Christianity and Church History

Introduction to the Collections

The General Research Division, located in Room 315, collects extensively in many aspects of Christianity and other western religions, as well as in those areas of religion which impinge on other scholarly disciplines. Materials on many religions are available in other divisions in The New York Public Library. The Dorot Jewish Division collects in Judaism, while The Asian and Middle Eastern Division has extensive holdings in Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shintoism, Bahai, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, and the other major religious traditions of the East.

    Among the strengths of the collection are:

  • Sociology and anthropology of religion
  • Philosophy of religion
  • Psychology of religion
  • Liberation theology
  • Relationship of church and state
  • Church History
  • Bible-Antiquities
  • Atheism
  • Agnosticism
  • Monasticism and Religious Orders
  • Mormons
  • Mysticism
  • Theology (collected selectively)


    • Within Christianity, the Library has significant holdings in the following areas:

  • History of various churches and denominations
  • History of Christianity in specific countries
  • Christian thought
  • Christian ethics
  • Religious biography and autobiography


The Library collects the writings of the principal Christian theologians as well as critical literature about them. The Library does not collect in pastoral theology and counselling, nor in those areas which relate primarily to the practical aspects of clerical and parochial life.

The New York Public Library collects extensively in editions of the Bible, both in its original tongues as well as in translations into English and many other languages, many of which represent rare editions. In addition, the Library collects selectively in biblical commentaries and studies; however, these works can readily meet the needs of the undergraduate student in this area. The Rose Main Reading Room and the stacks do contain many editions of the Bible, the standard Biblical commentaries, and works on the Bible and personalities contained therein. The Dorot Jewish Division, collects in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, including critical studies by Jewish and non-Jewish scholars.