignor William Noe Field Archives and Special Collections Center also features an extensive grouping of printed volumes, including over 2,000 volumes dating from the 15th century to the present day. This collection encompasses several different subject areas, but is mainly bent toward theology, philosophy, education, history and literature. Volumes found in this series are printed in various languages including Latin, German and French, among others. Aside from the age and scarcity of many titles found in this collection, there are hundreds of latter-day autographed editions and still others which show the craftsmanship of early print masters including Fus, Schoeffer and Jenson, to name a few. Also included are books written by faculty authors, autographed texts and other specialized works of renown from a local and global perspective. Several thousand more titles encompassing the areas of Irish culture, literature and history combined with the American Civil War are counted among the associated unique works found on campus which are available to the research community at large.

            The University Libraries at Seton Hall contain over half a million books, nearly 2,000 periodical titles and several thousand electronic databases, microfilm and related information resources for use by students, faculty, staff, alumni and all friends of the University. The mission statement for the University Libraries revolves around the core theme that librarians envision an environment that includes an ever flourishing wealth of resources for knowledge building: 1) To enhance the University’s resources by the management of scholarly information and the judicious integration of information technology into the curriculum; 2) To manage resources that will enable students to develop and master the professional skills that are necessary on a regional and global level; 3) To provide information literacy instruction and reference service to educate lifelong learners in using information resources; 4) To create seamless access to information resources for the Seton Hall University curriculum, and maintain an ongoing assessment of the libraries’ services, technologies and collections; 5) To serve as a vital link to students and faculty for their information and research needs; and 6) To support the Seton Hall University Libraries Catholic Collections and unique materials for future scholarship that integrate spiritual concepts with a focus on a tradition of service.

            The following is a selected list of articles, books and texts that provide an introductory look at Seton Hall University history from 1856 to the present. All of the following titles are found in the William Noe Field Archives and Special Collections Center and/or Walsh Library Main Collection. The location of these publications, format type and call numbers are provided through the University Libraries

