Your incredible generosity this year allowed us to add one of the Collection’s most significant items, Luther’s very first publication, a translation and and commentary on the 7 Penitential Psalms. But our partnership did not stop with making one acquisition. Already we have digitized this entire work for the world to see, taught from it to dozens of K-12 students in our Hands on History program, and added it to our Fall gallery exhibition, “So That It Pierces & Rings Through the Heart,” which you can tour virtually online - can you find Luther’s Penitential Psalms in the gallery?

As you consider making year-end gifts, we hope you will renew your support of the Kessler Collection, if you have not already done so. We look forward to another year of making deep impacts on learners in the church, the academy, and the general public.

Dear Partners of the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection-

Over the past few weeks, many of you have been emailing me asking what the library has acquired as the 4,000^th item of the Collection, following the overwhelming success of the fundraising campaign you supported. I’m thrilled to let you know that the wait is over; the 4,000^th item has arrived from a partner in Germany, and it is spectacular! Please watch this video here (https://youtu.be/21fy6ZotedA) to learn about an unbelievably rare first edition that we are now privileged to hold and share with the world. As you watch, please know that it is because of your support that we are able not only to acquire this important book, but to digitize it, to share it with students around the world, and to foster research about church reform.

This landmark acquisition further cements the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection’s reputation as North America’s premier collection of printed books and manuscripts documenting the religious and cultural reforms in Europe in the 16^th century. You have made this possible. My colleagues and I commit to you to continue our work not only to grow the size of the collection beyond 4,000, but, more importantly, to grow its impact through research and teaching. I am so grateful for your partnership in this exciting work.

Bo Adams

Director, Pitts Theology Library, Home of the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection

Dear Partners of the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection-

You did it! As of Tuesday at 2 o’clock, our “Kessler in 4K” campaign exceeded our $45,000 goal (see http://pitts.emory.edu/kessler4k), and we earned a $5,000 match from a generous donor – ultimately putting us at over $50,000 raised. I’ll remind you that this is the 4^th time we’ve crossed a goal ($10k, $25k, $40k, and now $45k!). We are declaring this campaign an enormous success, and I write to thank you for supporting us!

Not only will this successful campaign allow us to acquire an important book as the 4,000^th item of the Kessler Collection (I’m in conversations with several book dealers as we speak, and I look forward to showing you soon our acquisition), but your support raises awareness of the collection and opens many opportunities for us to deepen the impact of these treasures. Over 125 donors supported this campaign, the vast majority of whom had never supported the Kessler Collection before. So, we’re excited to welcome this group of new partners! I look forward to working with you to explore how we can teach the church, the academy, and the general public through this collection.

Thank you for your support, and I hope you will let me know how Pitts Theology Library can support you!

Bo Adams

Director, Pitts Theology Library, Home of the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection

Pitts’ “Kessler in 4K” campaign is kicking into overdrive! On the final day of our month-long campaign, after we had reached our goal of raising $40,000, a donor stepped up and issued a new challenge! This donor pledged up to an additional $5,000 in matching funds for anything raised over $40,000. So, we’re not done yet, and we need your help! We are extending our deadline to November 16^th to allow us to go from our current $42,296 raised to $45,000, at which point the match will kick in and we’ll have $50,000 to put toward acquiring the 4,000^th item in the collection! Make your gift now at http://pitts.emory.edu/kessler4k and spread the word!

Thanks for all of your support!

Bo 

Director of Pitts Theology Library – Home of the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection

“Finally, one thing more merits serious consideration by all those who earnestly desire to have such schools and languages established and maintained in Germany. It is this: no effort or expense should be spared to provide good libraries or book repositories. . . For if the gospel and all the arts are to be preserved they must be set down and held fast in books and writings.” 

– Martin Luther, 1524 (“To the Councilmen of all Cities in Germany that they Establish and Maintain Christian Schools”)

Friends of the Kessler Reformation Collection,

We are in the final week of our “Kessler in 4K” campaign, and thanks to overwhelming support, we’re so close to reaching our (thrice-raised) goal of $40,000 (91% of the way there)! Help us get over the top by making a donation at http://pitts.emory.edu/kessler4k. $40,000 makes available book dealers’ rarest and most significant items from which we will select the 4,000^th item for the collection, a treasure that will have deep impact on the church, the academy, and the general public.

Please also help us get the word out about this successful campaign by sending your contacts the link http://pitts.emory.edu/kessler4k and asking them to join you in purchasing a piece of history! 

Bo Adams

Director of Pitts Theology Library – Home of the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection

Dear Friends-

Our “Kessler in 4K” fundraising campaign continues to go strong! Our donors have really responded to the call, and we’ve already reached 134% of our goal. In fact, I’m so overwhelmed by your support, that I’m raising our goal for the 2^nd time in 2 weeks! We started with a goal of $10,000, but we quickly raised that to $25,000. Now, even with 13 days left in the campaign, I think we can go higher. So, I’m now setting a new goal to raise $40,000 to acquire the 4,000^th item in the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection. I ask for your help by making a donation and spreading the word. As excited as I am about the total we’ve raised, I’m even more excited about the new group of donors who have shown their support for the collection. So, no matter the size of your gift, we thank you for your support for our work, accepting your generosity as an endorsement of this library’s efforts not only to collect rare materials, but to grow the impact of those materials on the academy, the church, and the general public.

Join us in purchasing a piece of history at http://pitts.emory.edu/kessler4k.

Bo

Director of Pitts Theology Library – Home of the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection

We are 4 days into our “Kessler in 4K” campaign, and your contributions have already put us over 50% of the way to our goal. Thank you! I’ve allowed myself to start opening auction catalogs and talking to book dealers about what book or manuscript might be our 4,000^th item, since your generosity places our goal in sight! Please continue to spread the word about why the Kessler Collection is important to you (via Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or by emailing our link: http://pitts.emory.edu/kessler4k), and stay tuned for more updates! I’m overwhelmed by your generosity!

Bo Adams

Director of Pitts Theology Library – Home of the Richard C. Kessler Collection