The Vatican Film Library at Saint Louis University: 1950-1990

The Vatican Film Library (VFL) has unique collections and services for manuscript research. The Vatican, Knights of Columbus, and Saint Louis University cooperated to establish the VFL. In 1950, Pope Pius XII provided permission for the University to microfilm the Vatican manuscripts and to become sole depository outside the Vatican Library. The Knights of Columbus provided funding for the project. The VFL's establishment and subsequent activities had significant ramifications for the Vatican Library, Saint Louis University, and other institutions. On-site visits revealed that the VFL's collection has expanded to include: three fourths of the Vatican manuscripts, rare printed books, manuscripts of medieval and Renaissance philosophy, Jesuit documents, color slides of manuscript illuminations, and reference sources. The VFL publishes Manuscripta, a journal, which sponsors the Saint Louis Conference on Manuscript Studies. Growth in the last forty years has resulted in the recognition of the VFL as a major research center.