The Hon. Frank J. Guarini Center for Community Memory houses the Saint Peter’s University Archives, Rare Books and Special Collections, and the personal papers of New Jersey U.S. Congressmen Frank J. Guarini (Rep. 1979-1993), Cornelius E. Gallagher (Rep. 1959-1973), and Dominick V. Daniels (Rep. 1959-1977).
The Guarini Center is open to visitors, scholars, patrons, and the Saint Peter’s University community by appointment only. Please email archives@saintpeters.edu to schedule a visit.
To view our digital collections, click here. To visit our online exhibitions, click here.
The Guarini Center could not have been possible without the energy and support of Fariborz S. Fatemi, former Chief of Staff to the Congressman, and gifts of time and funding from the Hon. Frank J. Guarini. It is the product of the collective vision and efforts of Dr. Fatemi, and Library and Archives staff. With the support of the University’s Administration, the project moved from vision to reality.
The University Archives was established in 1988. Fr. John F. Wrynn, S.J., was the first Archivist, working part-time in conjunction with his duties as Professor of History and Superior of the Jesuit Community.
The Archives has a few records dating to the time of the founding of the University, including the institution’s copy of the 1872 New Jersey State Charter, Jesuit journals , student registers, and photographs of the graduating classes of 1897 and 1899; however, most of the documents, images and artifacts are dated after the reopening of the University in 1930. The vast majority of the holdings are more recent, dating from the 1960s to the present.
Common items of permanent value in Archives’ holdings include: official records, papers and publications; certain categories of personal and professional papers of faculty and/or members of the Boards of Trustees or Regents; special collections relating to the history of the University, eminent alumni, and papers or records dealing with the history of the area as they relate to the development of the University.
Items of particular interest include: 1907 College diploma of William J. Durant, historian and author; photographs and correspondence between Rev. Joseph S. Dinneen, S.J., 12th President of Saint Peter’s University, and U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, October 1936; photographs and a signed Michaelmas program from the 1965 visit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and personal papers and memorabilia from renowned geneticist George F. Smith, M.D., ’49.
The current holdings amount to approximately 900 cubic feet of permanent materials. Almost 2,000 materials from the archive have been digitized and are accessible through Saint Peter's Digital Repository.
Saint Peter's University Archives Policy
The Guarini Center Reading Room is open by appointment only. For scheduling, contact the archives@saintpeters.edu.
Standard Operating Hours:
Mondays, Thursdays: 9:30am-4:00pm
The Guarini Center is located in the basement of the O'Toole Library.
Mailing Address:
Saint Peter’s University Archives
O’Toole Library
99 Glenwood Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07306
Phone Number: (201) 761-6462
E-Mail Address: archives@saintpeters.edu