Pitts Theology Library

Did you know that today’s date (12921) is a palindrome? Librarians at Pitts recently went on a research adventure to decipher a Latin palindrome in this image from a 1577 history of Turin, Italy in Pitts’ rare book collection. Visit pitts.emory.edu/blog to learn more about their exciting discoveries involving Jesus, a rainbow, some confusing Hebrew letters, the Greek goddess Iris, and some hedgehogs!

Pitts recently acquired a copy of the earliest printed 'Glossa Ordinaria,' the Latin text of the Vulgate Bible with marginal and interlinear "glosses" or commentary, largely written by figures in the early church. The library's copy was printed in 1480 in Strasbourg by Adolf Rusch for the Nuremberg-based publisher Anton Koberger, who is well-known as the printer of the Nuremberg Chronicle. Learn more about this rare book acquisition from Armin Siedlecki, Head of Cataloging and Rare Book Cataloger, in the Pitts Librarians' Blog at pitts.emory.edu/blog! #rarebooks

Bloomsbury Academic publishes around 1,200 books each year with a significant presence in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Pitts recently acquired online access to over 40 of these titles to support online learning and remote research! Current Emory University students, faculty, and staff can visit the Bloomsbury Collections website to browse titles by subject, title, and more! https://www-bloomsburycollections-com.proxy.library.emory.e

January 25 marks the 'Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul,' and Pitts invites you to explore depictions of the scene on the road to Damascus in its Digital Image Archive! This illustration appears in Christoph Weigel's 1695 'Biblia Ectypa' (Pictorial Bible), recognized as one of the finest examples of German Baroque biblical illustrations. Check out more of these DIA images at https://tinyurl.com/paulconverstiondia! #SaintPaulConversion #CatholicFeasts

Pitts recently acquired online access to a comprehensive global study of the life and work of Martin Luther and the movements that followed him, "The Encyclopedia of Martin Luther and the Reformation" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2017). Published at the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, this work features nearly five hundred entries that examine Luther’s life and impact worldwide and also discusses Luther’s controversies and topics such as gender, sexuality, and race. Emory students, faculty, and staff can access this electronic resource over the holiday through the library catalog at https://tinyurl.com/newlutherbook!

Last June, Pitts librarians participated in the Seventy-fourth Annual Conference of Atla, where professionals across theological libraries come together to present findings, network with colleagues, and learn from a variety of sessions and panels. Find out how Pitts team members contributed from metadata to 3d-tours by checking out the new Summary of Proceedings and Annual Yearbook! https://www.atla.com//summary-of-proceedings-and-yearbook/

While the physical reference desk may be closed, Pitts continues to provide live chat and email assistance for any question from citation to Christology! Meet Graduate Reference Student Assistants Chelsea Mak and Janelle Moore, who use their expertise in advanced religious studies to support the research of Emory faculty, students, staff, alums, and even community members! Start a quick chat at pitts.emory.edu/ask, or book a consultation at pitts.emory.edu/appointments to take advantage of these services during this period of remote learning.

Students at Candler School of Theology, looking for resources to plan worship for the Advent season? Look no further! Visit Pitts' archived Advent Resources workshop http://pittsviva.org/s/workshops/media/252 and Worship Resources libguide https://guides.theology.library.emory.edu/c.php for liturgical calendars, images, music, and more! #worshipresources #weeklyworkshops #Advent2020

On this inauguration day, we look back 44 years to the inauguration of Georgia's own Jimmy Carter as president of the United States. Carter chose Bishop William Ragsdale Cannon, former Dean of Candler School of Theology, to deliver the inaugural prayer (invocation). Cannon’s prayer called into question the myth of American exceptionalism and promoted humility on the part of the nation and forgiveness for those sins that marred our national character and impaired the effectiveness of our government in recent times." On display here is a typescript draft of Bishop Cannon’s prayer along with handwritten corrections, which is part of Cannon's papers in Pitts Theology Library (MSS 371). #inaguration2021

It's hard to believe that final exams are on the horizon! Find updates on study spaces, accessing library resources, and getting research help at pitts.emory.edu/blog #finalexams

The holiday season is upon us, and Pitts Theology Library will be modifying its services and hours as the campus quiets down for the winter intercession. Find updates at pitts.emory.edu/blog, and visit pitts.emory.edu/ask for questions you might have during the break. On behalf of the Pitts staff, we wish all a safe and pleasant holiday!

