A Peek at Rare Books

One of the most fascinating rooms in the Bishop Payne Library is that of Special Collections – a.k.a. “The Rare Book Room.” In it are housed nearly 2,000 books of significant antiquity and/or value. For example, the earliest printed book in the collection, dated 1497, is a Biblical commentary by one of the most influential Biblical scholars of the Middle Ages – Nicolaus Lyranus, a French Franciscan. His commentary was among the most widely used until the 16^th century, and among its most appreciative users was Martin Luther.

Another gem is a translation by Luther, dated 1523, of the Hebrew Old Testament into the German vernacular. Special Collections contains extensive Reformation-era works, including a 1551 defense by Thomas Cranmer of the Reformed theology of the Eucharist. Also worthy of note is a printed indulgence that, while undated, refers to Pope Leo X, who was Pope from March 1513 until December 1521.

The collection contains Bibles from the 16^th and 17^th centuries, American Books of Common Prayer beginning with the proposed BCP of 1786 (“to render the liturgy consistent with the American revolution”), and Episcopal hymnals dating from 1811. Here are a few more treasures: A copy of the sermon preached at the consecration of The Rt. Rev. Samuel Seabury, first Bishop of the Episcopal Church, on November 14, 1784, in Aberdeen.

The Proceedings of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society contain fascinating reports written by missionary bishops such as Jackson Kemper, James Otey and their contemporaries, reporting on their travels throughout their far-flung territories, the number and assignments of clergy, and the work of evangelism among Native American tribes. There is even a copy of The Life of Our Lord, Written for His Children During the Years 1846 to 1849, by the great English novelist Charles Dickens. The Dickens family held this work in private until the death of Dickens’ last child in 1933.

The Bishop Payne Library Special Collections room contains a world of rare and fascinating material. These treasures are available for viewing by the Seminary community and other researchers. The Librarian, Dr. Mitzi Budde, is delighted to show the collection to interested classes or individuals. You can contact her at mjbudde@vts.edu or 461-1756.

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Theological Libraries Month

October is Theological Libraries Month!

This month the Bishop Payne Library will join the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) in celebrating Theological Libraries Month. The event highlights the vital role that libraries play in theological education. Through the library’s 200,000 volume collection and its full-text electronic databases, we seek to make research resources available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We’re eager to hear from you, our patrons. What do you like about the Bishop Payne Library? What suggestions would you make for improvements? What recommendations do you have for additions to the library collection? This blog is intended to give you the opportunity to “talk back” to the library, and we welcome your comments and observations. Either post a blog response here, or email us directly at paynelib@vts.edu .

In the coming month you will see our efforts to celebrate Theological Libraries Month as we continue our commitment to offering our services to the VTS community. Thank you for your patronage!