Special Collections and Center for Restoration Studies regularly receives gifts and donations of many kinds.  Not long ago three fabulous books came in.  They bear the bookplate of Andrew Mizell Burton, wealthy Nashville, Tennessee insurance executive who financed educational and evangelistic endeavors for a half-century.

The first is Obadiah Jennings’ Debate on Campbellism; Held At Nashville, Tennessee. In Which the Principles of Alexander Campbell are Confuted, and His Conduct Examined. Printed in 1832, it carries evidence of the sharp feeling of its original owner: on the first page of the debate, in a strong hand with dark brown ink is written boldly “75. cents worth of Presbyterian slander.”  The book itself is a welcome addition to our collection, but marginalia like this is really priceless.  As archivists who strive to undertake our work with diligence and impartiality…it is helpful to see items like this that vividly capture the vital personal dimension of the past we preserve.

Two bound volumes of rare early 19th century periodicals, the Christian Investigator (1835) of Eastport, Maine and the Christian Panoplist (1837) of Versailles, Kentucky also bear Burton’s bookplate.  Both also bear, one in ink and another in pencil, signatures.  Are these signatures of Restoration preacher and editor John T. Johnson?  In any case, we are so glad to receive these…the Christian Investigator shows up only in three other institutions; the Christian Panoplist does not show up at all on Worldcat.