  • Barron’s Educational Series - Capsule Profile: Seton Hall University. Woodbury, NY: Barron’s Educational Series, Inc., 1969. (University Archives, LD4931.S28 B3]
  • Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges: An In-Depth Study: Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ. Woodbury, NY: Barron’s Educational Series, 1973. (Walsh Library, LD4931.S33 B33 1973)
  • Bicentennial Celebration of Seton Hall University. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall University, 1976. (Pamphlet -- University Archives)
  • Catalog(ue) of Seton Hall College/University. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall College/University, 1861-Present. (An annual or biannual publication that provides historical sketches, faculty lists, student rosters, course descriptions and various other information depending upon the type of catalog(ue) issued by year. Also referred to as the bulletin with variations for the graduate division, nursing school, urban division (Newark, Paterson), summer school and so forth.) (University Archives)
  • Cunningham, John T. “The Hall’s First Century,” Newark Sunday News Magazine 6-8:14-16, 4 March 1956. (University Archives)
  • Cunningham, Thomas W., ed. The Summit of a Century: The Centennial Story of Seton Hall University, 1856-1956. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall University, 1956. (Walsh Library & University Archives, LD4931.S439 1956)
  • DAlessio, Edward R. Seton Hall - A Personal History. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall University, 1982. (University Archives)
  • Delozier, Alan. Seton Hall Pirates: A Basketball History. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2002. (Walsh Library & University Archives, GV885.72NS D4 2002)
  • Diamond Jubilee Edition, 1856-1931: The Setonian. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall College, 1931. (University Archives)
  • Galleon, The. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall College/University, 1924-1942, 1947-2000. (The Seton Hall College/University student annual/yearbook known as the White & Blue from 1924-1942.) (University Archives)
  • Gateway to Knowledge - Seton Hall University. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall University, 1963. (Walsh Library, LD4931.S32.G3)
  • Introduction to Seton Hall University History. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall University, Undated. (University Archives)
  • Kelley, James Francis. Memoirs of Msgr. “Doc” J.F. Kelley. Locust, NJ: Adrian McBride, 1987. (University Archives, LD4931.S27314 K217 1987)
  • Kennelly, Edward F. A Historical Study of Seton Hall College. D.Ed. Dissertation. New York: New York University, 1944. (University Archives)
  • Kubilis, Norbert J. and Herman R. Bollenbach. An Index to Seton Hall University in Periodic Literature. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall University, 1968. (University Archives)
  • Kubilis, Norbert J. and Herman R. Bollenbach. “Centennial of a Seer,” Seton Hallmark Fall 1968. (University Archives)
  • Lomask, Milton. “How Does a College Grow?” The Sign June 1958. (University Archives)
  • Marshall, Rev. William Francis. Sketch of Seton Hall College. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall College Student Catalogue, 1895. (University Archives)
  • Moore, Joseph A. Historic Setonia: A Pictorial History of Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, 1856-1950. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall University, 1951. (University Archives)
  • ”125 Years of Catholic Higher Education - Seton Hall University,” Setonian 58:15, 10 December 1981. (University Archives)
  • Navarra, Tova. Seton Hall University. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 1999. (University Archives, LD4931.S36 N38 1999)
  • Reilly, George L.A. Seton Hall College, 1856-1950. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall University Office of Publications, 1982. (University Archives)
  • Reilly, George L.A. “Thomas J. Walsh and Seton Hall College, 1928-1952,” New Jersey History 98 (1-2): 37-48, 1980. (Walsh Library)
  • Scalera, Nick R. “One Hundred and Six Years Ago A Convert, 48 Acres, and 5 Students Formed Seton Hall,” Setonian 27:1-37, September 1962. (University Archives, LD4931.S322 S2)
  • ”Seton Hall,” New Jersey Bell Telephone Company January 1959. (University Archives, LD4931.S282 B4)
  • Seton Hall - Did You Know? 1856-1992. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall University, 1992. (University Archives)
  • ”Seton Hall - The First Hundred Years,” New Jersey Business 16-19, 1955. (University Archives)
  • Seton Hall University Fact Book. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall University Office of Policy and Planning, 1987-Present (Various Years). (University Archives & Walsh Library, LD4931.S2932)
  • Seton Hall University Self-Study Report. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall University, 1925-1994. (Assortment of materials related to university accreditation and institutional review are available upon request.) (University Archives)
  • Setonian, The. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall University, 1924-Present. (Weekly student newspaper published during the academic year. Various issues available.) (University Archives)
  • Sharkey, Clyde D. “How Seton Hall Became A University,” Newark Sunday News 4-6:14-16, 7 February 1954. (University Archives)
  • Significant Dates in the History of Seton Hall University, 1856-1982. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall University, 1982. (University Archives)
  • Three Years at Seton Hall: An Account of a Stewardship. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall University, 1963. (Walsh Library, LD4931.S29 1963)
  • University Statues. South Orange, NJ: Seton Hall University, 1960. 2d ed. (University Archives, LD4931.S275 1960)
  • Van Loan, Elizabeth. “Wide Halls of Learning Grow Wider,” Suburban Life February 1960. (University Archives)

The foundation of an education is based in large part upon the information found in books. These instruments of enlightenment have been a mainstay of the classroom since the schools founding in 1856 to the present through the major repositories of the Main College Building, Marshall Hall, McLaughlin Library and the present day Walsh edifice, along with bookstores and the old-fashioned method of sharing between friends.

            Freedom of research on the Seton Hall campus was slow incoming; however, among the fundamental rules of discipline during the 19th century included the following: “No books other than text-books and works of reference recommended by the Professors, may be held by the students, unless by permission of the President.” (Seton Hall College Catalogue, June 1864)

Times and tomes have changed as we move forward into the new millennium. The joys of reading have expanded and exploded as endless options for learning the many wonders of life await each and every student of Seton Hall. From a novice who wishes to take his or her first look to a voracious reader of legendary texts -- along with everyone in between -- they share a commonality that an educational journey simply begins with a book and a dream.

 

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