Academic libraries in Leuven
Encyclopedia
The city of Leuven was not only the seat of three different Universities, but also through them, the seat of prestigious academic libraries.
The Library of the Old University of Leuven
Since the founding of the University in 1425 until 1636, there was no official library of the university. Very likely the students had access to manuscripts and printed books preserved in the homes of their professors or colleges.
In 1636, however, a library that might be called Central Library was founded in 1636 in the Cloth Hall.
This library and its various additions was sent in 1797 to the Central School of Brussels, official successor of the former university, while its books and most precious manuscripts were deposited in Paris among the national treasures of the National Library.
It is also very likely that during the troubles of the wars of the French Revolution many books and valuable documents surreptitiously followed an “unofficial journey", sometimes with the lofty aim of saving them from disaster, sometimes with the sordid aim of making money from them. It is thus that many libraries across Europe have books and manuscripts that certainly come from the Old University of Louvain, such as the founding charter of 1425 which was located in 1909 at the seminary of s'Hertogenbosch, or the courses of the law professor Henricus de Piro which were located in the late 20th century in the National Széchényi Library
in Budapest.
The Library of the State University of Leuven
The State University of Leuven
, founded in 1817, also established a library. In 1826 the librarian was the great scholar Karl Bernhardi. He was succeeded by P. Namur.
The nucleus of its collection was formed by the works of the municipal library of Leuven that the city offered the State University in 1817. In addition, the State University received from the government of the Netherlands the sum of 20,000 guilders to enrich its book funds.
The Library of the Catholic University of Leuven
This library was established at the very beginning of the Catholic University of Mechlin
in 1834. Until 1914 it had its headquarters in a 17th century building in the rue de Namur. It was this new library that was burned by German soldiers at the beginning of the First World War, on which occasion many valuable works disappeared that had been assembled since 1834 by gift and purchase.
However, contrary to what many believe and write, it was not the books of the Old University of Leuven
which disappeared in smoke; indeed, in 1797, the manuscripts and most valuable works of this university were transported to the National Library
in Paris and all the ancient library (at least officially, as noted above, some books took an "unofficial course") was transferred to the Central School of Brussels, the official and legal successor of the Old University of Leuven
. The library of the Central School of Brussels had about 80,000 volumes, which then came to enrich the library of Brussels, and then the future Royal Library of Belgium
where they are still.
Similarly, all the rich archives of the Old University are still located in the General Archives of the Kingdom.
The new university library of the Catholic University of Louvain (1834-1968) is now located in the place Mgr Ladeuze in a building of neo-Flemish-Renaissance style, designed by the American architect Whitney Warren
and built between 1921 and 1928. The library, whose book collection had been rebuilt with donations coming from all around the world which had been outraged by the barbaric act from which it had suffered, unfortunately burned again in 1940, probably following exchanges of fire between belligerents.
The library was again restored after that date and holds approximately four million books.
Since 1970 the collections have been divided between the two French-speaking and Dutch-speaking universities.
The University Library of the Catholic University of Leuven has acquired not only modern books but also many old books and valuable incunabula.
The Library of the Old University of LeuvenOld University of LeuvenThe Old University of Leuven is the name historians give to the university, or studium generale, founded in Leuven, Brabant , in 1425, and closed in 1797, a week after the cession to the French Republic of the Austrian Netherlands and the principality of Liège by the Treaty of Campo Formio.When...
Since the founding of the University in 1425 until 1636, there was no official library of the university. Very likely the students had access to manuscripts and printed books preserved in the homes of their professors or colleges.In 1636, however, a library that might be called Central Library was founded in 1636 in the Cloth Hall.
This library and its various additions was sent in 1797 to the Central School of Brussels, official successor of the former university, while its books and most precious manuscripts were deposited in Paris among the national treasures of the National Library.
It is also very likely that during the troubles of the wars of the French Revolution many books and valuable documents surreptitiously followed an “unofficial journey", sometimes with the lofty aim of saving them from disaster, sometimes with the sordid aim of making money from them. It is thus that many libraries across Europe have books and manuscripts that certainly come from the Old University of Louvain, such as the founding charter of 1425 which was located in 1909 at the seminary of s'Hertogenbosch, or the courses of the law professor Henricus de Piro which were located in the late 20th century in the National Széchényi Library
National Széchényi Library
The National Széchényi Library is a library in Budapest, Hungary. It is one of the two Hungarian national libraries, the other being the University of Debrecen Library.-History:...
in Budapest.
The Library of the State University of LeuvenState University of LeuvenThe State University of Leuven a liberal, neutral and non-confessional university founded in 1817 in Leuven, Belgium, which was then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was not a continuation of the former Old University of Leuven, however, a dozen of professors of the Old University...
The State University of LeuvenState University of Leuven
The State University of Leuven a liberal, neutral and non-confessional university founded in 1817 in Leuven, Belgium, which was then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was not a continuation of the former Old University of Leuven, however, a dozen of professors of the Old University...
