By Marie Mulvenna

In 24 years, Notre Dame Book Shop has had many homes within the Archdiocese of Atlanta – some large, some small, one “underground.” Now “home” for the shop is Ignatius Retreat House located in North Atlanta on Riverside Drive. It is the seventh location for the non-profit organization which, through all the years, has provided the people of Atlanta with a center of Catholic information, a source of books, gifts, cards, religious articles, posters and a very healthy portion of inspiration.

The book shop was created in 1948 at the suggestion of Bishop Gerald O’Hara with 60 donated volumes and a handful of volunteers headed by Mrs. William Schroder.

There were no funds, just determination and dedication to the need for a center of Catholic thought.

Some 24 years later, there are almost 3,000 books, still only a handful of volunteers, now headed by Mrs. Henry de Give, and still there are no funds. The shop, incorporated in 1951, is not subsidized by the archdiocese and relies solely on its sales. That original determination and dedication are still present, perhaps stronger than ever.

Throughout the years the shop has always faced a struggle with the financial gremlins, trying to keep its head above water while fulfilling its role to the public both Catholic and non-Catholic. It hasn’t been an easy task, but Notre Dame has long since established itself as a vital part of the life of the archdiocese, a source of guidance and information for its people, priests, religious, students as well as the public at large. It is a strong nucleus of Catholic thought in a state that is still only a small percentage of Catholic population.

There was time, a mere 10 months ago, when the book shop did indeed plan to close down. They had no place from which to operate. Lack of funds, made the rental of a suitable facility impossible.

But Mrs. de Give said the announcement that the shop would close drew immediate reaction from many sources. One was the Priests Senate, which was very much opposed to Notre Dame closing its door and even named a committee to search for a new home for the shop. As fate would have it, the shop was offered space by the Jesuit Fathers who operate Ignatius House and, once again, Notre Dame had a home.

The operations of the book shop revolve around three very dedicated ladies-Mrs. de Give, president of the corporation, Mrs. Kathleen Marshall, the full-time manager of the shop and her sister Mrs. Thomas Walsh who assists on a part-time basis. They are aided by a small group of volunteers. For many years, they have immersed themselves in the life of Notre Dame, its many moves, its constant problems and its continuing role of service to the entire community.

Now fairly well settled in their new quarters, which comprise three small rooms near the entrance of Ignatius House, the ladies at Notre Dame not only welcome but seek more business. Mrs. de Give relates their ever-present financial plight and the drop in revenue to the lack of as she terms its “walk-in trade.”

There are not enough patrons stopping in, perhaps due to the fact that the retreat house is somewhat far for downtown customers. However, she does see a somewhat hopeful rising trend in phone and mail orders which she hopes will offset the shortage of “walk-ins.”

“We’re concerned naturally about the financial situation,” she says softly, “but the fact that the shop has survived at all is saying something. It’s always the same concern; I guess you might say it’s the Christian situation.”

Although she feels the shop is filling an obvious need, she admits it has not reached enough people. Some suggestions to combat this include the use of displays and publicity in parishes where parishioners might purchase or order books, religious articles, etc. At present, Mrs. de Give is also in close touch with two other denominations discussing the pooling of their resources as a possible religious education resource center.

Father Larry Hein, S.J., director of Ignatius House, sees the role of the shop as an integral part of Ignatius House, which he describes as an apostolic center rather than solely a Catholic retreat house. He comments that the “presence of the shop is beneficial to both the shop itself and the groups using the center.”

A capsule history of the Notre Dame Book Shop is more than interesting. Its initial base of operation was a small converted log cabin near Buckhead, furnished as a lending library with sample religious articles people could order.

The second home was a walkup location downtown on Peachtree, across from Davisons. When the lease was lost on that location, the shop once again packed up and moved just below the Candler Building on Peachtree.

For five years, the shop had an ideal location and attractive windows beckoned Catholic and non-Catholic alike. “Walk-in” trade was a brisk and many came in seeking information on Catholicism, always dispensed by the ladies with cheer and joy. However, the upkeep of the location began to take its toll financially although they still remained open. A fire and explosion in 1965 wiped out the entire location and once again the move was on.

Fourth home for the shop was the first floor of the Marist College building on Ivy Street. Two years later, the shop again packed up and moved tot he corner of Baker and Ivy, opposite St. Joseph’s Hospital. It was a good location, the ladies recall, but after another two years moving was imperative because the building was being torn down for a parking lot.

Their sixth move was to the basement of Sacred Heart Rectory, offered by Father John Mulroy. This they smilingly refer to as their “underground” home which, when the rectory closed down, merely transferred them next door to the basement of the church itself. However, when Sacred Heart converted the basement space into needed parish offices, Notre Dame was once again homeless.

Currently, Notre Dame has a vast selection of books, almost 3,000 of them, and most of them paperbacks. Mrs. de Give said the cost of hardback books has risen so drastically (almost 1/3 in six years) that most book stores now deal almost exclusively in the less expensive paper backs. She adds, with a smile, that the shop however can order any book at all, religious or other, and have it for a customer in about two weeks.

Many phone orders have helped the shop stay in business and the ability to charge purchases by phone or mail has also been an attractive point. And still Notre Dame is a favorite source of literature for non-Catholics of all denominations.

The market for religious articles? Definitely decreased, says Mrs. Marshall, relating fewer requests for missals, rosaries and other articles. But contemporary as well as traditional religious articles can be obtained through Notre Dame at any time. They have a healthy pile of catalogs for excellent selections of articles as well as liturgical and seasonal cards, pictures and posters.

The shop at one time mailed catalogs, especially at Christmas, but found the cost of printing such an item very expensive. The shop currently has an attractive display of many religious items and all the latest catalogs for obtaining still more.

Mrs. de Give, Mrs. Marshall and Mrs. Walsh have put many years of hard work into keeping Notre Dame Book Shop in existence. It hasn’t been an easy task, nor is it an easy task today. But it is a task that is vastly rewarding to them as living examples of Catholic action. Notre Dame needs support and business. It would be a sad day for the archdiocese if such support was not forthcoming.

We quote an article written 19 years ago in OUR SUNDAY VISTOR about Notre Dame Book Shop: “The only trouble is that there is only one Notre Dame. Georgia needs 20 more like it. The nation needs thousands.”