Special Collections and Archives

Special Collections and Archives

Our Collections

The Special Collections department of Pitts Theology Library houses over 160,000 volumes of rare or special books and approximately 4,000 cubic feet of archival and manuscript material. The library has strong collections related to the European Reformation, Methodism and Wesleyana, hymnody, English Religious history, African Christianity, Haggadot, contemplative thought, and historical editions of the Bible. The Special Collections department also serves as the repository for the records of the Candler School of Theology, the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Society of Biblical Literature, the American Academy of Religion, the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, and other organizations.

For an overview of our collections and archives, browse all the Finding Aids for our material or search for specific terms. Many items from our collections and archives have been digitized and made available on our new Digital Collections site.

Search Pitts Finding Aids

Planning a Visit to Special Collections

Jeschke-Graham Reading Room
Location: Pitts Theology Library 452
Hours: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Monday through Friday
Contact: pittsSC@emory.edu
(404) 727-1223

Before visiting, please complete these three steps:

1) Locate your materials

Search for rare books using Emory’s Library Search
Search for manuscript and archive materials using Emory Finding Aids

2) Request your materials

Request materials through the Special Collections Request System
You can access the Special Collections Request System from the Library Search page or the Finding Aid.

Please note that many of our collections are stored off-site and require 2 business days notice for access. We encourage you to confirm that your materials are available before your visit.

3) Schedule an appointment to visit

Special Collections is located on the fourth floor of Pitts Theology Library and is open Monday through Friday, 10am-4pm

All archives and manuscript materials must be used in the library’s designated Special Collections and Archives reading area. Appointments must be made at least 2 business days in advance to ensure the materials you need will be available.

Contact us for assistance: pittssc@emory.edu or (404) 727-1223

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Special Collections located?

The Jeschke-Graham Reading Room is located on the fourth floor of Pitts Theology Library. Visit our Parking & Directions page for more information about our location and parking options.

What is allowed in the Special Collections reading room?

Permitted items include:

  • Pencils
  • Laptops, tablets, digital cameras, and mobile phone
  • Outside books needed for research purposes

Prohibited items include:

  • Food, drink, gum and candy
  • Pens and ink of any kind
  • Paper and notepads (we will provide sheets of paper if needed)
  • Professional photography equipment
  • Jackets and outerwear
  • Bags of any kind

Am I allowed to take photographs of materials?

In most circumstances, researchers may use digital cameras or mobile devices to take photographs of materials for personal use. Professional camera equipment is prohibited without the permission of the Head of Special Collections. Please email pittssc@emory.edu for further information about using professional camera equipment.

How can I request copies or reproductions of materials?

Special Collections staff can provide high-quality reproductions as a service to researchers for their private study and use on a fee-for-service basis. The library does not sell reproductions and reproductions provided may not be further reproduced without prior permission. To request a reproduction of a Special Collections item, please place a request through the Special Collections Request System.

The department may set limits on reproductions based on available staff time, copyright, and the fragility of the materials. The department reserves the right to refuse reproduction of any materials which are judged too fragile. Restricted archival materials or items not owned by Pitts Theology Library will only be reproduced with special written permission.

Permission to obtain photocopies or scans of materials does not constitute permission to publish the photocopied materials. The researcher must assume full responsibility for any infringement on copyright or for any other legal issues, such as libel or invasion of privacy, which may arise from their use of the materials. Persons using manuscripts should be aware that unpublished materials (including letters, diaries, memoranda, literary manuscripts, photographs, films, audiotapes, and materials in digital formats) are protected by the copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code) and any use beyond “fair use” may be an infringement.

What fees are associated with reproductions?

The following fees associated with reproductions:

Photocopies

  • Requests for photocopies: $0.50 per page for manuscripts; $0.75 per page for books
  • Requests for copies of born-digital files: $0.50 per page
  • Additional charge per 100 pages: $5.00
  • Price per page increases to $.75/page when more than 200 pages are requested in a six month period.
  • Pitts Library will send photocopy requests digitally as PDFs through your Special Collections Request System account.
  • If you would prefer physical photocopies, shipping and handling charges will be assessed: $5.00 (minimum) or actual cost.

    Digital Images and Audio/Visual Materials

  • Per image fee for low-resolution digital images (100 dpi): $0.75
  • Per image fee for medium-resolution digital images (PowerPoint or web quality, 200 dpi): $5.00
  • Per image fee for high-resolution digital images (Publication quality, 400 dpi): $10.00
  • Per audio file: $20.00
  • Per video file: $25.00

Audio recordings will be digitized and saved as uncompressed 96 kHz/24-bit WAV files. Video recordings are saved as high quality 4:2:2 MOVs. Films are scanned at a higher resolution than video, 2K ProRes 4444 MOVs.

Please contact Special Collections (pittssc@emory.edu) for further instructions and information regarding payment.

Who do I contact about donating archival materials or rare books to Pitts Library?

Please send all inquiries related to donating materials to Brandon Wason, Head of Special Collections (bwason@emory.edu).