CHICAGO (January 14, 2009) - The Newberry Library recently acquired more than 5,000 rare books and other printed materials from the McCormick Theological Seminary, located in Chicago. The gift, combined with existing Newberry materials, strengthens the Newberry's position as one of the world's great repositories materials for the history of the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter Reformation, the history of religious communities in Chicago, the history of the Bible, and the study of religious ephemera.
The acquisition includes such materials as English imprints dating from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, medieval manuscripts, a thirteenth-century Bible, a sixteenth-century printed book illustrated by hand colored woodcuts, and a unique volume of sermons preached across the Union after the assassination of President Lincoln. The McCormick deposit complements six other major Chicago-area seminary collections of rare books and manuscripts that have been donated to the Newberry since 1991. The Library also maintains a joint acquisition program with the University of Notre Dame, Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, and seven other Midwestern institutions that has brought numerous rare works of liturgy and theology to Chicago.
"Combined, the resources of the Newberry Library and McCormick constitute the best collection of manuscript and early-printed Bibles in mid-America," said Paul Saenger, curator of rare books and collection development librarian at the Newberry Library. "This generous gift, merged with the Newberry's strong collection of biblical and theological rare books, emphasizes the importance of Chicago as a hub for scholarship in these areas."
A generous gift from the B.H. Breslauer Foundation is underwriting the cost of conserving and cataloging the collection. The foundation, formed by the renowned antiquarian bookseller Dr. Bernard H. Breslauer, makes grants to libraries and not-for-profit institutions that collect rare books and manuscripts.
Once fully cataloged, the gift will provide readers worldwide formerly unprecedented access to these rare tracts.
"These books have been true hidden treasures-kept, honored, but out of sight and unavailable for use by the larger world," said Christine Wenderoth, librarian of the JKM Library serving McCormick Theological Seminary. "This new partnership results in a beautiful marriage: McCormick brings valuable rare and bibliographic resources to the Newberry family; Newberry provides McCormick's rare books with care and visibility."
ABOUT THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY
The Newberry Library, a preeminent humanities research and reference institution, is home to a world-class collection of books, manuscripts, maps, music, and other printed materials related to the history and cultures of Western Europe and the Americas. The collections span many centuries and feature items such as illuminated medieval manuscripts, rare early maps, rich genealogical resources, and the personal papers of Midwest authors. The Newberry offers exhibits based on its collections, musical and theatrical performances, lectures and discussions with today's leading humanists, seminars and workshops, and teacher programs. Visit www.newberry.org to learn more.