For a second year, the Alumni Association has agreed to support the work of the Archives office. Currently, the most pressing need is the repair of some of the priceless tomes that are hidden away in the glass-front bookcases in our French parlor. Not only are the publication dates of these books impressive, but they have the added personal touches of hand-written signatures or notes that make them uniquely dear to us. It is our fond hope to bestow as much professional conservation as we can employ on these selected volumes and then, rather than returning them to their dark hiding places, make them safely visible for pilgrims to view.

Also, as much as has been accomplished by the Archives in the basement of the Shrine, a more welcoming environment would be achieved with the appropriate installation of floor coverings and office furniture that would enhance and further the work that is being done.

1.  The restoration of three precious books from our parlor library:

A leather-bound 1832 Paris edition of Les Gloires de Marie by Alphonsus Ligouri. The hand-written inscription on the flyleaf is the signature of Philippine Duchesne. At present, both covers are detached, the spine is missing and the flyleaf is detached. The condition of the paper is acidic and brittle.

A leather-bound 1787 Paris edition of Les Colloques de Calvaire. An inscription on the title page indicates that this book was a gift to the newly-arrived Religious of the Sacred Heart from the gracious Ursuline nuns, who housed them temporarily in New Orleans before they traveled up the Mississippi to St. Louis and St. Charles. The head, tail and corners are worn. The spine is weak and one headband is broken.

A half-leather-bound 1792 Bruges edition of Religious Solitude. This book also bears the signature of Philippine Duchesne on the title page. An English translation of a book of Italian prayers, it is widely held that Mother Duchesne used this book in her study of the English language.

2.  Installation of appropriate covering for the concrete steps and floor of the Archives, under the Shrine. The purchase of office furniture that would enhance the efficiency of the archivist’s work and afford a degree of comfort to visitors doing research there.

3.  The purchase of suitable display cases that would enable us to exhibit these precious repaired books with dignity and security.