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New! Hardware Checkout
Faculty, staff, and students now have the opportunity to check out an iPad Mini, Nexus 7 tablet, or Chromebook laptop from the Pitts Library. We acquired these items in response to feedback from our Library Survey. We are testing the circulation of this hardware as we look at possibilities for new services in the new [...] Read More »
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Joining Together in Discourse: Sermons from the 18th century to the Present
A pastor’s sermons are discourses between the pastor, the congregation and the community at large. Studying sermons reveals a great deal, both about the individual pastor, and about the social, cultural and political landscape in which the pastor preached.
The content of a pastor’s sermons, particularly when a large number are viewed over time, can shed light on the development of the pastor’s faith, as well as the significant issues facing his or her community. The style of preparation and preservation of sermon texts provide information about the particular pastor’s habits, but also about the churches in which he or she functions.
Sermon collections are as varied as the pastors who create them. Some consist of loose handwritten pages, bound journals with tables of contents, or newspaper clippings. Some pastors arrange their sermons chronologically; while others group them according to Scripture passage or to theme. As all of these elements are preserved, they become part of the discourse of the sermon.
Pitts Theology Library Archives and Manuscripts hold a wide range of sermon collections and this exhibit presents a small sampling of this collection. The exhibit will be on display through June.
