The archival holdings of the Western Orthodox University are concentrated upon the history of the smaller Orthodox and Catholic-originated churches during the period 1866 to the present day. The major collections are those of the Apostolic Episcopal Church/Catholicate of the West and the Abbey-Principality of San Luigi. In addition, information is held on many other denominations and clergy, including a large number of books and periodicals published privately and which are therefore absent from the collections of the major copyright libraries.

The archive includes not only documentary materials, but also a number of historic artefacts. Those in the San Luigi collection in particular are of considerable significance, and include the King Peter Cross, presented by King Peter II of Yugoslavia to Prince-Abbot Edmond II of San Luigi, and a number of articles made in India in the nineteenth-century which were formerly in the possession of Archbishop Joseph René Vilatte. The archive contains manuscript correspondence (some in photocopy) to and from Prince-Abbots Joseph III, Edmond I and Edmond II of San Luigi, publications, photographs, and various official documents. The archive also includes documentation and pamphlets that relate to other historic jurisdictions. Some of the most significant and interesting items in the Archive are several vials of Holy Water that was blessed by Prince-Abbot Joseph III and Archbishop Joanny Bricaud, and incense blessed by Prince-Abbot Joseph III. The archive also contains a considerable amount of documentary material concerning the history of the smaller communions during the twentieth-century. In addition to this, there is a good deal of material relating to the Liberal Catholic Church.

The University welcomes collaboration with other scholars interested in these aspects of history and in the independent sacramental movement as a phenomenon. In 2015, the University acquired responsibility for the Arnold Harris Mathew Center for the Study of the Independent Sacramental Movement formerly housed at European-American University, and will where appropriate bring forward research and discursive material for book and article publications in the future.

A selection of items from the Archive is given below:

The Holy Star of Office of the Old Catholic Orthodox Church. White gold and amethyst, with gold set enamelling, made by Wilson and Gill, goldsmiths of London, for Patriarch James Bartholomew Banks in 1936.

The Succession Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thorns. Passed down through the generations via each of the Prince-Abbots to the present incumbent, this pectoral cross is reserved to the Grand Master of the Order of the Crown of Thorns.

Among the greatest of the treasures in the archive of the Abbey-Principality of San Luigi is the bronze statue known by us as the Vilatte Madonna. This statue is Indian, twenty-four inches high, and was presented to Prince-Abbot Joseph III (Archbishop Joseph-René Vilatte) by the Malankara Indian Orthodox Church under Mar Julius I Alvarez, which body was responsible for his episcopal consecration in 1892. It was donated to the Abbey-Principality as a gesture of friendship and support by its prior custodians in the United States of America.

Jewelled gold pectoral cross presented by King Peter II of Yugoslavia to Prince-Abbot Edmond II of San Luigi, with typewritten note of dedication from the King “as a token of my Friendship and Appreciation.”

Pectoral cross of Prince-Abbot Joseph III, worn around the time of his consecration in 1892.

Ring of Prince-Abbot Joseph III.

The Bricaud Cross. This pectoral cross was presented by Archbishop Joanny Bricaud to Prince-Abbot Joseph III and played an important role in the ceremonial of the American Chapter of the Order of the Crown of Thorns. This copy was commissioned by the present Prince-Abbot from master jeweller Count Carl Lemke. It is in gilt bronze set with rubies. The chain shown here was owned by Prince-Abbot Edmond II. The cross has been consecrated using a small vial of Holy Water that had been blessed by Archbishop Bricaud, who died in 1934.

Jewelled gold pectoral cross presented by Archbishop Lowell Paul Wadle to Prince-Abbot Edmond I to mark the concordat with the American Chapter of the Order of the Crown of Thorns.

Silver pectoral cross presented by Prince-Abbot Edmond I to Archbishop Lowell Paul Wadle to mark the concordat with the American Chapter of the Order of the Crown of Thorns.

Gold bullion preaching stole of Prince-Abbot Joseph III

Antique set of carved brass Sanctus bells, brought from India by Prince-Abbot Joseph III and formerly part of the American Chapter archive.

Stole of Bishop Hugh Michael Strange (Comte L’Estrange), decorated with gold thread.

Gloves, stole, burse and maniple of Prince-Abbot Edmond I.

Chalice and paten of Prince-Abbot Edmond I.

L to R: Gold jewelled pectoral cross of Archbishop Paul G.W. Schultz; Gold pectoral ornament of the Order of the Crown of Thorns of Archbishop Frederick C. King; Gold pectoral cross of Prince-Abbot Edmond II. These were worn on the occasion of the memorial service for Archbishop Homer Ferdinand Roebke in 1975 at which the three bishops concelebrated. A chalice and paten of Archbishop Roebke are also preserved in the Archive.

Pure silk cassock of Archbishop Frederick Charles King

The Grand Collar of San Luigi, commissioned by Prince-Abbot Edmond III from master jeweller Count Carl Lemke upon his accession, and worn on ceremonial occasions.

Archbishop Edgar Ramon Verostek (wearing the insignia of the Order of the Crown of Thorns) with Prince-Abbot Edmond II on the occasion of the latter’s consecration, 5 May 1963. This photograph was taken at the private oratory of Prince-Abbot Edmond II. On the altar can be seen a statue of the Infant of Prague that was a gift from King Peter II of Yugoslavia to the Prince-Abbot.

Silver pectoral cross of Primus Dr Charles Boltwood. A set of vestments belonging to Dr Boltwood is also preserved in the Archive.

Pure silk cape of office gifted by Prince-Abbot Edmond I to the late Archbishop Harry Carpenter (Mar Veritas) “to honor the memories of those who pioneered our cause”.

Hand-enamelled antique pectoral cross, the gift of Mar Georgius of Glastonbury

Some archival photographs of members of the Orders; Archbishops Aneed and Spruit with their clergy.

First page of a manuscript letter from Prince-Abbot Joseph III to Archbishop Lloyd, 1920.

Consecration certificate of Archbishop Edgar Ramon Verostek

Letter of Prince-Abbot Edmond II

Corporate documentation from 1946 relating to the American Chapter

Announcement of the consecration of Archbishop Odo A. Barry by bishops of the Federated Independent Catholic and Orthodox Churches, 28 July 1946.

Manuscript letter of Archbishop Arnold Harris Mathew to the future Prince-Abbot Edmond I. This was one of the last letters Archbishop Mathew wrote.