New exhibit ready…Thus saith the Lord: Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address

Long recognized as the cornerstone document for the work of Alexander Campbell and the Restoration Movement, Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address in its first printing is one of the rarest such literary productions in all of American Christianity.  Though the movement it spawned is now a global Christian force, the booklet itself was birthed in sectarian strife, published in a small press run, derided by many of its first readers, and was largely unavailable to any readers for fifty years hence.  In time it became one of the most widely heralded documents of the Restoration Movement.

In it Thomas Campbell argued extensively and passionately for a close reading of the Bible, especially the New Testament, and upon that basis urged all Christians to unite in imitation of the earliest church.  The unity which would become manifest when extrabiblical doctrines were cast aside, Campbell argued, would facilitate missionary activity, many good works, and a reformation of life and character among Christians.  It was, and is, an earnest appeal to Christians everywhere to examine their faith, practice, and life against the standard of the New Testament, to enjoy the community of faith, and to teach and evangelize.

Exhibited here is an exceptionally scarce first printing from 1809 along with specimens from the literature of the Restoration Movement about this foundational document.

Click here for the full online exhibit.

New exhibit: A Century of Great Songs: E. L. Jorgenson’s Remarkable Hymnal

Our newest exhibit, A Century of Great Songs: E. L. Jorgenson’s Remarkable Hymnal, has been installed and is ready for viewing in our main display area. It features one of the most enduring hymnals of the Restoration Movement. E. L. Jorgenson’s Great Songs of the Church was a decade in the making and it remained in print for over seventy years. This exhibit celebrates the centennial of the 1921 publication of this landmark hymnal through displays of each edition of the hymnal, background information, ephemera, and photographs plus links to several additional sources and media.

Installed and ready for viewing in our main display area is a new exhibit featuring one of the most enduring hymnals of the Restoration Movement.  E. L. Jorgenson’s Great Songs of the Church was a decade in the making and it endured in print for over seventy years.  This exhibit celebrates the centennial of the 1921 publication of this landmark hymnal through displays of each edition of the hymnal, background information, ephemera, and photographs plus links to several additional sources and media.

Great Songs of the Church. A Comprehensive Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of First Rank, Suitable for all Services of the Church. Alphabetically Arranged. E. L. Jorgenson, Compiler. First edition. Word and Work: Louisville, 1921. Green cover with round notes.

Great Songs of the Church. A Comprehensive Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of First Rank, Suitable for all Services of the Church. Alphabetically Arranged. E. L. Jorgenson, Compiler. First edition. Word and Work: Louisville, 1921. Green cover with round notes.

 

Foldered & Finished: Max Lucado Papers

The Max Lucado Papers are ready for researchers. A finding aid is available on DigitalCommons@ACU and digital exhibits celebrating various aspects of the collection are available on the Exhibits page of our blog.

Correspondence from Tyndale House. Box 1 of 153, Series I. A Box 1 of 1, Max Lucado Papers, 1965-2016. Center for Restoration Studies MS #316. Milliken Special Collections, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

The Max Lucado Papers were established in 2015 when Lucado designated his alma mater’s Brown Library as the repository for materials documenting his career as a missionary, evangelist and writer. Lucado was the university’s Oustanding Alumnus of the Year in 2003 and earned bachelor’s (1977) and master’s (1982) degrees from ACU.

Max Lucado’s diploma. Box 106 of 153, Series III. A Box 13 of 14, Max Lucado Papers, 1965-2016. Center for Restoration Studies MS #316. Milliken Special Collections, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

“It was at ACU that I was found by Christ. I don’t think I found him, I think he found me and literally re-routed my life and my family’s for generations,” Lucado said. “I pray these papers can show some of that story to someone who needs a discovery of grace.”

Letter from child, 11 March 2014. Box 121 of 153, Series III. B Box 15 of 15, Max Lucado Papers, 1965-2016. Center for Restoration Studies MS #316. Milliken Special Collections, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

The Max Lucado Papers contain 153 boxes of materials created or collected by Max Lucado. The four series in these papers house Lucado’s productions (sermons, books, media), correspondence, awards and memorabilia, and merchandise.

Tibetan
Lucado, Max, and Sergio Martinez. 2009. [You are special].

Additional selected Max Lucado resources from ACU Special Collections and Archives: