Subseries 1 - Stations of the Cross

Identity area

Reference code

CA ON00389 F23-1-1

Title

Stations of the Cross

Date(s)

  • 1940s (Creation)

Level of description

Subseries

Extent and medium

11 drawings: pencil sketches with varying degrees of colour

Context area

Name of creator

(29 September 1901 – 12 October 1954)

Biographical history

Caryll Houselander was born on September 29, 1901, in Bath, England, to Gertrude Provis Houselander and Willmott Houselander. After her parents' separation, Houselander was sent to a French-run convent boarding school in Olton (1913-1915) until she became ill and paused her education to live in a convalescent home. In 1917, she moved to an English convent school, but dropped out to begin working that same year. Despite lacking formal theological education, Houselander went on to make significant contributions to various religious periodicals and published multiple books throughout her adult life. She was a Catholic artist, mystic, and spiritual writer. Her first book, "This War is the Passion," was published in 1941. Houselander's work often explored the theme of finding Christ in humanity and emphasized the importance of empathy in the modern age. Her writings provided comfort and guidance to many individuals during and after the World Wars. Houselander passed away on October 12, 1954, at the age of 53.

Archival history

Most of the sketches held at the John M. Kelly Library Special Collections are studies for a series of coloured drawings of the Stations of the Cross. The coloured drawings were created for Lydwine van Kersbergen, Doddridge Farm, Libertyville Il and most were presumably lost in a torpedo attack while en route to U.S.A. in 1941, though there is one fully coloured image present in this series.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Donated by Margot King.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

Accrued in one donation.

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Physical characteristics and technical requirements

    All drawings from this series are encased in non-archival frames.

    Finding aids

    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    Existence and location of copies

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    Related descriptions

    Notes area

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Access points

    Subject access points

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    Name access points

    Genre access points

    Description identifier

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    Rules and/or conventions used

    Dates of creation revision deletion

    Created by A Mociani 21 March 2025.

    Language(s)

    • English

    Script(s)

      Sources

      Coady, M. F. (2023). Caryll Houselander : a biography. Orbis Books.
      King, M. (2002). Caryll Houselander Art Work. Peregrina Publishing Co.
      Ward, M. (1962). Caryll Houselander. Sheed & Ward.

      Accession area