Karen's Winter Reading Recommendations

Happy Winter Solstice! Since a new season is upon us it's time for another round up of reading recommendations from our Library Assistant, Karen Hunt. Karen has picked out some reads perfect to cozy up with by the fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa or tea.

1. Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. Gilbreth & Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
2. Misty Manor by Linda Rawlins
3. Woman of God by James Patterson
4. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
5. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
6. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
7. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
8. The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose
9. Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson
10. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

Stay warm this winter and happy reading!

Karen Hunt is the Library Assistant at the A.R. Wentz Library.

For reference assistant please call 717.338.3014.

Getting into the Christmas Spirit

Library staff members Karen Hunt and Sue Currens are happy to put out our stockings!

 Ever wonder how symbols like the candy cane became associated with Christmas? Stop by the library to learn some fun facts about Christmas Traditions.

Start the countdown! Also feel free to grab a bookmark for yourself, made by Karen.

Happy December! It's officially that time of the year again and the library is now decorated for the holiday season. Library Assistant, Karen Hunt, created a Bible Verse Advent Calendar display and "Christmas Traditions" display featuring some fun facts about Christmas, winter book recommendations, recipes from around the world, and fun indoor and outdoor winter activities to try if you're bored at home. 

And don't forget to enter our 13th annual THINK SNOW contest! Stop by the circulation desk to try and guess the date of our first snow fall...the winner will win a GREAT prize.

What's the Seminary's Connection with Jesus Christ Superstar?

 

Jesus Christ Superstar, Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice’s 1970 rock opera, continues to mesmerize audiences more than forty years later. Usage rights belonging to UK pop impresario Robert Stigwood prohibited any group from staging the opera before its Broadway premiere on October 12, 1971, but controversy on this score created material out of which an interesting book has been written.

Published this month, Jesusmania! The Bootleg Superstar of Gettysburg College chronicles the production and debate attached to the illegal performance of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Gettysburg College chapel on March 25, 1971. Author Devin McKinney highlights the show’s connection with the Gettysburg Seminary, treating Larry Recla, who was an intern for 1970-71 at the College and would graduate from the Seminary the following year, as the star of his book.

Class of 1972. Lawrence Recla (bottom row, three from the right) graduated with a Masters of Divinity.

McKinney's recent research in the Seminary Archives features historical connections between Recla, Professor Eric Gritsch, and the Rev. Dr. Donald R. Heiges, Seminary President from 1962-1976. Images from our photograph collection are also featured, exemplifying the power that archival repositories have in bringing history and stories to life in our community and beyond it. A paperback copy of Jesusmania! may be purchased at the Gettysburg College Bookstore or online here.

McKinney shares his experience research and writing the book in the fall 2016 issue of Friends of Musselman Library newsletter which can be read online here. Also included in this issue is Rev. Recla's experience serving eight months as a chaplain at Ground Zero. In honor of the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Recla recently donated his collection of related artifacts and documents to the Musselman Library that are currently on exhibit in "Remembering 9/12: Rescue and Recovery at Ground Zero" which will be on display until December 19th.

Looking for a specific class photo? Want to learn more about Seminary and Gettysburg history? Contact Assistant Archivist Sheila Joy by email at sjoy@ltsg.edu or by phone at 717- 339-1317.

New Acquisition and Archives Exhibit: Lutheran Historical Postcards

Front of postcard depicting Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.

The Seminary Archives have recently received a donation of over 700 Lutheran historical postcards! Spanning across the United States and into Canada, the collection contains images of Lutheran camps, colleges universities, schools, hospitals, orphanages, and retirement homes.

Back of postcard, postmarked December 6, 1915.

Some of the postcards contain correspondence, which is a rare find. This one in particular was mailed to Nova Scotia, Canada from Gettysburg on December 6, 1915. The sender, Mrs. Henry Wherley writes to her friend, Mrs. Austin Cleveland, mentioning a recent snowfall, the upcoming Christmas holiday, and that Mrs. Cleveland's mother has fallen ill. Mrs. Wherley asks, "did you even try rubbing dog fat on her legs...?" Quite a strange remedy, which I don't think became too popularized over the century! If you know anything about this so-called "remedy," leave a comment below!

To view more of the historical postcard collection, stop by the Library Lobby where an assortment are on display, or contact  Assistant Archivist, Sheila Joy at sjoy@ltsg.edu or via telephone at 717-339-1317.

Suffering, Death, and Enemies: Rare Books from the A. R. Wentz Library Collection

Thank you to everyone who attended the Suffering, Death, and Enemies: Rare Books from the A. R. Wentz Library Collection and enjoyed our wine and cheese spread. The reception was hosted by our Library Director and Archivist, B. Bohleke and the exhibit was prepared by Karin Bohleke of LTSG and Shippensburg University with assistance from Vince Evener,  LTSG Visiting Instructor in Reformation and Luther Studies. The exhibit featured publications by Martin Luther's contemporaries--both faithful supporters, and "enemies" who wrote against the Reformation. The exhibit will remain up until Friday, October 28th.

Want to learn more about our rare book collection and Seminary Archives holdings? Contact the Assistant Archivist, Sheila Joy by email at sjoy@ltsg.edu or by phone at 717- 339-1317.

Library Book Sale

Mark your calendars! The fall book sale will be happening October 24-29 in the Pioneer Room on the first floor of the library!

Book Sale Schedule

$2.00          Monday, Oct. 24: Students, Faculty, & Staff only (ID will be checked) --

3:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.

$2.00          Tuesday, Oct. 25: General Public beginning     8:30 a.m.—5:30 p.m.

$2.00          Wednesday Oct. 26:                                              8:30 a.m. -- 5:30 p.m.

$1.00          Thursday, Oct. 27:                                                 8:30 a.m.—5:30 p.m.

$  .25          Friday, Oct. 28:                                                      8:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m.

Free            Saturday, Oct. 29:                                                  11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

All proceeds from the book sale are collected specifically to raise money for the purchase of materials and supplies for the A. R. Wentz Library.

Spreading Awareness About Archives

October is American Archives Month! Since 2006, this month is dedicated to promoting the work of archivists, individuals who collect and preserve items of enduring value, and the institutions in which they work. Archivists play a vital role in making these materials accessible to the public. Without archivists and Archives to preserve the unique records of institutions and individuals, the past would be forgotten. The Seminary Archives in the A.R. Wentz Library collects materials of importance relating to the history and day-to-day operations of the Seminary. Many people have heard of Archives, but are not quite sure what they are. Since we are celebrating American Archives this month, there will be a series of blog posts guided toward spreading awareness about the Seminary Archives, what we house, and how can we benefit you as a patron. This first post will be a general introductory post answering basic questions about what an archive is and what archivists do.

Karen's Fall Reading Recommendations

I hope everyone on campus is now settled for Fall Semester 2016!

I wanted to celebrate the Fall season, not just for cooler temperatures, but for its traditions, celebrations and beautiful changes to Mother Nature. With that in mind, in our Library’s collection I have found a couple of inspirational books and a well-known essay by Henry David Thoreau. I searched some fun facts about Fall, and interesting information about the Autumn Equinox. There is even a playlist of great worship songs for autumn--I got you covered!

Come in and take a look in our display cases – you might read or see something you never knew or saw before!

New Archives Exhibit: Signed Mother Teresa Biography

The Seminary Archives has a new exhibit up featuring our newest acquisition! On September 9th, 2016 Rev. Richard Englund donated a biography signed by Mother Teresa during a special Morning Prayer service in commemoration of her canonization. Mother Teresa was canonized, "St. Teresa of Calcutta" on September 5, 2016 by the Roman Catholic Church. Rev. Englund also donated a photograph of St. Teresa with Alice DeGama Brown, whom is the connection between Rev. Englund and the biography written by Navin Chawla.

An important figure to all Christians around the world, the Seminary Archives is delighted to have this signed biography and photograph. We welcome anyone who would like to view them in the A.R. Wentz Library lobby.

Want to learn more about Seminary Archives holdings or Gettysburg Seminary History? Contact Assistant Archivist Sheila Joy by email at sjoy@ltsg.edu or by phone at 717- 339-1317.

Library Resources

Library staff member, Sue Currens, is always happy to help!

Welcome all returning and new students here at the Seminary! The library would like to remind you of the many resources available to help make this fall semester a great one as you work hard towards your educational goals.

If you are a returning student, we would like to highlight some new and updated resources available to you, such as the new A.R. Wentz Library Digital Journal Archives and updated Free Online Websites and Resources Directory. The Seminary Archives is also continually updating its Digital Collections, enabling archival resources to be more accessible. Click read more below to view more of our resources.

A.R. Wentz Digital Journal Archive Now Live

The library is proud to announce that the Digital Journal Archive is now live and accessible to the public. Months of digitization work have gone into creating this new resource that currently provides free access to 100 issues from sixteen journals dating back to the nineteenth century.

The journal archive includes titles like The Christian Disciple, The Home-Maker Monthly, The North American Review, and The Presbyterian Quarterly Review. Collectively the titles in the archive cover a range of topics and all eras of the 1800’s.

All of the issues that are in the archive are delivered as full text searchable PDF files. You can access the Digital Journal Archive from here or use the link available under the Quick Links heading on the library homepage.

This is only the first set of journals that will be added. There are many new titles and hundreds more issues to come, so stay tuned for future announcements of new content.   

New Archives Exhibit: Impact of the Civil War on the Seminary Archives

There is a new exhibit on display in the Library Lobby! Continuing with the theme of the Civil War in honor of the 153rd anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, the new exhibit is entitled, "The Impact of the Civil War on the Seminary Archives." This exhibit complements the previous post on the A.R. Wentz Library Blog, The Civil War's Impact on the Seminary Archives. On display you will find materials from the Samuel Simon Schmucker Collection that predate the Civil War, withstanding the Confederate attack on July 1, 1863.

Want to learn more about Samuel Simon Schmucker and Gettysburg Seminary History? Contact Assistant Archivist Sheila Joy by email at sjoy@ltsg.edu or by phone at 717- 339-1317.

The Civil War's Impact on the Seminary Archives

153 years ago the grounds of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (LTSG) were quite different than today. On the morning of July 1, 1863 the campus was filled with union troops. Soon thereafter, three buildings (pictured above) were occupied by confederate soldiers and became sites of refuge for the wounded and dying: Schmucker Hall or "Old Dorm" (center), the Schmucker House (right), and the Krauth House (left). The Battle of Gettysburg was underway.

The devastation of war is highly examined in academia, literature, and entertainment, yet the effect that war has on archival repositories is not widely discussed. Although the act of keeping items of value has been around since the beginning of humankind, the concept of security measures or a disaster plan did not exist until the second half of the twentieth century. LTSG had been collecting seminary-related documents of importance since its founding in 1826. Housed in founder Dr. Samuel Simon Schmucker's own home which stood on seminary grounds, the morning of July 1, 1863 had a devastating impact on what is available for research today. Keep on reading to learn more.

Karen's Summer Reading Recommendations

I don't know what everyone likes to read, so I've chosen a few genres which I think would make good summer reading--whether at the beach or lounging in the back yard.

1. The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom

He is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Tuesdays With Morrie.

2. Out of the Silent Planet (first book of trilogy) by C.S. Lewis

Science Fiction is always a goodie!

3. Minding the Manor: The Memoir of a 1930's English Kitchen Maid by Millie Moran

It's interesting to see how life was "way back when!"

4. The House on Tradd Street by Karen White

A little bit of mystery and a little bit of supernatural! This was also a selection of the Readers Club of America.

5. Yarn to Go (A "Yarn Retreat" Mystery) by Betty Hechtman

I love mysteries--and I love doing needlework!

Karen Hunt is the Library Assistant at the A.R. Wentz Library.

For reference assistant please call 717.338.3014.

Gettysburg Seminary Visits Philadelphia Seminary

Statue of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg.

Schaeffer-Ashmead Chapel.

Krauth Memorial Library.

The Brossman Center.

Staff members from Gettysburg Seminary recently took a trip to the Lutheran Seminary at Philadelphia. Most have never visited the institution before, despite the two institutions being members of the Eastern Cluster of Lutheran Seminaries. The purpose of the trip was to tour the campus and to meet staff and faculty members.

New Archives Exhibit: Commencement Over Time Exhibit

Each month the Seminary Archives features an exhibit featuring material from our collections. Currently on exhibit is "Commencement Over Time," a visual depiction of Gettysburg Seminary's past graduation commencements ceremonies and traditions. On display is an 1883 diploma, class of 1928 photograph, and various commencement programs, the oldest in our collection dating back to 1889. We invite you to stop by the Library lobby to take a look!

Want to learn more about Gettysburg Seminary History? Contact Assistant Archivist Sheila Joy by email at sjoy@ltsg.edu or by phone at 717- 339-1317.

Welcome to the A.R. Wentz Library Blog!



Hello and welcome to the A.R. Wentz Library Blog! This platform was created with the intention of keeping Gettysburg Seminary students, faculty, staff, patrons, and the Gettysburg community up-to-date with the latest happenings in the library. You can expect to see posts related to what's going on in our library and campus, featured content from the Seminary Archives, reading recommendations, and images--lots of images!

This blog, however, is not just for Gettysburg Seminarians. It is also intended to reach wider audiences across the globe. "From the Seminary Archives..."content will focus on historical themes and narratives that will be relatable to those inside and outside our community. Library staff recommendations will encompass what's trending in the theological, academic, literary, and pop culture worlds. This blog is a place that welcomes all walks of life and we hope that you will join our virtual community!

To stay connected with our blog you can subscribe by email on the right hand side of this web page, add us on Google + or just bookmarking our page. You can also follow the LTSG Facebook, Twitter and Instagram page to stay updated.