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Chestertonians of Notre Dame Records

 Fonds
Identifier: CND

Scope and Content

This collection consists of administrative records and correspondence relating to the activities of the Chestertonians, including meeting minutes, publicity materials, and financial records, as well as cassette audio tapes of several speakers. The correspondence files of Rufus Rauch and Anton Masin are primarily concerned with administrative matters pertaining to the Chestertonians, but also touch on the acquisition of Chesterton-related materials and the activities of related organizations, including the Midwest and Eastern Chesterton Societies, among other matters. A substantial portion of the collection concerns the 1980 Chesterton Celebration. This includes documents related to its planning and promotion, a successful grant application to the Indiana Committee for Humanities, event programs and notes of the introductory remarks, and press clippings about the event.

Dates

  • Creation: 1974 - 1984

Creator

Language of Materials

English.

Background

The Chestertonians were a group of people, primarily academics, interested in the life and works of G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936). The organization was founded in 1979 and appears to have been most active from 1979-1981, although some correspondence and activities extend beyond this date, including bringing Stanley L. Jaki to Notre Dame in 1983. The group was led and founded by Rufus William Rauch (1904-1988), an Emeritus Professor of English at Notre Dame (active faculty from 1927-1970). Other leading members included honorary chairman John Bennet Shaw and secretary Anton Masin, head of Notre Dame’s Department of Special Collections. While the Chestertonians were not formally affiliated with Notre Dame, most of its members were University faculty and staff from English, Philosophy, Theology, and the Library, and many of the groups events were held on campus.The Chestertonians met regularly to discuss various aspects of Chesterton’s work and, in 1980, they organized and hosted a Chesterton Celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of Chesterton’s semester at Notre Dame, the proceedings of which were later published as a collection of essays: “Chesterton Celebration at the University of Notre Dame,” ed. Rufus Rauch, UND Press, 1983.

Extent

1 linear foot. 13 cassette audio tapes.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Chestertonians of Notre Dame.

Title
Chestertonians of Notre Dame Records
Subtitle
Guide
Author
University of Notre Dame Archives
Date
2005
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the University of Notre Dame Archives Repository

Contact:
607 Hesburgh Library
Notre Dame Indiana 46556 United States
(574) 631-6448