The Kansas City Ecumenical Library and Research Center was one of the major projects of the Newman Foundation, designed to make “educational and cultural contributions to the metropolitan area.” This project, incorporated in 1962 and launched in 1965, was also sponsored by the Pope John XXIII Foundation. The board had Catholic, Protestant and Jewish directors.[1] The initial goal was to design a library which would recount the history of the ecumenical movement from the 1890’s to the present day. The library identified as “a place designed to fill a community and regional need for a collection of books to study the search for Christian unity, religious cooperation and peace.” It was intentionally non-denominational, in order to provide a neutral source of information for those interested in ecumenism. The library committee included The Rt. Rev. Richard J. Schumacher, Dr. Carl Bangs, The Very Rev. William Baum, Dr. Kenneth LaBudde, The Rev. James Lyons, Rabbi Morris Margolies, The Rev. Robert H. Meneilly, Dr. Alvin C. Porteous, The Rev. Elton O. Smith, Jr., Mr. Frederick Fry, and The Rev. Lawrence Guillot.[2]

The library, located at 5225 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, Missouri, 64110, offered approximately 7,600 volumes, 200 current periodicals, and 1,000 back issues of periodicals.[3] The periodical room included works in English, French, German, and Spanish. The library was open to students, scholars, clergymen, and all readers of interest.[4] In 1969, the entire collection was donated to University of Missouri – Kansas City. At this time, the collection was valued between $35,000 to $40,000. The board believed the collection use would increase as part of the UMKC library.[5] According to Rev. Lawrence Guillot, UMKC was selected for its “academic excellence,” and its ability to provide a “neutral situation in which students and the general public may study the religious phenomenon.” There was also hope that UMKC would develop an accredited undergraduate program of religious studies, as well as an interdisciplinary doctoral degree in religion. [6]

 

References

[1] Guillot, Lawrence, interview by Geneva Blackmer. 2016. Interfaith History in Kansas City (February 15).

[2] The Kansas City Ecumenical Library and Research Center. “Facts About the Kansas City Ecumenical Library and Research Center.” Kansas City: The Kansas City Ecumenical Library and Research Center, n.d.

[3] The KC Reporter. “Ecumenical Library Donates Collection to UMKC.” The KC Reporter, vol. 4, no. 22, 12 Feb. 1969.

[4] The Catholic Reporter. “The Ecumenical Library.” The Catholic Reporter, 1965.

[5] The Kansas City Star. “Pope John Foundation Gives Books to U.M.K.C.” The Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 1969.

[6] The KC Reporter. “Ecumenical Library Donates Collection to UMKC.” The KC Reporter, vol. 4, no. 22, 12 Feb. 1969.