Devotional Literature

 

Special Collections holds devotional works dating from the thirteenth to the twentieth century.  These include medieval manuscripts of Latin Psalters, Breviaries, and Books of Hours, early printed manuals for personal devotion in various languages, Hebrew Psalters, illuminated manuscripts for Muslim prayer, and a variety of modern publications for individual Christian prayer. 

 

Active collecting interests:

*Primary authors: St. Augustine, St. Bonaventure, St. Bridget of Sweden, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Teresa of Àvila, Girolamo Savonarola, Jeremy Taylor, Thomas, à Kempis.   

 

*Texts and genres:  Books of Hours, Prayer books, manuals for private devotion, works of moral instruction, manuals related to death and dying (e.g. Ars Moriendi), novenas.

 

*Languages: Latin, European vernaculars, world vernaculars.

 

*Physical features: Contemporary or early bindings and provenance; annotations, additions, and other evidence of contemporary or early ownership and use; printed illustrations.  Completely engraved works are of special interest.

 

*Chronological scope: Fifteenth through twentieth centuries.

 

*Geographic scope: Global.

 

Reference:

Eric Marshall White. Books for Devotion: Private Prayer and Piety through Eight Centuries. Dallas: Bridwell Library, 2009.

 

Exhibition brochure available online at http://smu.edu/bridwell/exhibits/Books%20for%20Devotion.htm.