Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta

The Materiality of Devotion at Pitts Library

The Materiality of Devotion: From Manuscript to Print

An exhibition curated by Dr. Sarah Bogue, Kelin Michael, and Emma de Jong.

Devotion is a fully embodied activity that engages the senses as well as the heart and mind. The Materiality of Devotion: From Manuscript to Print provides visitors with the opportunity to explore a variety of objects, texts, and images that supported devotional practices in the medieval and early modern world. The exhibition invites visitors to consider both the form and the content of these sources, which include traditional theological and biblical material as well as musical scores, cityscapes, and poetry. Though these materials have been removed from their original contexts (manuscript leaves excised from full books and books removed from their sacred or secular settings), the exhibition offers a glimpse into the rich and endlessly multimodal world of premodern devotion.

The exhibition draws on Pitts Theology Library’s medieval manuscripts as well as its world-renowned early print collection, and also benefits from generous loans made by the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library and the Michael C. Carlos Museum.
Curator-led Exhibition Tours
• Friday, February 1 at 1:00pm
• Friday, February 15 at 1:00pm
• Friday, February 22 at 1:00pm
•
Exhibition tours for all age groups are available upon request. To arrange a tour, please contact Anne Marie McLean, Reference Librarian and Outreach Coordinator, at (404)727-5094 or amclea3@emory.edu.

In conjunction with Materiality of Devotion: From Manuscript to Print exhibition, Pitts Theology Library is also pleased to invite you to a one day symposium based around the objects and themes of that exhibition. The event will include seven speakers from Emory and the greater Atlanta community, representing the fields of conservation, art history, medieval and early modern history, and the history of all three Abrahamic religions.

The symposium will begin with a keynote address by Dr. Lynley Herbert, Assistant Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts at the Walters Art Museum. Dr. Herbert's talk on Fragmentary Manuscripts will examine all that goes into making a book, particularly the complexities inherent in dealing with dismantled books. How do art historians go about solving the puzzle of single leaves? Come to the talk to find out!

Thanks to generous funding from the Mellon Humanities PhD Intervention Program and the Laney Graduate School New Thinkers/New Leaders Program, there will be no cost to attend this event! You are more than welcome to attend individual sessions or the full day, but please help us plan for your needs by filling out the form below, with particular attention to the two meals and any dietary restrictions you might have. The deadline for registering to participate in these two meals is February 21.

Click here to register.

Please contact Sarah Bogue (sbogue@emory.edu) with any questions about this event!

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First Five Freedoms is proud to join Georgia Lawyers for the Rule of Law, The Temple, and All Saints Episcopal Church for "Faith, Law, & Democracy: A Community Conversation on the Public Good and the Rule of Law" on Tuesday June 2. We hope you will consider joining us for this important discussion. Americans across the political spectrum are grappling with a shared unease: the feeling that something foundational is slipping. Trust in institutions is eroding. The norms that once governed public life are contested. And the concept of the public good — the idea that we share a common stake in fair, just, and accountable governance — is increasingly hard to find in our public discourse. This program brings together faith leaders, legal experts, and engaged community members for an evening of honest conversation about what is at stake. Hosted at All Saints Episcopal Church and co-presented by The Temple, Georgia Lawyers for the Rule of Law (GLRL), and First Five Freedoms, the event weaves together spiritual reflection, legal analysis, and civic dialogue to address one central question: What does it mean to protect the rule of law — and why does it matter for all of us, right now? The evening will include reflection, analysis, and discussion designed to:

Connect faith, law, and civic responsibility in an accessible, nonpartisan framework
Examine current challenges to the rule of law and their implications for democracy
Create space for authentic dialogue across perspectives and institutions
Foster relationships and identify opportunities for collective action

Faith, Law & Democracy, Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., All Saints Episcopal Church, 634 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta 30308. Featured speakers include: Rev. Natosha Reid Rice, Minister for Public Life, All Saints’ Episcopal Church; Rabbi Lydia Medwin, Associate Rabbi, The Temple; Jill Steinberg, former U.S. Attorney for Georgia’s Southern District; Al Pearson, former University of Georgia Law professor; Richard Griffiths, retired journalist, and president emeritus of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation. Registration for this event is free. Complimentary parking, food, and refreshments. REGISTER HERE