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The Joseph P. Mobberly, SJ Papers (1815-1827)

The Joseph P. Mobberly, SJ Papers (1815-1827) consist of the remembrances, observations, and expositions of a Jesuit who worked principally as manager of St. Inigoes, a house and plantation in St. Mary’s County, and taught at Georgetown College. Brother Mobberly wrote passionately on a wide variety of topics: agricultural management, focusing particularly on the economic viability of enslaved labor and strategies for maximizing the production of wheat, corn, and other alternatives to tobacco production; the plundering of St. Inigoes by British sailors during the War of 1812 which he witnessed; and spiritual phenomena ascribing power to miracles, ghosts, and curses. Most notably, he explores a Biblical interpretation of racial difference that was used to justify slavery and to explain what he believed to be the transgressive behavior among African Americans.

The papers, frequently cited as “The Mobberly Diaries,” consist of five memoranda books that were written retrospectively for the most part. The earliest of these, a volume probably written in 1823, describes events at Georgetown and St. Inigoes between 1805 and 1820. The other four memoranda books dated between 1824 and 1827 record some events shortly after their occurrence, but these entries are interspersed with short expositions on past events or his views on race, agricultural management, miracles, Protestants, and liberty. In addition to the memoranda books, the collection contains a treatise on the rules of Jesuit and student life; a two-volume defense of slavery based on the Biblical story of Noah's sons, particularly Cham; and his narrative of a demonic possession in Morgantown, W.V., popularly known as “Wizard’s Clip.”

Image:  Detail from Treatise on Slavery - Cham (2 of 2), 1823

Bioethical Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Digital Collection

This This collection consists of the work of Georgetown faculty on bioethical issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes articles (written for both the general public and the scholarly community) and recordings of lectures and webinars that have been presented in the wake of the pandemic. A number of Georgetown University affiliated institutions are represented in the collection, including the Kennedy Institute of Ethics; the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics; Global Engagement; the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs; and the Catholic Health Association. Works produced by Georgetown scholars that have been published by external organizations are also included in the collection.

Image: Policemen in Seattle wearing masks made by the Red Cross at the time of the Spanish flu outbreak, December 1918. (Culver Pictures via Washington State Archives)

Selected Works of John Courtney Murray, S.J. 

This collection contains a near comprehensive bibliography of the published and unpublished works of John Courtney Murray, S.J. One of the premier Catholic political theorists and theologians of the 20th century, Murray is perhaps best known for his contributions during Vatican II, serving as a key shaper of the Declaration on Religious Freedom, Dignitatis Humanae. This collection includes material that has long been out of print, as well as copies of speeches and talks found only in the John Courtney Murray Papers, housed within the archives of the Woodstock Theological Library.

Image: Detail from title page of The Declaration on Religious Freedom, 1966

Featured Scholarly Publications

Maximizing Community-Based Development Outcomes: The Case of Raleigh's Downtown South Proposal

This paper explores a proposed large mixed-use development project in Raleigh, North Carolina as a case study to identify potential linkages between privately conceived urban development, community benefits, and the corresponding roles played by the private sector, municipalities and community stakeholders. Following a literature review and review of case study precedent practices, research was conducted through unstructured interviews with public and private stakeholders in Raleigh and analysis of project-based scenarios. This paper argues that when receiving proposals, cities must embrace partnerships to maximize positive community-based development outcomes.

Quantifying Accessibility and Equity in Washington, D.C.'s Bicycle Facilities 

Robust bicycle infrastructure not only improves the safety of cyclists, but also improves the mobility of the populace and improves their access to urban amenities. With a small land area, numerous shared bicycle services, and mild topography, Washington, D.C. should be simple to traverse by bicycle. Unfortunately, the bicycle facilities of Washington, D.C. are inequitably concentrated in the central business district, and poor and non-white populations have reduced access to the bicycle facilities network. Through complete analysis and evaluation of Washington, D.C.'s bicycle infrastructure using GIS mapping, the deficiencies of Washington, D.C.'s current network are laid bare. As is, Washington, D.C.'s bicycle infrastructure fails to fill the most important role of bicycle infrastructure in a multimodal transportation system: failing to connect riders to needed destinations and links to high capacity transit. By understanding the deficiencies of the current systems and potential solutions, Washington, D.C. can become a world leader in bicycle infrastructure while better integrating all residents into a complete multimodal transportation network.