Tuesday 31 December 2013

New Year's Eve at the Library of Congress

Today, I spent almost six hours at the Library of Congress. What a way to spend New Year's Eve! The LOC has an excellent rare books and special collections reading room. It has been a few years since I visited last, but I recall seeing some original manuscript sources from John Witherspoon (among other eighteenth-century religious figures).

All of today was spent at the newspaper and current periodical reading room. The LOC offers access to several digitized collections of colonial newspapers. I was glad to find some substantial information on advertisements and announcements regarding some important religious books published in Boston, Philadelphia, and New York. From my findings today, I need to amend the chapter that I recently wrote for my current project on Jonathan Edwards and Transatlantic Print Culture.

If you are attending the AHA/ASCH conference in Washington D.C., and have some extra time, you should consider visiting the LOC. You may also want to visit the Folger Shakespeare Library, located near the LOC.

3 comments:

MSC said...

I just discovered your blog doing research on 18th century revivals for a class I am teaching at my church. Glad to find it!

I have heard much of Eifion Evans' book 'Daniel Rowland and the Great Evangelical Awakening in Wales.' I see it is listed on books you recommend on 18th century Evangelicalism. What is your opinion of this book? I wish it was available at a reasonable price.

Exploring the Study of Religious History said...

It is going to be difficult to find good, affordable monographs on 18th-century Evangelicalism in Wales. David Ceri Jones has written an excellent book entitled, "A Glorious Work in the World," but it too is costly. You might consider trying to order it via inter-library loan (if that is possible)

MSC said...

Thanks for the recommendation. I may check my local library about an inter-library loan. Hadn't thought of that. I have spend a good bit of time perusing your blog and have really enjoyed your articles. I put it on my favorites to visit.