Religion

Sermones sancti Augustini de tempore (1494-1495) folio Inc. 7605

Religion infuses most subject areas that fall within the scope of Newberry collections, with special emphasis on history rather than on biblical or theological studies. Collecting in the field of religion focuses on original source material from Western Europe and the Americas, spanning the late Middle Ages through the early twentieth century.

In recent years the Newberry has aquired rare books and archival materials from several religious institutions, among them Mundelein College, the Passionist Monastery of Chicago (Northside), the Divine Word Seminary, and Concordia University. These collections, rich in patristics and early modern theological and devotional literature, are now partially cataloged.

The following genres are found in abundance in most collecting areas of the Library:

• Bibles -- including early and rare editions and editions in many languages
• Sermons
• Prayerbooks and other devotional literature
• Liturgical works
• Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts and early printed books
• Hymnody, psalmody, and other sacred music
• Texts of major and minor writers, many original editions, writing by women
• Long runs of serial publications, such as papers of academies and learned societies, periodicals of religious organizations
• Local history, church history, church records
• Biography and autobiography
• Religious and political tracts, pamphlets, and pedagogical works
• Sheet music
• Collections of family and personal papers

Special strength can be found in the following subjects:

• The institutional history of the Christian churches; canon law
• History of learning, education, libraries
• Humanism
• Missions, especially in North America, Mexico, the Philippines
• Descriptions of religious practices of native peoples in North and South America
• Religious non-conformity, especially Recusancy, Jansenism, Socinianism
• Anti-slavery and abolitionism
• The Roman, Spanish and Spanish American Inquisitions
• Religious publishing and censorship
• Hebraica, especially manuscripts and early printing
• Utopian communities

Bibliographic Guide for Newberry Library