library-slideshow

A statue of the Library’s patron, St. Bernardine of Siena, greets visitors in the foyer.

A floor plan St. Bernardine of Siena Library at Thomas Aquinas College

The nave ceiling, donated by the Honorable and Mrs. William P. Clark of California, was crafted in 1620 for a convent in Granada, Spain.

Because music plays an important role in the curriculum and in the cultural and liturgical life of the College, the library has a collection of classical and other recordings of exceptional quality. Individual listening carrels and a listening lounge draw students for both study and relaxation.

The Rare Book Room: Here, in a sealed, humidity-controlled environment, reside fine art pieces, historically significant documents and a number of original letters written by various saints, all donated by Thomas Aquinas College’s generous benefactors. The following slides depict but a few of these treasures.

Miniature antique ivory carving of a battle scene.

One of 47 known illuminated reproductions of the Gutenberg Bible.

One of two cylindrical Hittite seals, circa 1200 B.C.

Madonna and Child, original by Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1617-1682). Copy by V. Bianchini (1797-1880)

 

The Golden Treasury of the Best Songs and Lyrical Poems in the English Language is one of thirteen books with fore-edge paintings in the Library’s collection.
 

A petition to President Abraham Lincoln, dated 1864 …
 

… with a responding directive in his hand on the reverse
 

This ivory carving of the head of St. Ignatius is just one of many fine pieces in the Library.
 

Dating from 1481, this Book of Hours is an exceptional example of an illuminated vellum manuscript.