The Library at Campion College, Toongabbie, Australia, has recently received a notable collection, the books and papers of the distinguished priest and teacher, Rev Dr Austin Woodbury SM (1899-1979).
Dr Woodbury, fondly known as the ‘Doc’, was the first rector (1938-1943) of the Marist Seminary at Old Toongabbie – now the site of Campion College – and also the founder in 1945 of the Aquinas Academy in Sydney.
The collection now at Campion has come chiefly from the Marist Fathers’ Colin Library at Hunters Hill, which was recently decommissioned. It comprises Dr Woodbury’s personal books (with either his signature or an official stamp of the collection on the title page), archival material related to the preparation of his lectures, and various reference texts and rare editions, especially of St Thomas Aquinas’ work.
The material is significant as the working collection of an outstanding teacher of Thomistic philosophy who greatly influenced seminarians and priests as well as lay people.
The Campion College Librarian, Ms Angela Kolar, noted, “This special collection will be of interest to the great company of those who were taught by Dr Woodbury over the years. Already I have received expressions of interest from researchers who wish to work with this material.”
Campion College has made strong efforts to celebrate the Marist heritage at Old Toongabbie. Recently a full-size sculpture of St Edmund Campion was unveiled on the campus, across from the existing statue of the Marist martyr, St Peter Chanel.
A co-founder of Campion College, Mr Karl Schmude, has commented on the wider significance of Dr Woodbury’s collection. “Its acquisition will further strengthen the links with the Marist tradition at Campion College, as well as providing a vital resource for scholars in the history of Catholic higher education in Australia.”