Without Limits: Singing the Congregation’s Song

Pitts Theology Library of Emory University holds one of the premier hymnody collections in North America and we’re excited to display a selection of hymn books, psalters, and manuscript items in a special pop-up exhibit for The Hymn Society’s Annual Conference. Dozens of items dating from the past five centuries will be on display and library staff will be present to talk about the history of the collections and help answer questions about particular items. Many of the hymn books in the library intersect with other collecting areas such as the German Reformation, English religious history, early Methodism, and shape-note song books. Some of the highlights of the pop-up exhibit include Martin Luther’s Achtliederbuch, the first protestant hymnal, published in 1524; a presentation copy of Isaac Watts’s The Psalms of David; the first printing of John Newton’s “Amazing Grace”; early Methodist hymn books, including an unpublished manuscript hymn of Charles Wesley; and African American hymn and song books.