The Collection

THE SPECIAL COLLECTION

The Hong Kierkegaard Library stands as an international center for scholarship of Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard and of existentialism, and houses approximately 20,000 book volumes in its collection. Many of these comprise editions matching those owned by Kierkegaard himself as a part of the Library’s ongoing goal of recreating the philosopher’s personal library.

Also available are periodical articles, newspaper articles, and archival materials related to Kierkegaard studies, the history of the Library, and the biographies of Howard and Edna Hong. As a study and publication center, the Library especially welcomes all with a serious interest in Kierkegaard research.

ACCESSING THE COLLECTION

Visitors may search online for items in the collection via Catalyst. For tips on searching for books or articles, help locating physical items, and information about citing the materials, please see our Kierkegaard Library LibGuide. If you need assistance finding an item in the Kierkegaard Library please speak to one of our staff members.

LIBRARY SECTIONS

The Hong Kierkegaard Library (HKL) is a special collections library and its resources must stay inside the Library. After use of materials and prior to leaving the HKL, books should be placed in the designated area for the Library staff to re-shelve. We request that you do not re-shelve the book yourself. Due to a large number of visiting scholars during the summer, cubicle space within the Library cannot be reserved for individual use. Any open seats or unused spaces are available on a first come, first serve basis. Areas left unattended will be considered available for the next scholar.  During the academic year, HKL and KHF Fellows have their own cubicle office on the Lower Level.

UPPER LEVEL OF STEENSLAND

This floor of the Hong Kierkegaard library is divided into three main sections:

• The Kierk 1 section houses primary sources in all languages (i.e. Kierkegaard as author).
• Kierk 2 contains hundreds of critical materials with substantial sections about Kierkegaard.
• The Related Thinkers (Rel. Th.) section offers materials by and about related thinkers, including contemporaries of Kierkegaard, thinkers who influenced his thought, and later thinkers who were affected by Kierkegaard’s ideas.

Sections of the Upper Level

Lower Level

The Lower Level – Gordon Marino Floor – of the Hong Kierkegaard Library contains the remaining Related Thinkers section, the Dissertations section, dictionaries, thesauri, lexicons, and other reference materials in many different languages, including German, Danish, Latin, Greek, Russian, and Japanese. There are also several shelves of duplicate copies of materials housed on this level. Our Dissertations collection is a gem, with each text donated by eminent scholars about Kierkegaard, his contemporaries, and the growing body of scholarship he has generated.

Sections of the Lower Level

Collections Outside of Steensland Hall

RARE BOOK ROOM

The Rare Book Room, home to the Library’s materials published before 1856 and other rare or fragile materials, is housed in the lower level of the Rolvaag Memorial Library. Scholars wishing to use these materials should reach out to HKL@stolaf.edu, explaining their desired use. We will provide protocol, guidance and assistance to retrieve the book for use and provide special instructions when using the materials. Flash photography and any sort of scanning of the Rare Book Room materials will only be permitted upon special request.

Virtual tour of the Rare Book Room

KIERKEGAARD LIBRARY ARCHIVES

Our archive includes materials related to the biographies and work of Kierkegaard scholars. The Library archives include Howard and Edna Hong and other notable Kierkegaard scholars, the history of the Kierkegaard Library at St. Olaf College, and the history of Kierkegaard studies worldwide. A portion of the Kierkegaard Library Archives are currently housed in Old Main.