Rev. George H. Tavard, A.A., Collection

The d'Alzon Library received the personal library of Fr. George H. Tavard in 2008. Fr. Tavard was born in Nancy, France on February 6, 1922 and died on August 13, 2007.

Fr. George H. Tavard was a member of the Augustinians of the Assumption, the religious order that founded Assumption College, now University. He was ordained in France in 1947 and earned a doctorate of sacred theology from Lyons in 1949. In addition to his priestly duties, Fr. Tavard worked as a teacher, editor and theologian throughout his life, holding faculty posts at Assumption, Mt. Mercy College (Carlow University today), and Methodist Theological School, as well as serving as visiting professor at several institutions. He attended Vatican Council II as a "peritus conciliaris" named by Pope John XXIII, and was a consultant to the Pontifical Secretariat for the Unity of Christians.

Fr. Tavard was a prolific writer with more than 50 books and dozens of articles to his credit. His library of nearly 6000 volumes and his writings clearly reflect his interests in theology, the history of religion, and ecumenism. Specific topics of research include Protestantism, the Reformation, ecumenism, medieval philosophy, the Catholic Church, Church renewal, women in the Church, Maryology, mysticism, and more. Fr. Tavard’s books are shelved throughout the d’Alzon Library.  

In order to locate Fr. Tavard's books in our Library, enter "George H. Tavard, A.A. Collection", maintaining the quotation marks, in the main search box of the Library's website. 

In addition to donating his books to the d’Alzon Library, Fr. Tavard donated his archives to Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI.