Centre for the Study of the Second Vatican Council - List of archives

The Centre's current holdings include the files and archives of 20 council participants. All of them are listed below. When clicking on a name, you will find for each a concise biographical note, a brief description of the contents of the archive, and information concerning the inventorisation of that particular archive.

I. Archives of Belgian Participants

I.1. Papers of Msgr. G. Philips
I.2. Papers of Fr. D. Van den Eynde (o.f.m.)
I.3. Papers of Fr. E. Schillebeeckx (o.p.)
I.4. Papers of Msgr. E.-J. De Smedt
I.5. Papers of Msgr. C. de Clercq
I.6. Papers of Msgr. V. Heylen
I.7. Papers of Msgr. A Janssen
I.8. Papers of Msgr. J.V. Daem
I.9. Papers of Msgr. J.-M. Heuschen
I.10. Papers of Msgr. W. Onclin
I.11. Papers of Fr. J. van Kerckhoven (m.s.c.)
I.12. Papers of Msgr. C. van Melckebeke (c.i.c.m.)
I.13. Papers of Msgr. J. van Cauwelaert (c.i.c.m.)
I.14. Papers of Msgr. A. Creemers (o.s.c.)
I.15. Papers of Msgr. V. Keuppens (o.f.m.)
Papers of Fr. P. Fransen (s.j.)
I.17. Papers of Flemish Cappucine Province

II. International Council Participants

II.1. Papers of Rev. J. Brouwers

II.2. Papers of Msgr. J.C. Fenton
II.3. Papers O. Semmelroth (s.j.)
II.4. Papers S. Tromp (s.j.)
II.5. Papers Y.M. Congar (o.p.)

III. Others

III.1. Translatio Voluminis (bobina) Magnetici

III.2. Archive J. Grootaers
III.3. Acta Sacrae Facultatis Theologiae Lovaniensis
III.4. Conciliar documents TPV-Collection

IV. Audio Recordings

All of the recordings below are property of the Center for the Study of Vatican II. No parts of them may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without prior permission. All authorization is to be granted by the Center's staff (contact: karim.schelkens@theo.kuleuven.be)

IV.1. Cardinal Bernard Alfrink
IV.2. Cardinal Bernard Alfrink
IV.3. Alvárez Icaza
IV.4. Bishop Alfred Ancel
IV.5. Pedro Arrupe s.j.
IV.6. Pedro Arrupe s.j.
IV.7. Leo Alting von Gesau
IV.8. Pierre Benoit o.p.
IV.9. Joseph Blomjous
IV.10. Herman B uelens
IV.11. Cardinal Joseph Cardijn
IV.12. Marie-Dominique Chenu o.p.
IV.13. John Courtney Murray s.j.
IV.14. Ignace de la Potterie s.j.
IV.15. Dominique Dubarle o.p.
IV.16. Bishop Neophytos Edelby
IV.17. Bishop Neophytos Edelby
IV.18. Bishop Neophytos Edelby
IV.19. Bishop Neophytos Edelby
IV.20. Robert Folliet
IV.21. Paul Gauthier
IV.22. José María Gonzalez Ruiz
IV.23. Gregory Baum o.s.a.
IV.24. Bishop Emilio Guano
IV.25. Sr. Mary Luke Tobin
IV.26. Bishop Pessoa Helder Camara
IV.27. Bishop Pessoa Helder Camara
IV.28. Bishop Pessoa Helder Camara
IV.29. François Houtart
IV.30. René Laurentin
IV.30bis. René Laurentin
IV.31. Cardinal Giacomo Lercaro
IV.32. Stanislaus Lyonnet s.j.
IV.33. Bishop Michele Pellegrino
IV.34. Joseph Ratzinger
IV.35. Bishop Thomas Roberts s.j.
IV.36. Edward Schillebeeckx o.p.
IV.37. Edward Schillebeeckx o.p.
IV.38. Luis Alon so-Schökel s.j.
IV.39. Andrei Scrima (Russian Orthodox observor)
IV.40. Roger Schutz
IV.41. Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
IV.42. Cardinal Leo Suenens
IV.43. Cardinal Paul Zoungrana

I.1. Papers of Msgr. G. Philips

Biographic note: Msgr. Gérard Philips (1899-1972) was a priest of the diocese of Liège – 1967 onwards of the new diocese of Hasselt – and a coopted senator for the CVP (Flemish Christian democrat party). Msgr. Philips obtained his STD and STM from the Pontificia Università Gregoriana. Immediately after his professorship at the Minor Seminar of Sint-Truiden and at the Major Seminar of Liège, he became professor of dogmatic theology at the Leuven Theological Faculty. During the conciliar era he was a member of the Preparatory Theological Commission (Subcommissio De Ecclesia), and was later nominated official peritus for the Doctrinal Commission, to which he was appointed vice-secretary in 1963.

Contents: 47 boxes; this archive contains the complete collection of Philips' conciliar papers. Since 1987 we also have Philips' unique collection of index cards used for the commission's redaction of conciliar interventions. Finally, the archive contains a provisional transcription of Philips' council diary. Given Philips' central function as joint-secretary to the Doctrinal Commission the papers contain material regarding all of the schemata of which this commission was responsable.

Inventory: A full inventory of the archive is found in DECLERCK, L. – VERSCHOOTEN, W. (ed.), Inventaire des papiers conciliaires de Monseigneur Gérard Philips, secrétaire adjoint de la commission doctrinale (Instrumenta Theologica, 24), Leuven, 2001.

I.2. Papers of Fr. D. Van den Eynde (o.f.m.)

Biographic note: The franciscan friar Damien (Marcel) Van den Eynde o.f.m. (1902-1969), obtained his STD from Leuven with a dissertation in the field of patrology. Van den Eynde then became professor (later rector) of the Pontificium Atheneum Antonianum in Rome. At the time of the Council, Van den Eynde was a member of the Preparatory Theological Commission (Subcommissio De Revelatione). Later he became a conciliar peritus for the Doctrinal Commission. His primary contributions to the Council were as a redactor of the preparatory schema De Fontibus Revelationis, and of the liturgy constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium.

Contents: 7 boxes; this archive contains mostly documents from the Council's preparatory period (1960-1962), reflecting the activity of the Preparatory Theological Commission and of the Liturgical Commission.

Inventory: A provisional inventory is available at the Centre.

I.3. Papers of Fr. E. Schillebeeckx (o.p.)

Biographic note: The Belgian dominican friar Edward Schillebeeckx o.p. (1914-), professor of dogmatic theology at the Dominican Institute of Leuven, and, since 1958 professor of systematic theology at the Catholic University of Nijmegen (the Netherlands), served as official theological advisor to the Dutch episcopate during the Council. As such, he offered significant contributions to the conciliar debates.

Contents: 9 boxes; the original archive of professor Schillebeeckx has been split up into two parts. One part of his papers remains in the KDC-Nijmegen. Photocopies of these are available in Leuven. The second part of Schillebeeckx's papers are property of the Leuven Centre. This archive contains information regarding the history of various conciliar documents, e.g. Dei Verbum, Lumen Gentium, Gaudium et Spes …

Inventory: A very undetailed inventory is available at the Centre.

I.4. Papers of Msgr. E.-J. De Smedt

Biographic note: Msgr. Jozef Emiel De Smedt (1909-1995) was bishop of the diocese of Bruges from 1952 until 1984. Before and during the Second Vatican Council he played a significant role as member of the Secretariate for Christian Unity (from 1960-1965) and as Council father. A spokesman of the Secretariate, Msgr. De Smedt played an important role in its preparations for the Council (Subcommissio IV : De Libertate Religiosa), in the Mixed Commission on Revelation, and contributed greatly to the Council's final position on Religious Freedom.

Contents: 24 boxes; the archive contains De Smedt's complete collection of conciliar documentation. Given his peculiar position, these papers constitute an important source documenting the activities of the Secretariate for Christian Unity, the various redactions of the text De Libertate religiosa, and the Mixed Commission on Revelation, to name only a few.

Inventory: A full inventory of the archive has been published. See GREILER, A. – DE SAEGER, L. (ed.), Emiel-Jozef De Smedt, Papers Vatican II. Inventory (Instrumenta Theologica, 22), Leuven, 1999.

I.5. Papers of Msgr. C. de Clercq

Biographic note: Msgr. Charles (Carlo) de Clercq (1905-1982) was a priest of the diocese of Antwerp. After having obtained doctorates in Ecclesiastical Oriental Sciences (Pontificio Instituto Orientale), in History (Catholic University of Leuven), and in Canon Law (Institut Catholique de Paris), he became professor at the Pontificia Università Lateranense in 1961. He was appointed a council peritus, and was especially active in the Conciliar Liturgical Commission. As an eminent scholar in the field of Oriental Studies, de Clercq was appointed joint-secretary of the Conciliar Commission on the Eastern Churches in 1963.

Contents: 7 boxes; the largest part of Msgr. de Clercq's conciliar papers contains documents relevant to the redaction of Lumen Gentium, Orientalium Ecclesiarum and Sacrosanctum Concilium.

Inventory: An inventory of the Msgr. de Clercq papers is not yet available.

I.6. Papers of Msgr. V. Heylen

Biographic note: Msgr. Victor Heylen (1906-1981) was a priest of the archdiocese Mechelen-Brussels, and was professor of moral theology at the Catholic University of Leuven from 1956 until 1977. Prior to 1956 he taught at the Major Seminar of Mechelen and in various schools for higher education. Although he was never asked to be an official conciliar peritus, Msgr. Heylen played an important role in the redaction of the chapter De Matrimonio of Gaudium et Spes.

Contents: 4 boxes; this archive mainly consists of documents concerning the redaction of Gaudium et spes.

Inventory: L. DECLERCK, Inventaire des papiers conciliaires de Monseigneur J.M. Heuschen, évêque auxiliaire de Liège, membre de la commission doctrinale et du professeur V. Heylen (Instrumenta Theologica, 28), Peeters, Leuven, 2005.

I.7. Papers of Msgr. A Janssen

Biographic note: Msgr. Arthur Janssen (1886-1979), a priest of the archdiocese Mechelen-Brussels, was professor of moral theology at the Leuven Faculty of Theology from 1918 until 1959. During the council preparations he was consultor of the Preparatory Theological Commission.

Contents: 1 box; the archive of professor Janssen contains documents concerning all of the subcommissions of the Theological commission. The largest part of them reflect the preparations of the schema De Ordine Morali.

Inventory: A provisional inventory is available at the Centre.

I.8. Papers of Msgr. J.V. Daem

Biographic note: Msgr. Jules Victor Daem (1902-1993), bishop of Antwerp from 1962 until 1977, was responsable for the secretariate for Catholic Education in Belgium. As a newly elected bishop, he immediately became an active member of the Conciliar Commission on Seminaries, Studies and Catholic Education.

Contents: 1 box; Msgr. Daem's archive consists solely of documents concerning the conciliar discussions on catholic education. The largest part of the Council papers belonging to Msgr. Daem are readily available at the archive of the diocese of Antwerp.

Inventory: An inventory of the archive is not yet available.

I.9. Papers of Msgr. J.-M. Heuschen

Biographic note: Bishop Jozef-Maria Heuschen (1915-2002), was appointed auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Liège in 1962. From 1967 onward he became the first bishop of the new diocese of Hasselt, which he served until 1989. In November 1963, Heuschen became member of the Doctrinal Commission, and began to play a considerable role in the redaction of Gaudium et Spes, Lumen Gentium and Dei Verbum.

Contents: 5 boxes; the papers of Msgr. Heuschen document the redaction of the aforementioned documents. They also contain the collection of the bishops' conciliar correspondence as well as a copy of Heuschen's council memoires (25 pp.).

Inventory: A full inventory of the archive is available at the Centre: L. DECLERCK (ed.), Inventaire des papiers conciliaires de Monseigneur J.-M. Heuschen, évêque auxiliaire de Liège, membre de la commission doctrinale et du professeur J.M. Heylen (Instrumenta Theologica, 28) Leuven, Peeters, 2005.

I.10. Papers of Msgr. W. Onclin

Biographic note: Msgr. Willy Onclin (1905-1989), was a priest of the diocese of Liège and was professor of Canon Law in Leuven from 1938 until 1975. A conciliar peritus, he had a major influence on the redaction of the decree Christus Dominus, which concerns the ministry of bishops and the governance of dioceses. As a result of his work at the Council, Msgr. Onclin was appointed joint-secretary to the Papal Commission for the Revision of the Code of Canon Law in November 1965.

Contents: 13 boxes; this archive contains the full collection of Onclin's conciliar material. A large part of the documents are germane to the redaction of Christus Dominus. However, one also finds documentation relevant to Presbyterorum Ordinis, Optatam Totius and Lumen Gentium.

Inventory: A full inventory to the archive has been published. See VAN DE WIEL, C. – COOMAN G. (ed.), Repertorium van de documenten in het archief Monseigneur Willy Onclin. Tweede Vaticaans Concilie en Pauselijke Commissie voor de Herziening van het Wetboek van Canoniek Recht (Novum commentarium Lovaniense in codicem iuris canonici, 2), Leuven, 1998.

I.11. Papers of Fr. J. van Kerckhoven (m.s.c.)

Biographic note: J. van Kerckhoven (1909-1974) was the General superior of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart from 1958 until 1969. Prior to this he served as the provincial superior of the Belgian province. His rank of general superior made him an official Council member. Although never appointed to a conciliar commission, Msgr. van Kerckhoven – having served three years as a missionary to the Congo himself – played a considerable role in the redaction of the decree Perfectae Caritatis. He was often a liaison, contacted and consulted actual members of the Commission on Missions, or members of the Preparatory Commission on Missions, such as Msgr. T. van Valenberg.

Contents: 4 boxes; this archive contains interesting and original "insider" documentation regarding the redaction of various conciliar schemata, including Schema XIII, De Fontibus Revelationis, De Ecclesia, and especially De Missionibus. The latter material also contains a complete correspondence by Msgrs. van Valenberg and van Kerckhoven for the years 1961-1965.

Inventory: An inventory of the van Kerckhoven papers is not yet available.

I.12. Papers of Msgr. C. van Melckebeke (c.i.c.m.)

Biographic note: Msgr. C. van Melckebeke (1898-1980), was ordained priest of the missionary congregation of Scheut in 1922. In 1946 he was appointed missionary bishop of the diocese of Ninghsia, China, a position he officially maintained until his passing. In reality, Msgr. van Melckebeke functioned as Apostolic Delegate after his expulsion from China in 1962. As one of few representatives of the Church of the Far East, he was a core member of the 'Church of the Poor Group', a conciliar group organized by Msgr. Gauthier.

Contents: 2 boxes; this archive consists only of official TPV-editions of conciliar documents, some of which contain handwritten annotations by van Melckebeke.

Inventory: An inventory of the van Melckebeke papers is not yet available.

I.13. Papers of Msgr. J. van Cauwelaert (c.i.c.m.)

Biographic note: Bishop Jan van Cauwelaert c.i.c.m. (1909-), – son of the Belgian Minister of State Frans van Cauwelaert – a friar of the congregation of Scheut, was bishop of the diocese of Inongo (Democratic Republic of Congo) from 1959 until 1967. During the Conciliar period he was a member of the Commission for the Discipline of the Sacraments. He was one of the leading Congolese missionary bishops at the Second Vatican Council.

Contents: 3 boxes; this archive contains only a few documents germane to the Council. It does, however, include the bishops complete correspondence from the conciliar era documenting conciliar, Congolese and Belgian political and ecclesiastical history.

Inventory: An inventory of the van Cauwelaert papers is not yet available.

I.14. Papers of Msgr. A. Creemers (o.s.c.)

Biographic note: Msgr. André Creemers (1907-1971) was missionary bishop of the diocese of Bondo (Democratic Republic of Congo) from its establishment in 1959. He had already been active as Apostolic Vicar in the area since 1934. Msgr. Creemers was never member of any conciliar commission, and little is known concerning his participation to Vatican II.

Contents: 1 box; this archive consists of photocopied documents. Only a few are conciliar documents; most are correspondence concerning the affairs of his diocese.

Inventory: An inventory of the Creemers papers is not yet available.

I.15. Papers of Msgr. V. Keuppens (o.f.m.)

Biographic note: Msgr. Victor Keuppens (1902-1981) was missionary bishop of Kamina-Kolwezi (Democratic Republic of Congo) from 1959 until 1974.

Contents: 5 boxes; the Keuppens archive contains conciliar material relevant to the redaction of various documents, a large part directly concern De Activitate Missionali Ecclesiae.

Inventory: An inventory of the Keuppens papers is not yet available.

I.16. Papers of Fr. P. Fransen (s.j.)

Biographic note: Father Piet Fransen (1913-1983) was a Belgian jesuit who studied philosophy and theology at the Jesuit theological faculty of Leuven. After his ordination in 1943, he obtained his STD at the Pontificia Universitas Gregoriana, Rome. After this, Fransen became professor of dogmatics at the Jesuit faculty. When, during the Second Vatican Council, Karl Rahner was active in Rome, Fransen was called to replace Rahner for some of his courses at Jesuit theological Faculty of Innsbruck.

Contents: 1 box; the archive of Piet Fransen consists of 103 photographs (101 black and white, 2 colour) documenting the Second Vatican Council (ranging from portraits of bishops and theologians to photographic captures of general council sessions).

Inventory: An inventory to the Fransen archive is not available.

I.17. Papers of Flemish Cappucine Province

Contents: 13 boxes; the archives of the Flemish Province of the Cappucine Order contains the council papers of several of the order's participants, including correspondence, council interventions, photographs, etc. It also holds the personal councl diary of Mgr. Marcel Buyse. The documentation covers all of the four council periods.

II.1. Papers of Rev. J. Brouwers

Biographic note: Jan Brouwers (1918-), was active as the secretary of the Dutch Bishops Conference and served as a theological advisor to the Dutch episcopate during the Council.

Contents: 14 boxes; the archive contains mostly materials reflecting the council participation of Dutch bishops and periti, it also contains ample collections of animadversiones and modi connected to various documents.

Inventory: A full inventory of the Brouwers papers is available at the Centre.

II.2. Papers of Msgr. J.C. Fenton

Biographic note: Msgr. Joseph Clifford Fenton (1906-1969) was editor-in-chief of the American Ecclesiastical Review from 1944 until 1966. In 1963 he resigned as professor of dogmatic theology at the Catholic University of America (USA) due to ill health. During the Council he was a member of both the Preparatory Theological Commission and of the Doctrinal Commission.

Contents: This archive consists of a photocopied transcription of Fenton's council notes, covering the entire period of Vatican II.

II.3. Papers of Fr. O. Semmelroth (s.j.)

Biographic note: Otto Semmelroth (1912-1979) was a German jesuit, professor of exegesis at the Philosophisch-theologische Hochschule Sankt Georgen in Frankfurt. During the conciliar era he was an official peritus and contributed largely to the redaction of Lumen Gentium.

Contents: This archive consists of a photocopy of Semmelroth's council notes.

II.4. Papers of Fr. S. Tromp (s.j.)

Biographic note: Sebastian Tromp (1889-1975), a Dutch jesuit father, was professor at the Gregorian University (Rome) from 1929 until 1967. At the Council he served as the secretary of the Preparatory Theological Commission and, later, of the Doctrinal Commission.

Contents: The archive consists of a photocopied transcription of Tromp's diary for the preparatory period, i.e. from 1960 until 1962.

II.5. Papers of Fr. Y.M. Congar (o.p.)

Biographic note: Yves Marie Congar (1904-1995), a French Dominican, was professor at the Centre d'études dominicaine Le Saulchoir. During the preparatory period of the Council he was a consultor to the Preparatory Theological Commission. At the Council, Congar was an official peritus, residing at the Collegio Belgica in Rome.

Contents: This archive consists of one of the few original two-volumed transcriptions of his Council Notes and a copy of their official annotated publication: Y. CONGAR, Mon journal du Concile, 2 vols. Présenté et annoté par Éric Mahieu, Paris, 2002.

III.1. Translatio Voluminis (bobina) Magnetici

Contents: The 'translatio' is an officially edited transcription of conciliar oral interventions and discussions. These volumes are very interesting for scholars for cautious comparison with the Acta Synodalia, which in some cases appear to have important lacunae. The 'translatio' consists of 40 hardcover volumes.

III.2. Archive J. Grootaers

Biographic note: Jan Grootaers is one of the founders of the Leuven Vatican II studies Centre. A former librarian of the Belgian Parliament, he was also editor-in-chief of the periodical De Maand, and among the first lay professors at the Faculty of Theology. He is internationally reknowned as a Vatican II scholar and chronicler.

Contents: ca. 200 boxes. The Grootaers archive is among the most elaborate collections housed by the Centre. It consists of a vast series of boxes, documenting Grootaers' own activities as well as major events of the council, and the postconciliar reception era. Not all parts of the collection are accessible for consultation, and permission of Prof. Grootaers is required for access to his papers.

Materials regarding the media coverage of Vatican II: Press clipping, materials on the conciliar press secretariat, ... (DOC, IDOC, etc.)
Archive material concerning the Rencontres Internationales des Informateurs Religieux (R.I.I.R.)
Archives of the De Maand
Private diaries of J. Grootaers (a collection of over 300 note books)
Synods (notes and materials documenting the postconciliar synods of bishops).
World Council of Churches (containing materials and notes regarding the assemblies of the WCC)

tains 80 magnetic tape recordings of conciliar conferences; as well as a large amount of information concerning postconciliar synods and publications.

III.3. Acta Sacrae Facultatis Theologiae Lovaniensis

Contents: The 'Acta' contain the official acts – partially handwritten, partially typed - of the Leuven theological faculty for the period from 1910 until 1967. Especially relevant to the Second Vatican Council are the data the Acta include regarding the work of the faculty on the conciliar vota.

III.4. Conciliar documents TPV-Collection

Contents: The TPV-Collection consists of 17 hardcover volumes in which the various conciliar TPV-editions – both preparatory and conciliar – of all the conciliar documents are gathered in a chronological order. It begins with the preparatory schemata and runs through to drafts of the final declarations, decrees and constitutions. It is a highly valuable instrument for scholars investigating the redaction history of any particular conciliar document.