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Saint Thomas More Library Gift collection
USDSC.016
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
University of San Diego Special Collections
Title: Guide to the Saint Thomas More Library Gift collection
Creator:
Metcalf, Julia T., Dr.
source:
Hill, Rosalie Clifton, Mother, 1879-1964
Creator:
San Diego College for Women
Identifier/Call Number: USDSC.016
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear Feet
1 legal document box
Date (inclusive): 1953-1993
Abstract: This collection contains a bound book and original records detailing the donation of the Saint Thomas More Library to the
San Diego College for Women by Dr. Julia Metcalf. The book and records include an account of the founding of Saint Thomas
More Library, correspondence, telegrams, board of directors' meeting minutes and resolutions, affidavit of service by mail,
and a list of books in the collection.
Language of Material:
English
.
Julia Metcalf was one of nine children born in Massachusetts circa 1875. In 1914, she migrated to California with her sister
Sarah and brother Theodore. The siblings traveled back east soon after arriving in California to provide medical support to
France during World War I. Julia and Sarah returned to California in June 1919 and inspired by letters childhood friend from
Pauline Willis, decided to establish a Catholic library to inspire people to join the Catholic faith. After facing difficulties
securing a rent-free office space to house the collection, and receiving word from the Chancery Office that they should give
up on the dream of a Catholic library, the sisters chose to set up the library in their Los Angeles home in 1935.
The Saint Thomas More Library, as it was blessed on March 25, 1935, contained thousands of liberal Catholic books and hosted
lectures each Monday with prominent Catholic thinkers. The library became a nonprofit corporation in 1941. Membership grew
to include new converts, high school and college students, and movie studios. When Sarah died in 1941, Julia continued to
manage the library with the help of assistants until failing health prompted her to transfer ownership of the collection to
a trusted organization. Because of Julia's fond memories of her Convent of the Sacred Heart education, she chose to give the
collection to the San Diego College for Women, operated by the Religious of the Sacred Heart, in June 1953.
The San Diego College for Women was established in 1949 by Mother Rosalie Clifton Hill to educate young women in the Religious
of the Sacred Heart tradition. The college shared a campus with the San Diego College for Men and the School of Law but operated
as a separate higher education institution until the 1960s when it began integrating courses and student organizations with
the men's college. In 1972, the San Diego College for Women merged with the San Diego College for Men and the School of Law
to become the University of San Diego.
This collection includes original records relating to the donation of the Saint Thomas More Library collection to the San
Diego College for Women. The records include correspondence between Julia Metcalf and Mother Rosalie Hill, correspondence
between Daniel G. Marshall and Mother Rosalie Hill regarding the gift, canonical opinion on the gift of the collection to
the college, board of directors' minutes and resolutions, and an affidavit of service by mail for the shipping of the collection
to San Diego. The bound book contains typed copies of the records above as well as a list of all the books transferred to
the San Diego College for Women. There is also correspondence between Mother Rosalie Hill and close friends of Julia Metcalf
as she lived out her final days and after her passing.
In addition to the records related to the gift, there are requests for information from scholars in 1959 and 1993 about Julia
Metcalf and records pertaining to her gift to the San Diego College for Women. Other records include internal memos about
the collection's status in the Copley Library, an article written by a Saint Thomas More Library patron in 1940, and an obituary
of Julia Metcalf's friend, Pauline Willis, from 1957.
This collection is open for research.
The Saint Thomas More Library Gift collection is the physical property of the University of San Diego, Archives and Special
Collections. Copyright, except in cases where material has passed into the public domain, belongs to the authors or their
legal heirs and assigns.
[Folder Title], Box # Folder #, Saint Thomas More Library Gift collection, Copley Library, University of San Diego, Archives
and Special Collections.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Julia T. Metcalf in June 1953. The bound book was created by the San Diego College for Women in 1954.
This collection was processed by Shavonne Munnlyn in 2022.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Saint Thomas More Library (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Catholic libraries
Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Los Angeles (Calif.)
Book donations
Hill, Rosalie Clifton, Mother, 1879-1964