Ateneo continues to host the American Historical Collection

Ateneo de Manila University President Fr Jett. Villarin, SJ, the American Association of the Philippines (AAP), and the American Historical Collection Foundation Inc., signed a Memorandum of Agreement extending the stay of the American Historical Collection at the Rizal Library until 2030.

The 13,518 books, 18,674 photos and artifacts in the collection is a compendium of documents and artifacts about and from the American period in the Philippines’ history. Included among the artifacts is a diploma-sized passport US in use during that time. Another is a white sharkskin shirt containing the signatures of over 200 former American soldiers donated to the collection in 1990.

“The visit of our friend, Ambassador Harry Thomas, then is more than a marker of the American character of the collection. Your visit today signifies the truth that deep down our nations have shared much, a reality exemplified by what we have done together, even and especially in times of war. But as the collection here shows, even in times of relative quiet, there are many occasions when friendship and shared purpose are fostered,” Villarin said.

The memorandum, signed by Villarin on behalf of the Rizal Library and Rey Cunningham for the American Association of the Philippines and Lesley Ann Murray for the American Historical Collection Foundation Inc., stated that the collection will be housed in the Rizal Library 10 more years. This would be in addition to the original agreement which stated that the collection would be housed at Ateneo for 25 years (1995 to 2020).

The new MOA was witnessed by US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas who said the collection is no ordinary library since it is “the largest of its kind in SouthEast Asia, second only to the Library of Congress.”

“We must not ignore the past as we plan for the future,” Thomas said adding that “this collection is all about our history here.”

The American Historical Collection is located at the 2nd Level Rizal Library Special Collections Building, Ateneo de Mania University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City.

Press release and photo from Ateneo de Manila University