Religion Collections in Libraries and Archives: A Guide to Resources in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia Table of Contents - Preface/Acknowledgements - Abbreviations Lists of Entries: District of Columbia - Maryland - Virginia

Catholic News Service Library
Photo Archives

Access Policies

There is no public access to the Photo Archives. An in-house photo researcher will research photos for use by other publishers or publications. There is a fee for one-time use. Not all photographs in the Archives are available for publication.

Reference Policy:

Telephone and mail reference questions are answered as time permits.

Borrowing Privileges:

Not a lending institution.

Networks/Consortia:

None.

Background Note:

Founded in 1920 as the National Catholic Welfare Conference News Service and later became the National Catholic News Service. It is now called the Catholic News Service. The photo service began shortly after the founding of the National Catholic Welfare Conference News Service.

Description of Collections

Books and monographs:

The Catholic News Service Library has approximately 1,000 volumes dating from 1940 to the present. Emphasis of the collection is on U.S. Catholicism with ready reference materials available on this topic, as well as biographical materials on major figures (such as the Pope), hagiographies, and Catholic annuals.

Periodicals and newspapers:

The Catholic News Service Library has 140 diocesan newspapers which are retained for one year.

Archives, manuscripts, correspondence, and oral histories:

The Catholic News Service Library has Catholic News Service clippings from 1920 to 1994 covering U.S. Catholicism. A chronological index covering 1920-1970 exists for this file. An electronic news archive exists from 1988 to the present. Searchable archive exists for Origins, CNS documentary service, from 1971 to the present.

Paintings, photographs, slides, and prints:

The Photo Archives has 50,000 black-and-white news photographs dating from 1920 to the present. The focus of this collection is the Catholic Church with a particular emphasis on the Vatican, Catholic organizations, and church activities. Photos of prominent clerical and lay Catholics are also found here.

Databases, CD-ROMS, and other machine-readable sources:

An in-house database contains CNS daily news service from 1994 to present. This is available to visitors. This is available to visitors with appointments. Website is http://www.CatholicNews.com/ or http://www.originsonline.com/ for the documentary service.

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