A new finding aid for the collection is available here: Finding Aid to the Archives of the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus. Please contact Booth staff if you would like assistance in finding material based on citations from the previous finding aid.
The MPA represents a crucial primary source for the study of the Society of Jesus--from the arrival of the Jesuits in the English colonies in 1634 through their expansion along the eastern seaboard--and, more broadly, for the study of Catholicism in America. More recently the MPA has received increased attention due its documentation of Jesuit slaveholding and Georgetown University’s own reliance on the slave trade. Of particular importance are records pertaining to the 1838 sale of enslaved individuals by the Maryland Province, proceeds of which benefited Georgetown College (now Georgetown University). This sale was orchestrated by Thomas F. Mulledy, S.J., who at the time was President of Georgetown College. For those interested in the history of slavery and African-American life in the mid-Atlantic region--as well as the topic of slavery on university campuses - the MPA provides a wealth of materials. The MPA is also an important genealogical resource for many people, including descendants of the "GU 272."
The entire collection pre-1900 is being digitized and can be found in the University's institutional repository, DigitalGeorgetown. Digitized materials are also being added directly to the finding aid as they are completed.
The MPA is a large and varied collection, and researchers interested in a variety of topics may find rich and sometimes unexpected resources within it. Booth staff are available to assist researchers with a range of experience in special collections research.