, founded in 1817, also established a library. In 1826 the librarian was the great scholar Karl Bernhardi. He was succeeded by P. Namur.
The nucleus of its collection was formed by the works of the municipal library of Leuven that the city offered the State University in 1817. In addition, the State University received from the government of the Netherlands the sum of 20,000 guilders to enrich its book funds.
The Library of the Catholic University of LeuvenCatholic University of LeuvenThe Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
This library was established at the very beginning of the Catholic University of MechlinCatholic University of Mechlin
The Catholic University of Mechlin was a university that was founded in Mechelen , Belgium, on November 8, 1834 by the bishops of Belgium.The bishops aimed to create a university "to accommodate any doctrine from the Holy Apostolic See and to repudiate anything that does not flow from this august...
in 1834. Until 1914 it had its headquarters in a 17th century building in the rue de Namur. It was this new library that was burned by German soldiers at the beginning of the First World War, on which occasion many valuable works disappeared that had been assembled since 1834 by gift and purchase.
However, contrary to what many believe and write, it was not the books of the Old University of Leuven
Old University of Leuven
The Old University of Leuven is the name historians give to the university, or studium generale, founded in Leuven, Brabant , in 1425, and closed in 1797, a week after the cession to the French Republic of the Austrian Netherlands and the principality of Liège by the Treaty of Campo Formio.When...
which disappeared in smoke; indeed, in 1797, the manuscripts and most valuable works of this university were transported to the National Library
Bibliothèque nationale de France
The is the National Library of France, located in Paris. It is intended to be the repository of all that is published in France. The current president of the library is Bruno Racine.-History:...
in Paris and all the ancient library (at least officially, as noted above, some books took an "unofficial course") was transferred to the Central School of Brussels, the official and legal successor of the Old University of Leuven
Old University of Leuven
The Old University of Leuven is the name historians give to the university, or studium generale, founded in Leuven, Brabant , in 1425, and closed in 1797, a week after the cession to the French Republic of the Austrian Netherlands and the principality of Liège by the Treaty of Campo Formio.When...
. The library of the Central School of Brussels had about 80,000 volumes, which then came to enrich the library of Brussels, and then the future Royal Library of Belgium
Royal Library of Belgium
The Royal Library of Belgium is one of the most important cultural institutions in Belgium. The library has a history that goes back to the age of the Dukes of Burgundy...
where they are still.
Similarly, all the rich archives of the Old University are still located in the General Archives of the Kingdom.
The new university library of the Catholic University of Louvain (1834-1968) is now located in the place Mgr Ladeuze in a building of neo-Flemish-Renaissance style, designed by the American architect Whitney Warren
Whitney Warren
Whitney Warren was an architect with Charles Delevan Wetmore at Warren and Wetmore in New York City.-Biography:He was born in 1864 and his brother was Lloyd Warren, also an architect. He was a cousin of the Vanderbilts and spent ten years at the École des Beaux Arts...
and built between 1921 and 1928. The library, whose book collection had been rebuilt with donations coming from all around the world which had been outraged by the barbaric act from which it had suffered, unfortunately burned again in 1940, probably following exchanges of fire between belligerents.
The library was again restored after that date and holds approximately four million books.
Since 1970 the collections have been divided between the two French-speaking and Dutch-speaking universities.
The University Library of the Catholic University of Leuven has acquired not only modern books but also many old books and valuable incunabula.
See also
- Universities in LeuvenUniversities in LeuvenThe city of Leuven, in the former Duchy of Brabant was the seat of three universities and of a universitarian college:*1425: The University of Leuven or Studium Generale Lovaniense or Universitas Studiorum Lovaniensis, was founded by a French prince, Jean de Bourgogne, Duke John IV of Brabant,...
- Old University of LeuvenOld University of LeuvenThe Old University of Leuven is the name historians give to the university, or studium generale, founded in Leuven, Brabant , in 1425, and closed in 1797, a week after the cession to the French Republic of the Austrian Netherlands and the principality of Liège by the Treaty of Campo Formio.When...
- State University of LeuvenState University of LeuvenThe State University of Leuven a liberal, neutral and non-confessional university founded in 1817 in Leuven, Belgium, which was then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was not a continuation of the former Old University of Leuven, however, a dozen of professors of the Old University...
- Catholic University of MechlinCatholic University of MechlinThe Catholic University of Mechlin was a university that was founded in Mechelen , Belgium, on November 8, 1834 by the bishops of Belgium.The bishops aimed to create a university "to accommodate any doctrine from the Holy Apostolic See and to repudiate anything that does not flow from this august...
- Katholieke Universiteit LeuvenKatholieke Universiteit LeuvenThe Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
- Université catholique de LouvainUniversité catholique de LouvainThe Université catholique de Louvain, sometimes known, especially in Belgium, as UCL, is Belgium's largest French-speaking university. It is located in Louvain-la-Neuve and in Brussels...