Our History

 Rt. Rev. Eugene Xavier Henry Hyvernat (1858-1941), was the first professor at the Catholic University of America (CUA). He came to Washington DC to teach Biblical and Near Eastern languages, history, and archeology.

In 1923 Hyvernat turned over to the University the title to his valuable 20,000 volume library of books and antiquities for $1 with the understanding and agreement that the library be kept separate for the use of the department, and that no materials be withdrawn from it and located elsewhere except with his formal consent. He added that it was his sincere hope that the Foundation should always remain as an adjunct to the Department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures.

On June 1, 1931, Prof. Henry Hyvernat, Head of the Department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures, wrote to the CUA Board of Trustees to propose a “Foundation for Research in Christian Oriental Literature” at the University.

On June 10, 1931, the University Board of Trustees established the Foundation (for Research in Christian Oriental Literature). By mutual agreement between the Board of Trustees and Hyvernat, the name of this Foundation was changed to Institute for Christian Oriental Research, and later it became the Institute of Christian Oriental Research (ICOR).

The Semitics/ICOR Library was established to support the teaching and research activities of the Department of Semitic & Egyptian Languages & Literatures. Today this work continues under the Department of Ancient and Medieval Languages and Culture and the Institute of Christian Oriental Research (ICOR).

The library rooms (Mullen 031-037, entrance at 035,) house the department faculty, students, the postgraduate research institute, and the Semitics/ICOR collections. The collections focus on the languages of the Hebrew Bible, and the languages, literatures, and history of the early Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities in the Near East and North Africa.