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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 (Room 108) 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, Room 84, collects in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible,
including critical studies by Jewish and non-Jewish scholars.
Background Research
The items listed below are meant as a starting point for your research,
and are by no means comprehensive. General reference works such as encyclopedias,
dictionaries, handbooks, and directories offer background information and
answers to specific questions. All items are located in the Rose
Main Reading Room, unless otherwise noted.
Encyclopedias
Balmer, Randall, Encyclopedia
of Evangelicalism (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2004) *R-RMRR
BR1640 .B35.
Creeds and Confessions
of Faith in the Christian Tradition, edited by Jaroslav Pelikan
and Valerie Hotchkiss (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003), 4 vols., *R-RMRR
BT990 .C64. An examination of the creeds of eastern and western Christianity
from the apostolic church to the present, concluding with an historical and theological
guide to the nature and purpose of creeds in the Christian tradition.
Encyclopedia
of the American Religious Experience; Studies of Traditions and Movements, edited
by Charles H. Lippy and Peter W. Williams (New York: Scribner, 1987),
3 vols., *R-RMRR BL 2525 .E53. Anthology of scholarly
essays examines the history and character of American religions, exploring
organizational development and the spread and influence of various
movements and trends.
Encyclopedia
of African and African-American Religions, edited by Stephen
D. Glazier, (New York: Routledge, 2001) *R-RMRR BL2462.5 .E53.
Encyclopedia
of Apocalypticism, edited
by Bernard McGinn et al., (New York: Continuum, 1999), 3 vols., *R-RMRR
BL501 .E53. Examines the origin of apocalypticism in Western
religions and its development and various manifestations from the classical
period to the present.
The Encyclopedia
of Christianity, edited by Edwin Fahlbusch et al., edited
by Geoffrey W. Bromley et al. for the English-language version, (Grand
Rapids, MI: Eerdmans; Leiden; Boston: Brill, 1999- ), 5 vols., *R-RMRR
BR95 .E8913. A translation of Evangelisches Kirchenlexikon, a
scholarly examination of Christian history, doctrine, movements, trends,
and biography.
The Encyclopedia of Islam, (Leiden: Brill, 1960-)
(available in print and electronic formats in Asian and Middle Eastern
Division).
Encyclopaedia
Judaica, (Detroit: Macmillan Reference, 2007), 22 vols.,
*R-RMRR DS102.8 .E497 Another print copy is available in the Jewish
Division. In addition, this work is available electronically throughout
the Library. (link to this electronic source)
Encyclopedia
of Mormonism: The History, Scripture, Doctrine, and Procedure of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, edited by
Daniel H. Ludlow (New York: Macmillan, 1992), 5 vols., *R-RMRR
BX 8605.5 .E62.
The Encyclopedia
of Religion, edited by Lindsay Jones, (Detroit: Macmillan
Reference USA, 2005), 15 vols., *R-RMRR BL31 .E46. .
Includes historical and philosophical approaches to religion as well
as social scientific interpretations for both Christian and non-Christian
religions. For the older edition of this work edited by Mircea Eliade,
please consult CATNYP.
Encyclopaedia
of Religion and Ethics, edited by James Hastings,
(New York: Scribner, 1970), 13 vols., *R-RMRR BL31 .E4. This comprehensive
work explores all facets of the field of religion with a particular
focus on historical, theological, philosophical, and ethical themes.
Encyclopedia
of Religion and Nature, edited by Bron R. Taylor et
al., (London; New York: Thoemmes Continuum, 2005), 2 vols., *R-RMRR
BL31 .E465.
Encyclopedia
of Religious Revivals in America, (Westport, Conn.,
Greenwood Press, 2007), 2 vols., *R-RMRR BV3773 .E53, with another
copy at Schomburg. An examination of the revival tradition in
American Christianity, examining its causes, prevalence, effects,
and relationships to the larger society.
The
New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2nd ed. (Detroit: Thomson/Gale
Group, 2003), 15 vols., *R-RMRR BX841 .N44. (The
1913 edition of The Catholic Encyclopedia is available in electronic
and print formats, and the 1967-79 edition of the New Catholic
Encyclopedia, issued in the wake of Vatican II, is available
in print format.) (link to this electronic resource)
The
Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation, edited
by Hans J. Hillerbrand [New York: Oxford University Press, 1996],
4 vols., *R-RMRR BR302 .8 .O93.
Encyclopedia
of Religious Rites, Rituals, and Festivals, edited
by Frank. A. Salamone, (New York: Routledge, 2004), *R-RMRR
BL31 .E47.
Encyclopedia
of Science and Religion, edited by J. Wentzel Vrede
van Huyssteen, (New York: Macmillan Reference, 2003), 2 vols., *R-RMRR
BL240.3 .E53.
Encyclopedia
of Women and Religion in North America, edited by
Rosemary S. Keller and Rosemary Reuther (Bloomington: Indiana
University Press, 2006), 3 vols., *R-RMRR BL458 .E52. Explores
the role of women in North American religious traditions and
employs a cross-disciplinary approach in its analyses.
Encyclopedia
of Women and World Religion, edited by Serinity
Young (New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 1999), 2 vols.,, *R-RMRR
BL458 .E53. A comprehensive analysis and study of women in the
world’s religions, with particular strengths in non-Western
faiths. Contains synoptic outline which provides conceptual themes
to the reader.
Religion
Past and Present: Encyclopedia of Theology and Religion, edited
by Hans Dieter Betz et al., (London; Boston: Brill, 2007 - ),
multi-volume set in progress, *R-RMRR BL31 .R4213. An English-language
translation of Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart,
a scholarly compendium of articles on a vast range of subjects
within the field of religion.
Religions
of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, edited
by J. Gordon Melton et al., (Santa Barbara, Calif.,: ABC-CLIO,
2002), 4 vols., *R-RMRR BL80.3 .R45. An examination
of religions, beliefs, practices, motifs, history, and themes,
with particular attention to cross-disciplinary approaches.
Sacramentum
Mundi, (New York: Herder and Herder, 1969-1970),
6 vols.,*R-RMRR BR95 .S24. Detailed analysis of the theological
principles and concerns of the Roman Catholic Church, and a scholarly
guide to the major doctrinal developments and controversies of
Christianity.
Dictionaries, Handbooks, and Standard Texts
The
Book of Saints: A Comprehensive Biographical Dictionary, 7th
ed., (New York: Continuum, 2002), *R-RMRR BX4655.3 .B66
Butler, Alban, Butler’s
Lives of the Saints (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1995-2000),
12 vols. *R-RMRR BX4654 .B8ZK. (Other dictionaries of the
saints may also be found in this same area of the Rose Main Reading Room.)
The Catholic Almanac, (Huntington,
Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, annual; latest edition available under Pub.
Cat. AY81 .R6 N3). Handbook of the Roman Catholic Church with succinct
information on doctrine, practice, and ethics relevant to that church; includes
current liturgical calendar and notable events and personalities of the preceding
year.
Dictionary
of Historical Theology, (Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B.
Eerdmans Pub., 2000), *R-RMRR BT21.2 .D53.
Eerdmans'
Handbook to Christian Belief, (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1982), *R-RMRR BT77 .E35.
A Handbook
of Ancient Religions, edited by John R. Hinnells
(Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007), *R-RMRR
BL41 .H325. An examination of classical and non-Western
religions which also provides an understanding of religious life
at the origins of Christianity.
Handy, Robert T., A
History of the Churches in the United States and Canada, (New
York: Oxford University Press, 1976), *R-RMRR BR510 .H35.
Hudson, Winthrop S., Religion
in America: An Historical Account of the Development of American Religious
Life, 6th ed. (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1999), *R-RMRR
BL2525 .H83.
Kelly, John N. D., The
Oxford Dictionary of Popes, updated
ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), *R-RMRR BX955.2 .K45.
Mead, Frank Spencer, Handbook
of Denominations in the United States, (Nashville: Abingdon Press,
2001; available under Pub. Cat. BL2525 .M425). Brief description
of the major Christian bodies in the United States, including beliefs, practices,
polity, and history.
Melton, J. Gordon, The
Encyclopedia of American Religions, (Wilmington, NC: McGrath Pub.
Co., 1978- , latest edition available under Pub. Cat. BL2525 .M4493.) Dictionary
of American religious bodies, Christian and non-Christian, providing basic
information on their history, doctrine, and practice; especially valuable for
its coverage of small or new religious movements which are not examined elsewhere.
This is also available electronically. (link to this electronic resource)
New Westminster
Dictionary of Liturgy and Worship, edited by J. G. Davies, (Philadelphia:
Westminster, 1986), *R-RMRR BV173 .N49
Oxford
Dictionary of the Christian Church, edited
by F. L. Cross, 3rd edition, revised (New York: Oxford University
Press, 2005),*R-RMRR BR95 .O8. The most comprehensive
one-volume work dealing with all aspects of the Christian Church.
Oxford
Dictionary of World Religions, edited by John Bowker
(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997),. *R-RMRR BL31
.O84.
Oxford
Handbook of Religion and Ecology, edited by Roger
S. Gottlieb (Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2006),. *R-RMRR
BL65 .E36 O94.
Oxford History of Christian Worship, edited
by Geoffrey Wainwright and Karen W. Tucker (Oxford; New York:
Oxford University Press, 2006), *R-RMRR BV15 .O95. A
scholarly analysis of the history of Christian liturgy covering
all times and the various Christian traditions and movements
Piepkorn, Arthur Carl, Profiles
in Belief: The Religious Bodies of the United States and Canada, (New
York: Harper and Row, 1977-1979), 4 vols. in 3, *R-RMRR BL2530 .U6
P53. An examination, sensitive to theological and historical concerns,
of the principal Christian bodies in North America; includes extensive historical
information and doctrinal analysis.
Walsh, Michael J., New
Dictionary of Saints; East and West (London; New York: Burns and
Oats, 2007), JFF 07-711.
Westminster Dictionary
of Christian Ethics, (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1986), *R-RMRR
BJ1199 .W47.
Westminster
Dictionary of Christian Spirituality, (Philadelphia: Westminster,
1983),
*R-RMRR BV4488 .W47.
Westminster Dictionary
of Christian Theology, (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1983),
*R-RMRR
BR95 .W494.
Williams, Peter W.,
America’s
Religions: From Their Origins to the Twenty-first Century (Urbana:
University of Illinois Press, 2002),
*R-RMRR BL2525 .W485.
Wood, James Edward,
Church
and State in Historical Perspective: A Critical Assessment and Annotated Bibliography (Westport,
Conn.: Praeger, 2005),
*R-RMRR BL65 .S8 W66.
World Christian Encyclopedia, edited
by David B. Barrett, 2nd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001), 2 vols.,
*R-RMRR
BR157 .W67. A comprehensive work which attempts to list every Christian
body by country; valuable for its statistical information on membership and attendance.
Provides historical commentary and analysis of present and future trends for
Christianity in every country.
Directories
Annuario
Pontificio, (Vatican City: Libraria Editrice Vaticana,
annual; latest edition under
Pub. Cat. BX845 .A75.)
List of Roman Catholic officials throughout the world as well as
of the offices which constitute the Roman Catholic bureaucracy.
Notable for its enumeration of all Roman Catholic dioceses and
archdioceses.
Episcopal
Church Annual, (Wilton: Morehouse-Barlow, annual;
latest edition available under
Pub. Cat. BX5830 .L785ged
.) Listing of all Episcopal dioceses, parishes, and clergy. Particularly
valuable for providing the names of all former diocesan bishops
(arranged under the name of the appropriate diocese where they
served).
National
Directory of Churches, Synagogues, and Other Houses of Worship, (Detroit:
Gale Research Inc., 1994), 4 vols.,
*R-RMRR BL2525 .N38. Arranged
geographically and, within that, by denomination, this guide provides
the only comprehensive listing of houses of worship throughout
the country.
Official
Catholic Directory, (Wilmette, Illinois: P. J. Kenedy,
annual; latest edition under
Pub. Cat. BX845 .C5.)
Lists all Roman Catholic dioceses, archdioceses, parishes, and
clergy in the United States and Canada; all Roman Catholic organizations
and institutions (including parochial schools) are listed under
the name of the appropriate diocese. Names of former bishops of
dioceses may be found under the entries for the dioceses where
they served.
Yearbook
of American and Canadian Churches, (Nashville: Abingdon,
annual; latest edition available under
Pub. Cat. BR513
.Y4.) Includes the principal Christian churches of the
United States and Canada and lists the headquarters, principal
officers, juridical divisions, and publications of each body.
Using the Library Catalogs to locate materials at NYPL
For general instructions on using the Library's catalogs, please consult "How
To Find Books". The following information is specific to the subject of
Religion.
When researching an item in the catalogs, check under the subject entry most
specific to your interest:
- historical personality (Luther, Martin)
- church or denomination (Church of England)
- doctrine (predestination), a movement (Oxford Movement)
- ritual or practice (baptism)
In performing your research at The New York Public Library, you may need to consult
two catalogs: The Dictionary Catalog, an 800-volume set of materials acquired
by the library before 1972, and CATNYP, the online catalog of materials acquired
after 1972. (Please note that as a result of an active retrospective conversion
project, the vast majority of the items in The Dictionary Catalog will also be
found in CATNYP.) CATNYP employs Library of Congress Subject Headings, available
at the Information Desk or at www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco; however, as noted
below, it is best to employ a keyword search when utilizing CATNYP. For advice
on subject headings in the pre-1972 Dictionary Catalog, consult the librarians
at the Information Desk.
Searching by keyword will usually generate the most accurate and beneficial results,
as this approach utilizes keywords from both titles and subjects. For example,
in order to search the Episcopal Church and its history during the Civil War,
a researcher ought to employ the keywords Episcopal Church and Civil War.
Saints
Works by or about Christian saints are to be found under the name of the saint
in question. Thus, if you wish to research Saint Bartholomew in the Dictionary
Catalog, check under Bartholomew, not Saint Bartholomew. In CANTYP, a keyword
approach permits the researcher to enter Saint Bartholomew to find all references
to this apostle.
Church History
In the field of church history, there are different arrangements in the Library's
two catalogs. The Dictionary Catalog uses the subject heading Church History
to include not only general works in the area, but also materials dealing with
church history in specific countries. Therefore, books on Polish church history
will be found under Church History-Poland. However, to find church histories
of individual countries in CATNYP, please employ the keyword approach, as in
this example: Poland and Church History.
Similarly, the Dictionary Catalog lists works on the Quakers under Friends, Society
of, while CATNYP places this same group under two separate subject headings,
Society of Friends and Quakers; once again it is preferable to employ a keyword
approach for this group. The churches of Eastern Christianity are placed under
the subject heading Eastern Orthodox Church in the Dictionary Catalog, but CATNYP
uses the subject heading Orthodox Eastern Church, that same term being appropriate
as a keyword.
The Bible
The different editions of the complete Bible are listed in the Dictionary Catalog
before the editions of the New and Old Testaments and other separately published
parts of the Bible. Different editions of the complete Bible are arranged by
language and, within that, by year. In the Dictionary Catalog these listings
commence with the heading Bible. Polyglot (volume 71, page 344) and continue
with listings by individual languages beginning with Bible. Afrikaans. 1957 (volume
71, page 347).
For English-language Bibles look under Bible. English (volume 71, page 358);
like all other entries, these are broken down by year beginning with the earliest
imprint. The first editions of the King James Bible are listed in the Dictionary
Catalog under Bible. English. 1611 (volume 71, page 373). The Roman Catholic
Douai-Rheims version of the Bible is found under Bible. English. Douai Rheims
(volume 71, page 455).
These same subject headings can be used to search CATNYP, and these can be employed
also as keyword searches.
Two electronic databases offer access to the Bible in full-text. Please note
that these databases are only available from within the Library:
The Bible in English
Contains 20 different versions of the English Bible from the tenth to the twentieth
century.
The King James Bible
This online version, which includes the Apocrypha, allows one to go to a specific
chapter and verse, browse by book, and search for keywords.
In addition to these databases the research is recommended to examine the following
which provide full text of the Bible as well as of other publications, both religious
and secular: Early English Books Online (covers the period from 1475 to 1700);
Early American Imprints, Series I, Evans (covers the period 1639 to 1800); Early
American Imprints, Series II, Shaw-Shoemaker (covers the period 1801 to 1819);
and Eighteenth Century Collections Online (covers the period from 1701 to 1800
for Britain only). (Provide link to these databases)
The New Testament
The Library has many separate editions of the New Testament and the Old Testament.
Like whole editions of the Bible, these two divisions are also arranged by language
and then by year. In The Dictionary Catalog, entries for the New Testament begin
with Bible. New Testament. Polyglot (volume 72, page 372) and continue with Bible.
New Testament. Albanian (volume 72, page 373). Other languages follow in alphabetical
order. Bible. New Testament. English. begins in volume 72 on page 382.
Dual-language New Testaments are normally found after the primary language. Thus,
Bible. New Testament. Spanish-English follows Bible. New Testament. Spanish (volume
72, page 491); Bible. New Testament. Greek-English. appears in volume 72, page
468, and Bible. New Testament. Greek-Latin is found in volume 72, page 469.
Specific books of the New Testament are also included in the Dictionary Catalog;
thus Bible. New Testament. Acts is found in volume 73 on page 25, and other books
of the New Testament follow this entry in alphabetical order. Note that the New
Testament Apocrypha (in English) is found under Bible. New Testament. Apocrypha.
English beginning on page 39 of volume 73.
The Old Testament
The arrangement of entries for Bible. Old Testament parallels that for Bible.
New Testament. The entries for the former begin in volume 73, page 267, with
Bible. Old Testament. Polyglot (arranged by year) followed by the alphabetical
arrangement for different languages. Like the New Testament, the listings for
the Old Testament are also subdivided according to the appropriate book beginning
with Bible. Old Testament. Amos (volume 73, page 389).
There also exist distinct references for Bible. Old Testament. Pentateuch (volume
73, page 551), Bible. Old Testament. Apocrypha (volume 73, page 392), and Bible.
Old Testament. Pseudepigrapha (volume 74, page 166).
In researching the Bible on CATNYP, it is advisable to employ the keyword approach
to locate appropriate materials. For example:
New Testament and Apocrypha (for this topic, also employ New Testament and Apocryphal);
Old Testament and Spanish;
Bible and Icelandic;
Gospel and Thomas.
Locating Journal Articles
Periodical Indexes (electronic and print resources)
Please note that electronic resources are only accessible from within the Library.
You can find dedicated computers located in Room 315, the Public Catalog Room
and the Rose Main Reading Room, as well as in many of the divisions throughout
the Library. For a complete listing of electronic resources available, please
visit the Selected Electronic Resources page.
ATLA Religion Database with ATLA Serials. This resource contains
citations to articles, books, and book reviews from journals specializing in
religion, church history, and theology; the full text is supplied for many articles.
Coverage varies according to publication, although most date from the twentieth
and twenty-first centuries; articles are mainly in English with some in other
major European tongues.
Index to Jewish Periodicals. This definitive index on
Jewish history, thought, and activity, provides a comprehensive guide to
English-language articles, book reviews, and feature stories in nearly
200 journals devoted to Judaic studies. It is available electronically
throughout the Library and in print format in the Jewish Division. Please
note that the print index commences in 1963, and the electronic version
in 1988.
The Catholic Periodical Index was published from 1930
through 1966 and was superseded by
The Catholic Periodical and
Literature Index published from 1967 to the present. This is available
in print format only.
The Catholic
Periodical Index is under the call number of
JFM 07-47,
and
The Catholic
Periodical and Literature Index is under the call number of
JFM
07-48. A related resource is
The
Guide to Catholic Literature, published from 1888 through
1967; it is less comprehensive than the other indexes, but ought to be
consulted for a thorough search of a given topic. Its call number is
JFM
95-558. These indexes provide a key to Roman Catholic activity
and thought; although some of the periodicals indexed may also be found
in the
ATLA Religion Database with ATLA Serials, others
are unique to these sources.
Researchers are advised to consult Selected Electronic Resources to locate other
databases of use to them. (link to the Selected Electronic Resources menu) The
following are especially recommended:
EBSCO Research Databases; Philosopher’s Index; Index to Christian Art;
America: History and Life; Historical Abstracts; America’s Historical Newspapers;
ProQuest Historical Database; American Periodical Series Online; Readers’ Guide
Retro; Nineteenth Century Masterfile (which includes Poole’s Index to Periodical
Literature, 1802-1906); and the electronic databases for newspapers. (link to
the individual databases)
Selected Internet Sites on the World Wide Web
The Internet now offers many web sites in the field of religion. The following
ones are especially recommended:
American Academy of Religion (http://www.aarweb.org), an organization which fosters
and encourages the study of religion.
Society of Biblical Literature (http://www.sbl-site.org), a society which specializes
in the critical study of the Bible and cognate literatures.
American Bible Society (http://www.americanbible.org ), translates the Bible
into many languages and maintains a library of rare and notable Bibles.
American Society of Church History (http://www.churchhistory.org), a society
promoting scholarship and research in church history, with a particular focus
on the American scene.
The Catholic Encyclopedia (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/), contains information
on the entire cycle of Catholic interests, action, and doctrine. Please note
that The Catholic Encyclopedia available on this site is the 1913 edition.
Detailed Subjects
Church Fathers
It was only in the mid-nineteenth century that the works of the Latin and Greek
Fathers of the Church were finally collected and published in a comprehensive
edition which would be widely available to scholars and researchers.
Migne, J. P., Patrologiae
Cursus Completus. . .Series Latina (Paris: Migne, 1844-1865), 221
vols., JFM 00-63.
Migne, J. P., Patrologiae Cursus
Completus. . . Series Graeca (Paris: Migne, 1857-1880), 166 vols., JFM
00-50.
(For both series by Migne, please check CATNYP under the author's name to obtain
the correct volume number. The Latin Fathers are also available in an electronic
format on computers in the Library, as noted below.)
Patrologia Latina. Electronic version of Migne's nineteenth-century printed collection
of the works of the Church Fathers. This is the complete set, including prefatory
material, original texts, critical apparatus, indexes, illustrations, and Migne's
column numbers. (available in the Library only)
There is no single translation into English of Migne's comprehensive work. However,
there do exist in English several multi-volume editions of the writings of the
Church Fathers. There are readily available in the Reading Rooms.
The Ante-Nicene Fathers: Translations of the Fathers down to A.D. 325 (New
York: Scribners, 1917-1925), 10 vols., *R-RMRR BR60 .A5.
A Select Library
of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church (Grand
Rapids: Eerdmans, 1956 and 1961), two series each of 14 vols., *R-RMRR
BR60 .S4.
Ancient Christian
Writers: The Works of the Fathers in Translation (New
York: Newman, 1978 reprint), 40 vols., *R-RMRR BR60 .A35
Fathers of the Church (Washington: Catholic University
of America Press, in progress), 71 vols., *R-RMRR BR60 .F3(followed
by initial of author's name).
Library of
Christian Classics (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1953-1966),
26 vols., *R-RMRR BR45 .L52.
The following guides to the Church Fathers are recommended:
Dirksen, Aloys Herman, Elementary
Patrology (St. Louis: Herder, 1959), *R-RMRR BR67 .D5.
Kelly, J.N.D., Early
Christian Doctrines, 5th rev. ed., (London: Black, 1977) JXD
86-75. b2031157
McGuckin, John Anthony, Westminster
Handbook to Patristic Theology (London: SCM Press, 2005), *R-RMRR
BR162.3 .M38.
Bibles
Readers interested in the Bible and studies on it are advised to consult first
the Bible entries under the earlier section on Using the Catalogs. However, the
Reading Rooms do contain Bibles and significant works relating to the Bible which
merit specific reference here.
Noteworthy Editions
Editions of the whole Bible in English may be found in the South Hall of the
Rose Main Reading Room under
*R-RMRR BS. The Reading Rooms also
contain versions of the Bible in other western languages; speak to a librarian
for locations. The following special editions of the Bible ought to be noted:
Bible. Polyglot. 1874.
Hexaglot Bible (London: Dickinson and Higham, 1874), 6 vols.,
*R-RMRR BS1 1874.
Complete Bible in Greek, Latin, French, and German, as
well as Old Testament in Hebrew and New Testament in Syriac.
Bible. New
Testament. English. 1962. New Testament Octapla (New York:
Nelson, 1962)
*R-RMRR BS2025 1962 .W4.
Eight English
versions of the New Testament.
Bible. New
Testament. Greek. 1968. The Revised Standard Version Interlinear Greek-English
New Testament (London: S. Bagster,
1968),
*R-RMRR BS1965 1968.
Bible. New
Testament. Greek. Scholz. 1975. The English Hexapla: Exhibiting the
Six Important English Translations of the New Testament Scriptures (New
York: AMS Press, 1975),
*R-RMRR BS2025 1975 .S36 1975.
History of the Bible
The Cambridge
History of the Bible (Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 1970), 3 vols.,
*R-RMRR BS445 .C26. A comprehensive
history of the Bible with a particular focus on the development of
the English Bible. Valuable for its discussion of the principal English
versions and their relation to church, culture, and society.
Daniell, David,
The
Bible in English: Its History and Influence (New Haven: Yale University
Press, 2003),
*R-RMRR BS455 .D27.
Metzger, Bruce,
The
Bible in Translation: Ancient and English Versions (Grand Rapids,
MI: Baker Academic, 2001),
*R-RMRR BS450 .M46.
Norton, David,
A History
of the Bible as Literature, (Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University
Press, 1993), 2 vols.,
*R-RMRR BS585 .N67
Concordances of the Bible
Concordances to the Bible may be found in the Main Reading Room under *R-RMRR
BS425.
Bible Dictionaries and Guides
The Anchor Bible
Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 6 vols., *R-RMRR
BS440 .A54 and another set in Jewish Division.
Calvocoressi, Peter, Who's
Who in the Bible (London: Viking, 1987), *R-RMRR BS570
.C35.
Cambridge Companion
to Biblical Interpretation, edited by John Barton (Cambridge;
New York: Cambridge University Press, 1998), *R-RMRR BS511.2 .C35.
The Complete Who’s
Who in the Bible (London: Marshall Pickering, 1995), *R-RMRR
BS570 .C645.
HarperCollins
Bible Dictionary (San Francisco: Harper, 1996), *R-RMRR
BS440 .H235.
Hastings, James, ed., Dictionary
of the Bible, revised
edition, (New York: Scribners, 1963), *R-RMRR BS440 .H5 1963.
International Standard
Bible Encyclopedia (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979-1982), 2 vols., *R-RMRR
BS440 .I6.
Interpreter's
Dictionary of the Bible (Nashville: Abingdon, 1962),
4 vols., *R-RMRR BS440 .I63.
Kittel, Gerhard, Theological
Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965-1976),
10 vols., *R-RMRR BS2312 .K5813. Another copy available in
the Jewish Division. This dictionary is based upon the Greek text.
Leon-Dufour, Xavier, Dictionary
of the New Testament (New
York: Harper and Row, 1980), *R-RMRR BS2312 .L4513.
The Oxford Companion
to the Bible, edited
by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan (New York: Oxford University Press,
1993), *R-RMRR BS440 .M434.
The Oxford Guide to Ideas and Issues of the Bible, edited
by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan (New York: Oxford University
Press, 2001), *R-RMRR BS 440 .O94.
The
Oxford Guide to People and Places of the Bible, edited
by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan (New York: Oxford University
Press, 2001), *R-RMRR BS570 .O94.
Ramsay, William M., The
Westminster Guide to the Books of the Bible (Louisville, KY: Westminster/John
Knox Press, 1994), *R-RMRR BS475.2 .R36.
Tischler, Nancy Marie, All
Things in the Bible: An Encyclopedia of the Biblical World (Westport,
Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2006), 2 vols., *R-RMRR BS440. T57.
Vos, Howard Frederic, Nelson’s
New Illustrated Bible Manners and Customs: How the People of the Bible Really
Lived (Nashville, Tenn.: Nelson Publishers, 1999), *R-RMRR
BS635.2 .V67.
Bible Commentaries
Bible. English.
1964. The Anchor Bible (Garden City: Doubleday, 1964- ), 44
vols. (in progress), *R-RMRR BS192 .2 .A1. A multi-volume
set with each volume devoted to one book (or books) of the Bible.
Black, Matthew, ed., Peake's
Commentary on the Bible (Sunbury: Nelson, 1977), *R-RMRR
BS491 .B57.
Mercer Commentary
on the Bible (Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, 1995), *R-RMRR
BS491.2 .M47.
New
Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture (London: Nelson,
1969), *R-RMRR BS491.2 .N48.
The
New Jerome Biblical Commentary, edited by Raymond
E. Brown and others, (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall,
1990), *R-RMRR BS491.2 .N485.
The
New Interpreter's Bible (Nashville: Abingdon Press,
1994- ), multi-volume set in progress, *R-RMRR BS491.2
.N484. b3376523 See also the older edition entitled The
Interpreter’s Bible (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press,
1979-1985), 12 vols., *R-RMRR BS491.2 .I55.
Oxford
Bible Commentary, edited
by John Barton and John Muddiman (Oxford; New York: Oxford University
Press, 2001), *R-RMRR BS491.3 .O94.
Liturgy and Worship
Researching the liturgies and prayer books of different Christian churches
requires the utilization of different strategies. Even a cursory examination
of the Library’s catalogs indicates a variety of subject headings for
this topic, even within the parameters of one church. In searching CATNYP for
the Roman Missal, both before and after Vatican II, it is recommended that
a keyword approach be employed. The following are recommended:
Catholic Church and Liturgy
Catholic Church and Prayers and Devotions
Missal
Missals
Missale Romanum.
Roman Missal. (All these options ought to be used.)
In the Dictionary Catalog, the appropriate subject heading is:
Catholic Church, Roman - Liturgy and Ritual. This is then subdivided into headings
such as Breviary, Missal, Hours, etc.
The following titles are especially useful, but search the catalog for other
appropriate entries.
Catholic Church. Saint
Andrew Daily Missal (Saint Paul: E. M. Lohmann, 1956), B-10
526. A comprehensive and detailed text, with notes, of the pre-Vatican
II liturgy.
Catholic Church. Daily Roman Missal: Sunday and Weekday Masses for
Proper of Seasons, Proper of Saints, Common Masses, Ritual Masses, Masses for
Various Needs and Occasions, Votive Masses, Masses for the Dead: Complete with
Readings in One Volume, Including Devotions and Prayers, 6th ed. (Huntington,
Ind.: Our Sunday Visitor, 2003). Contains the current sacramentary and
lectionary for all Sundays, holy days, and weekdays. On order.
Catholic Church. New
Latin-English Sunday Missal (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Association
for Latin Liturgy, 1982) JFC 92-3662.
Catholic Church. The
Roman Catholic Daily Missal, 1962 (Kansas
City, MO: Angelus Press, 2004) JFC 07-365. This is the text
of the Roman Missal immediately before Vatican II; it is this edition which
is now authorized by the Vatican for the celebration of the post-Tridentine
Mass.
Catholic Church. Sacramentary (Collegeville,
MN: Liturgical Press, 1985) JFF 87-561. Contains the text
of the liturgy (including collects [prayers], Eucharistic prayers and prefaces,
and certain chants) for the current celebration of the Mass with an appendix
of major texts in Latin.
Catholic Church. Lectionary
for Mass (New York:
Catholic Book Pub. Co., 1970) JXF 87-26. Contains the text
of Scripture readings for the Mass as well as the intervening chants.
Catholic Church. Lectionary for Mass, 2nd typical ed. (Collegeville,
MN: Liturgical Press, 1998- ), 4 vols. This is the revised edition of the above
volume and contains the text of Scripture readings for all Sundays, holy days,
and weekdays as well as the intervening chants. On order.
Catholic Church. New
St. Joseph Sunday Missal: The Complete Masses for Sundays, Holydays, and the
Easter Triduum (Totowa, NJ: Catholic Book Pub. Co., 1999) JFC
03-2202. Contains the current sacramentary and lectionary for all Sunday and
holyday Masses; valuable for its commentaries and explanations by the Rev.
John C. Kersten.
Catholic Church. New Saint Joseph Weekday Missal (Totowa,
NJ: Catholic Book Pub. Co., 2002), 2 vols. Contains the current sacramentary
and lectionary for weekday Masses. On Order.
The Book of Divine
Worship: Being Elements of the Book of Common Prayer Revised and Adapted
According to the Roman Rite for Use by Roman Catholics Coming from the
Anglican Tradition (Mt. Pocono, PA Newman House Press, 2003) JFE
04-8487. A missal incorporating elements of the Episcopal Book
of Common Prayer as revised in accordance with the theology and practice
of the Roman Missal.
In researching the liturgies and worship of other Christian churches, please
employ a keyword search in CATNYP linking the church with the appropriate subject,
as seen in the following examples.
Episcopal Church and Liturgy
Lutheran Church and Prayer Books
Episcopal Church and Prayer Books
Lutheran Church and Prayers and Devotions
It is recommended that all three subjects be used in separate searches and
linked with the appropriate church.
Religious Statistics
Yearbook of American
and Canadian Churches, (Nashville:
Abingdon, annual; latest edition available under Pub. Cat. BR513
.Y4.) For statistics pertaining to the United States and Canada.
World Christian
Encyclopedia, edited
by David B. Barrett, 2nd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001), *R-RMRR
BR157 .W67. Information on the number of religious adherents
internationally or by country.
The World
Almanac and Book of Facts (New York, World Almanac,
annual; latest edition available under Pub. Cat. AY67 .N5
W7.) This is also available in print in other divisions
and also electronically.
The Statesman's
Yearbook ( London: MacMillan Press Ltd., annual; latest
edition available under Pub. Cat. JA51 .S7.) Information
on religious affiliations by state.
Worldmark
Encyclopedia of the States (New York: Worldmark Press,
triennial; latest edition available under *R-RMRR E156 .W67.)
Information on religious affiliations by state within the United States.
Where to Go for More Help
To supplement the materials recommended in this research guide, consult the
librarians in the appropriate divisions. They will be pleased to suggest various
research strategies and resources suitable for your needs.
General Research
Division, Humanities and Social Sciences Library
Located in Room 315, the reference desk is staffed during the hours that the
Library is open.
E-mail Reference Service is available at grdref@nypl.org
Dorot Jewish Division,
Humanities and Social Sciences Library
Located in Room 108, the staff of the Dorot Jewish Division is available
to assist you with your research in all aspects of Judaica Studies. Limited
Telephone Reference Service is available at (212) 930-0601. E-mail Reference
Service
is available at freidus@nypl.org
Asian and Middle
Eastern Division, Humanities and Social Sciences Library
the staff of the Asian and Middle Eastern Division can
assist you with your research on Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shintoism, Bahai,
Taoism, Zoroastrianism, and the other religious traditions of the East. Limited
Telephone Reference Service is available at (212) 930-0716. E-mail Reference
Service is available at asiaref@nypl.org
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