Pitts Theology Library is the premier theological library in North America, with world-renowned collections that support the curricular and research needs of Candler School of Theology, Emory University, and scholars from around the world. With total holdings of more than 650,000 volumes, including more than 155,000 rare books, the library grows its impact on the church, the academy, and the public through public programming, exhibitions, research projects, and digitization. Pitts’ Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection is North America’s premier collection of materials documenting the religious and cultural changes in Europe in the 16th century, initiated by the work of Martin Luther (see http://pitts.emory.edu/kessler). Now comprised of more than 4,000 print and manuscript items, the Kessler Collection is a rich resource for research, teaching, and public engagement through exhibitions, research fellowships, and digitization.
Pitts Theology Library is raising funds to take its Kessler exhibition program to the next level. With the reopening of our exhibition gallery after the pandemic, Pitts plans to expand the program to include more interactive digital elements, greater outreach, more partnerships with other institutions, and digital exhibition companions. We invite you to join us to welcome more people into our gallery and to take the treasures of our gallery to visitors all over the world!
The Pitts exhibition gallery is the centerpiece of the library's public programming. Kessler Collection exhibitions have sparked students' creativity, reinforced classroom learning, and prompted deeper research into the 16th century. Consider these quotes from students who recently toured our gallery:
“In Old Testament bible class, we learned then different types of bible, like the Vulgate, the Gutenberg Bible, Geneva Bible, and King James Bible. I originally just imagined old looking Bibles in different languages. However, in the library I could see the difference between the writing style from handwritten Bibles in the 1300's to print Bibles after 1455. Also the font styles, paper binding, illustrations, and size of the Bible changed based on the time period and purpose. For example, smaller Bibles were more for personal use whereas larger Bibles were typically for churches or libraries.”
"I found that the texts not only expanded my thinking on the Bible but increased my knowledge as well. It caused me to think about both the imagery and translations that the Bible experienced over time. It also made me think more about the rarity of the Bible centuries ago and how difficult it was to obtain and create.”
"Learning about all of these different sources being used to write Bibles was something that really intrigued me, because in Intro to History, we really did focus on how the sources which people use can affect our view on history. For example, when only 27 books were put into the New Testament, who decided which books were not to be included? Were they biased or somehow inaccurate in the way they chose? Learning about this fight between Luther and the Catholic Church about which source to use when translating Bibles, which is something that would affect history and the sources we use today, so in a way, they were fighting for the future, something I think is really cool to think about."
