Pitts Theology Library

What Pitts Theology Library does

Pitts Theology Library is the academic theology library of Emory University's Candler School of Theology, located at 1531 Dickey Drive, Suite 560, Atlanta, Georgia. The library maintains physical and digital collections of theological reading materials and operates as a department within the university, not an independent commercial entity. Its holdings include the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection (described as the largest North American holding of books by Martin Luther, his colleagues, and opponents), the J. Michael Morgan English Bible & Psalmody Collection, 30,000 pre-1501 incunabula, and the John August Swanson papers and artwork.

The library's core digital products are the Pitts Digital Collections platform (built in partnership with Agile Humanities), the Digital Image Archive, and the Online Reference Collection (an A-Z database list unique to Pitts' theological focus). Digitization operations rely on a medium format Fujifilm GFX 100s camera with 110mm prime lens, controlled by CaptureOne and custom Photoshop stitching scripts, producing high-resolution surrogates of fragile archival materials. The library supports both on-site study and remote research, with digital exhibitions and a YouTube channel extending its reach globally.

Pitts is funded primarily through Emory University and does not disclose a standalone revenue model or pricing structure. Primary users are Candler School of Theology students and faculty, with secondary service to broader Emory researchers and remote scholars worldwide. The library maintains strategic partnerships with Atla (Director Bo Adams sits on Atla's Board), the Sounding Spirit Digital Library Consortium (NEH-funded, multi-university), and Hispanic Bible Institutes certified by AETH via Biblioteca Digital Pitts. Marketing channels include a blog, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, the weekly Pitts Prospectus newsletter, and physical/digital exhibitions.

Name

Pitts Theology Library

Legal name

Pitts Theology Library

Website

https://pitts.emory.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pitts Theology Library is the academic theology library of Emory University's Candler School of Theology, serving Candler students and faculty with rare theological collections, digitization services, and the Pitts Digital Collections platform for global remote researchers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Academic Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Divinity Schools (University-Affiliated) (EDAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Religious Nonfiction & Theology Publishing (Apologetics, Doctrine, Ethics) (MPAJAHAG)

Keywords

• Theological research
• Rare book digitization
• Special collections
• Academic library services
• Digital archives

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pitts Theology Library is an academic theology library that provides physical and digital collections, reference and instruction services, special collections management, and high-resolution digitization of rare books and archival materials. It serves Candler School of Theology students and faculty, the broader Emory community, and remote researchers worldwide through its digital collections platform and digital image archive.

Product overview

Pitts Theology Library is an academic theology library at Emory University's Candler School of Theology, offering physical and digital collections, research services, and special collections management. The library operates primarily as a physical and digital library rather than a technology product company. Its primary digital product is the Pitts Digital Collections platform, which provides online access to digitized archival materials and rare books, along with the Digital Image Archive for high-resolution digitized images.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pitts Digital Collections

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Emmanuel Lutheran Church (Fort Wayne, Indiana)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExhibition partnership for displaying items from the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The exhibition highlights liturgical reforms during the Lutheran Reformation through catechisms, hymnals, and other works. Drs. Armin Siedlecki and Bo Adams hosted a small exhibition and lecture on July 25th.
• Atla (American Theological Library Association)coreTechnology or IntegrationAtla provides the Atla Religion Database and other theological research tools. Bo Adams, Director of Pitts, serves on Atla's Board of Directors, representing theological libraries' interests in collaborative digital initiatives.
• Agile HumanitiescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDigital collections and exhibitions platform development partner. Agile Humanities designed and developed the digital collections and exhibitions site for Pitts, enabling global access to digitized materials.
• Sounding Spirit Digital Library ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEH-funded collaborative project involving multiple universities: Middle Tennessee State University, University of Kentucky, University of Michigan, and University of Tulsa. The consortium provides access to more than 1,250 books of southern vernacular sacred music (1850-1925).
• Dornseif Family (Fort Wayne, Indiana)minorOthersDonated rare books held in their family for generations, along with historic photos, to support the Kessler Collection exhibition at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Yale Divinity Library: Theological library at a major private university with substantial rare book and special collections; directly comparable in mission (serving a divinity school), digital initiatives, and special collections focus.
• Duke Divinity School Library: Theological library at a peer private research university; comparable in scope, digital collections, and special collections in Methodist and broader Christian traditions.
• Princeton Theological Seminary Library: Specialized theological seminary library with significant special collections and rare books; directly comparable in being a stand-alone theological research library rather than a general university library.
• Bridwell Library (Southern Methodist University): Theological library at a private university with major Methodist and Reformation-era holdings; closely comparable in denominationally affiliated theological collection focus.
• Burke Library (Union Theological Seminary): Theological library serving Union Theological Seminary; comparable in theological special collections, archival research services, and small-staff operating model.
• Andover-Harvard Theological Library: Theological library at Harvard Divinity School with major rare book and archival holdings; comparable in academic theological focus and depth of special collections.

Broad incumbents

• Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library (Yale): Major rare book and manuscript library at Yale with overlapping digital collections and exhibition work; broader in scope (not strictly theological) but comparable in rare book digitization and exhibition programming.
• Internet Archive: Large-scale digital library and digitization platform with a religious texts collection; comparable in digitization mission and online discovery infrastructure for rare/archival materials.
• HathiTrust Digital Library: Large-scale collaborative digital preservation repository including theological and religious texts; comparable as a shared digital infrastructure that complements academic theological libraries' digitization programs.

Others

• Atla (American Theological Library Association): Industry membership association for theological libraries; Pitts' director sits on Atla's board. Atla provides the Atla Religion Database that Pitts uses and is a key ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubepitts.emory.edu/youtube
• Facebookfacebook.com/PittsTheologyLibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/pittslibrary
• Xx.com/PittsLibrary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pitts Theology Library