This special edition of the Fall 2020 Kessler Conversations will be an engaging conversation with our current cohort of Kessler Research Fellows. The conversation will cover the Fellows' current research projects and how they connect the 500-year-old treasures of the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection to the issues facing contemporary communities and congregations. Pitts Theology Library at Emory University invites applications every Spring to serve as a Richard C. Kes...sler Reformation Collection Research Fellows. Kessler Research Fellows will work virtually for a full academic year studying a single item or a single aspect of the Richard C. Kessler Collection. While residence in Atlanta is not required, each fellow will make a Fall and Spring visit to Pitts Theology Library to be in residence for 3 days each visit. During each visit, the fellow will have access to the Kessler Collection for research and will offer one public lecture and conduct one research workshop. During the visit, the fellow will also meet with graduate students and library staff to discuss research methods. Throughout the academic year, the fellow will meet virtually with the Director of Pitts Theology Library and the Rare Book Cataloger to discuss research progress. The fellowship will work toward the creation of detailed metadata for the item(s) studied, a research-quality essay to be published by the library, and a digital exhibition to be hosted by the library. Learn about the work of Alyssa Lehr Evans (Princeton Theological Seminary), Drew Thomas (University College Dublin), and Edmund Wareham (University Of Oxford - Official) in this video on demand! See more

Today is Pitts' final Fall 2020 Kessler Conversation with Valparaiso University Chair in German Reformation Studies & Professor of History and Theology, Ronald Rittgers. Join us from 12-1PM EST at pitts.emory.edu/ronaldrittgers to hear a discussion on "The Reformation of Suffering." #KesslerConversations

On this #ElectionDay2020, Pitts highlights John August Swanson's poster "Get Out The Vote" created in February of this year with an image taken from his 2008 painting entitled "Power to the People." Read more about the collection of Swanson's papers and artwork at Pitts at https://findingaids.library.emory.edu/documents/P-MSS388/! #vote2020

A friendly reminder that while after Thanksgiving Pitts’ physical spaces are closed to patrons, there is study space available for current Emory faculty, students, and staff in the Rita Anne Rollins Building and Cannon Chapel by reservation. To learn about these spaces and to make a reservation, visit http://pitts.emory.edu/seats and select "Candler Buildings" from the dropdown. In addition, books are still available for pickup to Emory students, faculty and staff at pitts.emory.edu/requests. On behalf of the library staff, best of luck as the fall semester comes to a close!

Pitts' final Fall 2020 Kessler Conversation with Valparaiso University's Chair in German Reformation Studies & Professor of History and Theology, Ronald Rittgers, will take place this Wednesday, November 4th at 12 PM EST. Register for free at pitts.emory.edu/ronaldrittgers to learn about "arguably the most important change in the Christian clergy’s doctrine of suffering in the premodern West...that took place in the Protestant Reformation. #KesslerConversations

With Halloween less than one day away, Pitts is getting in the mood with some new acquisitions to complement the season! From the occult sciences to parapsychology, you can find a variety of spooky selections in the library catalog this falljust open discovere.emory.edu, search for a title, and start your virtual browse! #Halloween2020 #newbooks

Only one hour until the 2020 Annual Reformation Day Worship service! Join us to hear Bishop Leila M. Ortiz of the Metro D.C. Synod, ELCA preach as part of the library’s fall Reformation programming exploring the theme "Disease, Healing, and Pastoral Care in the 16th and 21st centuries." Watch live via Candler Worship at https://candler.emory.edu//can/live-streaming-worship.html! #ReformationDay Reformation Day at Emory 2020

Feeling overwhelmed by the information in your class? Don't know where to start researching in the library? Confused about what to believe on social media? This webinar will introduce you to key components of information literacy and help you develop skills to identify, process, and organize all of the information you pick up at Candler and elsewhere. Learn how to develop habits for information consumption that will go with you beyond your time at Candler.

Exegesis can be a daunting task, no matter your level of seminary experience. But you aren’t in it alone! Please join members of Pitts reference team to discuss tips and tools for exegesis! We hope this discussion will help you understand the exegesis process and take some of the anxiety out of your future paper writing! In this webinar, we'll explore what exegesis is, and just as importantly what it isn't, before turning to the techniques and tools you need to engage in exegesis.

Don't miss the annual Reformation Day Worship Service hosted by Pitts as a part of the fall program, "Disease, Healing, and Pastoral Care in the 16th and 21st centuries." This event will be conducted in a new virtual format and no registration is required. Find more details at pitts.emory.edu/reformationday!

October is #TheologicalLibrariesMonth, celebrated to increase awareness of the importance and value of libraries serving theology and religious studies programs through communications and activities for faculty, administrators, staff, and students. As Pitts Theology Library joined Emory and universities around the globe in the shift to remote research and learning in response to the Covid-19 crisis, it was faced with the question "what does theological librarianship mean in the digital world?" From cataloging to communications, Pitts took action to revise and transform its standing policies, procedures, and services. Find out how at https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/pittsblog/?p=2125!

Celebrate LGBTQ History Month with the wealth of resources on the library's LGBTQ Bible & Theology research guide! Find a collection of readings, videos, and more intended to provide an introduction to Queer Biblical Studies and Queer Theology within a Christian framework that will be helpful for people regardless of their level of familiarity with queerness, theology, or biblical studies at https://guides.theology.library.emory.edu/LGBTQ #lgbtqhistory #LGBTQHistoryMonth

A Kessler Conversation with the 2020-21 Research Fellows