Special Collections

The Special Collections and Archives in the Lapp Learning Commons support the curriculum and preserve the records of the Chicago Theological Seminary. An appointment must be made with a librarian in order to use special collection materials. Please consult the Learning Commons Learning Commons Archival Use Policy and submit an Archival Request Form prior to your visit.

Lowenbach Congregational Collection

The former Harry and Cora Lowenbach Room housed monographic materials related to early Congregationalism and the United Church of Christ. It also included early printed material, the Community Renewal Society’s records, Congregational church records, and miscellaneous sermons. The majority of these items have been transferred to the Congregational Library in Boston, MA. The materials that were not moved include the Department of Research and Survey Papers (see below) and materials related to the founding of the United Church of Christ.

Boisen Papers Collection

Anton T. Boisen Collection houses the publications, papers, book reviews, mimeographic records, research data, case studies, and photographs created by Dr. Boisen during his lifetime. His major research area was mental health and religious experience and was an early founder of the Clinical Pastoral Education movement.

The finding aid to the Boisen Collection is available here.

Congregational Church Records

All of the known Congregational church records previously held by CTS have been transferred to the Congregational Library in Boston, MA.

Department of Research and Survey Papers

The Department of Research and Survey Papers was a division of a predecessor organization of the Community Renewal Society that provided statistical and sociological analyses of individual churches and communities. The program was initially headed by Samuel C. Kincheloe, CTS professor of the sociology of religion, and many of the surveys were completed by CTS students.

Finding Aid for the Department of Research and Survey Papers.

CTS Institutional Archives

These materials are currently indexed at the folder level. In the future, we hope to provide a finding aid for researchers. Please consult the Learning Commons staff if you wish to consult these materials.

The Campbell Morgan Collection

The Library houses the most complete collection of the works of the Rev. Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, one of the most outstanding preachers of the twentieth century. In 2000, the Morgan family donated G. Campbell Morgan\’s books and documents, including Morgan\’s handwritten Sermon Register along with original manuscripts of his sermon notes. The Collection contains his sermons, writings, books, newspaper clips, lecture notes, photographs, and other archival materials. The Learning Commons created a small Digital Collection that presents indexes of all sermon titles, digital copies of selected sermon notes, and a detailed list of all archival materials available to researchers.

Click here to visit The Campbell Morgan Collection Online

Funding for  the development of the finding aids for the Anton T. Boisen Collection and Department of Research and Survey, as well as the Learning Commons Archival Use Policy and Archival Request Form were made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities.