Search

A map of Africa depicting locations explored by Europeans up to the early 19th century, including the Sahara, Madagascar, and the Ivory Coast.

Indulgences were issued to defray the cost of building the basilica of St. Peter in Rome. Their distribution was often linked to the sacrament of penance, as believers were granted spiritual merits in exchange for financial donations. This particular indulgence, believed to be the only specimen of its kind thus far recovered, was issued specifically to clergy, granting them liturgical benefits in exchange for their contributions.

An address given by the Rev. Kiyoshi Tanimono, Methodist minister, during Minister's Week at Emory University giving an eye-witness account of the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.

This item is a scrapbook produced while Hoffman was serving as Secretary for Germany and Austria for the World Council of Churches. It contains sixty black-and-white photographs depicting the lives of young refugees in West Germany after World War II. In English, the captions and narrative describe church relief work among the refugees. Much of this document is an appeal for more funds and resources to help Protestant churches continue their relief efforts in the boarding houses and schools for refugees, who were mainly from West Germany although some were from East Germany.

Original records of seventy-nine trials at the Inquisition in Barcelona, Spain signed by the inquisitors. The text contains their declarations, confessions and the testimonies of witnesses. Crimes include pacts with the devil, sorcery, witchcraft, sodomy, traffic with ghosts, etc.

A wax rubbing of the tablet, done in sections on four different pieces of tissue paper. The inscription is primarily in Chinese, but there are several Syriac words; and there is a bilingual list of proper names in both languages.

This manuscript is handwritten in German and dated May 10, 1542. It lists people from Zwickau, Saxony (Germany) who enlisted or were paid to participate in the field campaign against the Turkish invasion of Marseille.

A contemporary report of a remonstration against the Imperial policy of Charles V for participation in the recently convened ecumenical Council of Trent on terms proposed by the new Pope Julius III (del Monte). The Elector Maurice, of the Ernestine branch of the Wettin family of the duchies of Saxony, was one of the great and enigmatic figures of German history in the mid 16th century.

A contemporary official text, in Spanish, of the famous royal cedula by which the reluctant King Philip II at last promulgated the Catholic Church's reply to the Protestant revolt from the church. This ratifies for the Spanish dominions, the profound reforms of the great Council meeting at Trent from 1545 to 1552 and finally in 1562-1563.

This letter was written by Cruciger on July 8, 1544 to Veit Dietrich, pastor of St. Sebald’s Church at Nuremberg. In the letter Cruciger discussed personal matters related to himself, Dietrich, Martin Luther, and Philipp Melanchthon. He also writes about the collection of Luther’s sermons he and Dietrich were to publish together in the following year.

A signed letter in German from Albert of Brandenburg to Julius Plug, dated 30th July 1540. The letter is a request to translate from Latin into German some articles on religion by Luther.

A cover letter, dated May 3, 1534, for a manuscript which Spalatin had promised to Duke Magnus III of Mecklenburg regarding the justification used by Henry VIII for his divorce from Catherine of Aragon, which was never recognized by Rome. Henry had married Anne Boleyn in January of 1533 and on May 23 1534, Pope Clement VII invalidated Henry's divorce and remarriage, which led to England's final break with Rome and the foundingn of the Anglican Church.

A letter written to Heinrich von Einsiedel and an enclosed with a copy of a sermon by Philipp Melanchthon. Within the body of the letter, Spalatin entreats Einsiedel to "exert your goodwill on the work's behalf". The letter is dated 1536.

A letter written to the "Noble and Right worthy Heinrich von Einsiedel" in Gnansteyn. The matter being addressed is the refusal of Brosius Berger to take an oath, thus hindering Katharina Gockritz from getting married. Mention of consultation with Doctor Martin [Luther] is in the letter. With the exception of the upper right corner which is missing, the paper is in good condition. The date "1528" appears in the upper left corner in a different ink.

This letter was written by Cochlaeus on June 6, 1547 to Julius von Pflug, the last Prince Bishop of Naumburg. Cochlaeus congratulates von Pflug on his reinstatemnnt into his office following the defeat and capture of Elector John Frederick of Saxony in the Schmalkald War. The letter also contains a reference by Cochlaus to the transfer to Bologna of the meetings that became known as the Council of Trent.

An impression done in 1564 of a woodcut made in 1561 depicting Philipp Melanchthon

An unpublished manuscript signed and dated (1551) by Philipp Melanchthon. Written on three sides of two sheets, it is a meditation on the Third Chapter of Paul's Letter to the Colossians. The two leaves on which the meditation is written (19 x 29 cm.) show signs of insect damage and have been repaired with Japanese paper. The verso of the title page holds the inscription "C. S. V. R. mit Galt" near the top with a less readable second line. Near the bottom is the inscription "1551 mit Galt". For their protection, both pieces were encapsulated in mylar.

This collection consists of a single receipt, on paper, for 20 Gulden which Jonas received as salary from the City Council of Erfurt. Our research has so far been unable to determine just why Jonas was being paid by the City Council. The fact that he uses the word "Zinse" (interest income, or, income from a benefice) suggests that it was for services rendered as a preacher in that City. It is also known that he was considering returning to Erfurt as a preacher after the debacle at Halle. The receipt is signed by Justus Jonas and is dated the 2nd February 1549.

A signed (letter contains notation in his own hand), handwritten letter, in German, on paper. The letter addresses John's unwillingness to provide aid in a dispute against his relative, Duke Albrecht of Bavaria.

This is a pardon granted to Sir Gilbert Pickering by Charles II. Pickering was pardoned for supporting Oliver Cromwell prior to the Restoration of 1660. It is hand-written on vellum.

This manuscript consists of a handwritten copy of the speech made by James Radcliffe, third Earl of Derwentwater, from the scaffold on February 24, 1716. Radcliffe was sentenced to death by King George I because of his participation in the conspiracy to reinstate the Stuarts. In the speech Radcliffe renounced his plea of guilt, affirmed his adherene to the Roman Catholic faith, and professed his loyalty to James III.