Outside of Main: Collections of Other Northwestern Libraries

Location:	Evanston Campus - Garrett Branch ~ 2121 Sheridan Road - Seabury Branch ~ 2122 Sheridan Road
Collection Size:	300,000 volumes
Library Head:	Alva Caldwell Newland Smith

In 1981 the United Library was formed through the merger of the separate libraries of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. Garrett-Evangelical began with the 1974 combining of Garrett Theological Seminary and Evangelical Theological Seminary. Seabury-Western began with the 1933 union of Seabury Divinity School and Western Theological Seminary. So, the origins of the library collection can be traced back to the founding in the 1850's of Garrett in Evanston and Seabury in Faribault, MN. Each of these institutions acquired items from many sources, including manuscripts and books purchased by benefactors and portions of the holdings of other seminaries and colleges that closed, creating a theological collection that is both broad and deep.


Seabury-Western Theological Seminary.

Our mission is to serve seminary students, faculty, our denominations - United Methodist and Episcopal - and the Northwestern community. United Library values its connection to the Northwestern system, which enriches us with resources and interactions with NU faculty and students.

Our special holdings include the Hibbard Egyptian Collection, the Keen Collection of English Bible Translations, and the Methodist Collection. This display shows an example or two from each, as well as offers a glimpse into the current directions of the seminary libraries, faculty and students.


Medallion with the image of Charles Wesley celebrating the centenary of Wesleyan Methodism, 1839.		Rosemary Radford Ruether. Sexism and God-talk: toward a feminist theology. Boston: Beacon Press, 1983.		Amanda Smith. The story of the Lord's dealings with Mrs. Amanda Smith, the colored evangelist: an autobiography. Chicago: Meyer & Brother, 1893.

Chair of Library Exhibits Committee