The Jesuit Historical Institute in Africa (JHIA) has received a valuable collection of historical catalogues donated by the British Jesuit Archives in the United Kingdom. This generous contribution follows an earlier donation received by JHIA in 2024, which included catalogues dating from the late eighteenth to the early nineteenth century (1896 – 1946). The newly received collection adds further Province-and year-specific records to the growing collection, providing a broader picture of the development and activities of the Society of Jesus across different periods and geographical contexts.

These catalogues are more than bibliographical records; they are important historical sources that offer insights into Jesuit personnel, communities, institutions, missions, and activities. They provide researchers with an opportunity to trace the development of different Jesuit Provinces and to understand the people and works that shaped the Society’s history. For JHIA, such materials are particularly significant because they complement the Institute’s wider archival and library collections and provide valuable evidence for the study of Jesuit history and the Society’s engagement with Africa.

The preservation, cataloguing, and accessibility of these materials are closely aligned with JHIA’s mission of collecting, preserving, documenting, and making accessible the historical heritage of the Jesuits in Africa. They also contribute to the Institute’s vision of serving as a centre for research and the preservation of Jesuit history and heritage. By bringing together acquisitions from different Jesuit Provinces and periods, JHIA continues to build a rich resource for scholars, researchers, students, and all those interested in the history of the Society of Jesus and its contribution to the African continent.

The donated collection includes the following historical catalogues and related Jesuit sources. For researchers interested in exploring a wider range of Jesuit catalogues, the Archivum Romanum Societatis Iesu (ARSI) provides an online repository of catalogues of the Society of Jesus.

  1. R.P. Norbertus de Boynes. Vicarius Generalis a die 19 Aprilis [1944]. Assistens Galliae. Borgo Santo Spirito, 5 – Roma P, 1944.
  2. Catalogus Provinciae Angliae Societatis Jesu. Ineunte Anno MCMXLVI [1946]. Roehampton: Ex Typographia Manresana, 1946.
  3. Catalogus Provinciae Romanae Societatis Iesu. Ineunte Anno MCMXLVI [1946]. Romae: Stella Matutina, 1946.
  4. Catalogus Provinciae Franciae Societatis Jesu. Ineunte Anno MCMXLVII [1947]. 1947.
  5. Catalogus Provinciae Angliae Societatis Jesu. Ineunte Anno MCMXLVII [1947]. Roehampton: Ex Typographia Manresana, 1947.
  6. Catalogus Provinciae Romanae Societatis Iesu. Ineunte Anno MCMXLVII [1947]. Romae: Stella Matutina, 1947.
  7. Catalogus Provinciae Franciae Societatis Jesu. Ineunte Anno MCMXLVIII [1948]. 1948.
  8. Catalogus Provinciae Angliae Societatis Jesu. Ineunte Anno MCMXLVIII [1948]. Roehampton: Ex Typographia Manresana, 1948.
  9. Catalogus Provinciae Romanae Societatis Iesu. Ineunte Anno MCMXLVIII [1948]. Romae: Ex Typographia Pont. Univ. Gregorianae, 1948.
  10. Catalogus Provinciae Romanae Societatis Iesu. Ineunte Anno MCMIL [1948]. Romae: Ex Typographia Pont. Univ. Gregorianae, 1948.
  11. Catalogus Provinciae Franciae Societatis Jesu. Ineunte Anno MCMXLIX [1949]. 1949.
  12. Catalogus Provinciae Angliae Societatis Jesu. Ineunte Anno MCMXLIX [1949]. Roehampton: Ex Typographia Manresana, 1949.
  13. Catalogus Provinciae Oregoniensis Societatis Jesu. Ineunte Anno MCML [1950]. Portland, Oregon: Typis Conger Printing Co., Inc., 1949.
  14. Catalogus Provinciae Mexicanae Societatis Iesu. Ineunte Anno MCMXLIX [1949]. Mexicopoli, 1950.
  15. Catalogus Provinciae Siculae Societatis Jesu. Ineunte Anno [1950]. Panormi Apud Procurationem Missionum, 1950.

JHIA is deeply grateful to the British Jesuit Archives and, in particular, Ms. Rebecca Somerset, Archivist, for the dedicated effort involved in identifying, curating, and preparing these historical catalogues, and for the generosity in donating them to the Institute. Their contribution strengthens the preservation of Jesuit heritage and ensures that these important records remain accessible to scholars, researchers, and future generations.

 

Geoffrey Obatsa – Admin | JHIA

 

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