Unity Library and Archives

Unity Library and Archives is a spiritual and educational resource center serving Unity Institute students and faculty, retreat guests and anyone seeking information, education and spiritual inspiration.

We are located at Unity Village at the east end of the Education Building. The Circulating Library is located on the first floor, and the Archives is on the second floor.

Contact us:
    Library: librarycontact@unityonline.org
    Archives: archivescontact@unityonline.org

The Library and Archives will begin new hours effective Monday April 20, 2009:

Library
Monday: 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Tuesday-Thursday: 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Archives
Monday-Thursday: 8-11 a.m., 12-4 p.m.

The Archives are also open by appointment. Contact at Ext. 2020 or 816-347-5539.

• New Thought
• World Religions
• Health and Healing
• Metaphysics
• Mysticism and Esotericism

In addition, the Library features online access to databases, children's materials and a complete collection of published Unity materials. A closed collection of New Thought and other metaphysical materials is available for use within the Library.

Library cards are available at the circulation desk for Unity Institute students and faculty, Unity employees, SpiritPath retreat participants and UMKC Courtesy Card holders. Some limited-use cards are available for others. Please bring a photo I.D.

Unity Institute distance-learners currently enrolled may request a library card online. All others must apply in person at the Library Circulation desk.

Interlibrary loan services are available to Unity Institute students, faculty and Unity employees with valid library cards.This service is for materials not available at Unity Library and Archives or through the Kansas City Library Consortium (KCLC). Please check our collections and KCLC before requesting an interlibrary loan.

Interlibrary Loan Form

Reserve materials are items which have been selected by faculty for use by students in their classes. These materials are kept at the Circulation desk on the main floor.

The Library reserves the right to charge fines for late, lost or damaged material. Fines are $0.25 per day on regular circulating collections. Fines for reserves are $1 for the first hour and $0.25 per every hour after that.

Computers with the Library's online catalog, research databases, Internet connection, e-mail capability and Microsoft Office 2000 Professional software are available for use in the Library and Archives. You must sign in at the Circulation or Archives reference desks to use the computers. Please see the library staff for computer policies, guidelines and sign-in procedures. Wi-Fi access is available throughout the Library and Archives.

The Archives preserves a unique collection of records, personal papers and other materials documenting the history and life of the Unity movement. The historic materials form a vital link in the movement's collective memory.

Watch "Unity: At Once a View and a Vision",  a 1926 Silent film about Unity. 

Watch Part 1

Watch Part 2

The video includes scenes of Unity's Kansas City headquarters, image of Charles Fillmore delivering a Sunday morning lesson, views of the auditorium, library, offices publishing plant, and radio room.  Scenes of Unity Farm include landscapes, residences, the swimming pool and a vision of a future Unity Village campus. Video courtesy of Unity Library and Archives.

The Archives is located on the second floor of the Library. Materials include periodicals, photographs, microfilm, audio, video and other formats. These collections are not part of the lending library but are available for research purposes. The Archives also includes the historic offices of Unity founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, which can be viewed during open hours.

Contact the Archives with any questions and to arrange time for research.

Download the Unity Archives Research Guide.