Tarot Collection
Finding aid created by Graduate Theological Union staff using RecordEXPRESS
Graduate Theological Union
2023
2400 Ridge Road
Berkeley, California 94709
(510) 649-2523/2501
archives@gtu.edu
https://www.gtu.edu/library/resources/special-collections
Title: Tarot Collection
Dates: 1969-2023
Collection Number: GTU 2023-3-01
Creator/Collector:
Extent: 3 boxes, 3 linear feet
Online items available
Repository:
Graduate Theological Union
Berkeley, California 94709
Abstract: Tarot Decks and books collected for an in-house and online exhibit on "The Spirit of the Tarot: The Search for God's Picturebook"
from 2021 through 2024
Language of Material: English
Open by request.
Copyright Graduate Theological Union.
[Identification of item]. Tarot Collection. Collection Number: GTU 2023-3-01. Graduate Theological Union
Materials obtained by special collections librarian.
Biography/Administrative History
The Library Art Exhibit Committee agreed to create an exhibit on the Tarot in Fall 2021. The idea for the exhibit came from
Dr. Kathryn Barush, Assistant Professor of Art History and Religion at the GTU and Jesuit School of Theology, especially related
to pilgrimages. She writes about how some cards are like relics. The rest of the site was built around that initial thought.
We secured T324 to do the web development. The focus was on art and spirituality related to the Tarot.
Clay-Edward Dixon lent a number of decks for the exhibit. Colyn Wohlmut provided The Cards of U’ut. Hettienne Grobler, creator
of The Mysteries of the Black Madonna Tarot and The Mysteries of Mary Tarot, donated the Black Madonna deck. Other decks,
along with books, were purchased by the library for the exhibition and this collection.
The exhibition title was “The Spirit of the Tarot: Looking for God’s Picturebook.” The physical exhibition took place from
October 2021 through March 2022, when the library was only open to GTU faculty, students and employees. The online exhibition
was officially from March 22, 2023 through March 14, 2024 at https://spiritofthetarot.gtu.edu/
Scope and Content of Collection
The contents are: Series 1. Tarot decks and Series 2. Books on the Tarot (some will be added to the library collection.
Tarot
Tarot in art
Tarot history
Magic
Occultism
Spiritual life
Women and religion