About Wright Library

Mission

Wright Library, named for Theodore Sedgwick Wright, provides collections and services in support of teaching, learning, and research in theology, in support of Princeton Seminary’s mission. Shaped by two centuries of development, Wright Library embraces its role at the intersection of the theological record and the community of scholars, continues the Seminary’s commitment to build collections of depth, and promotes an environment of broad access to the theological heritage.

Taking theology as its primary collecting responsibility, Wright Library understands theology to be advancing with other arts and sciences through the processes of research, synthesis, and communication that are nourished by the cultural record. To the extent possible, Wright Library promotes collection and service development that will keep theology in motion, supported and guided by the record of the past and the present.

Wright Library envisions its future as one of leadership, collaboration, and innovation as it works to strengthen teaching, inspire learning, broaden access, foster research, embrace change, advance knowledge and otherwise shape and participate in the evolving global network.

With over 6 million print and e-books and thousands of journals available through individual subscriptions and aggregate databases in its general collections; a digital library (the Theological Commons) of more than 160,000 freely accessible resources; a robust Special Collections and Archives department of rare books, manuscripts, archives, cuneiform tablets, art, artifacts, and digital archival collections; as well as an inspiringly beautiful building, Wright Library hosts a continually growing collection curated to meet the needs of its researchers.

Learn more about the naming of the library in this news release.

Collection Overview

Wright Library’s collections offer substantial resources for theological study and research at all levels.

In addition to circulating and periodical collections, Wright Library contains the Charles G. Reigner Collection, which houses educational materials and religious curriculum materials to support church ministry; special collections, including the Karl Barth research collection; and continually expanding digital collections, including the Theological Commons.

Wright Library receives thousands of journals, annual reports of church bodies and learned societies, bulletins, transactions, and periodically issued indices, abstracts, and bibliographies.

Among the collections are valuable portions of the libraries of Samuel Agnew, J. Addison Alexander, Louis F. Benson, John Breckinridge, Ashbel Green, William Henry Green, Alexander Balloch Grosart, John M. Krebs, Samuel Miller, William Buell Sprague, James Tanis, and Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield.

Primary sources are represented both by original early editions or reprints and by modern critical editions.

Wright Library’s Collection Development Policy guides the acquisition of library materials. A series of policies governing the use of our collections allows us to balance accessibility with accountability.

Theodore Sedgwick Wright

The Rev. Theodore Sedgwick Wright (Class of 1828) was the first African American to graduate from Princeton Theological Seminary. He served as the pastor of the Shiloh Presbyterian Church of New York City (formerly First Colored Presbyterian Church of New York City) from 1829 until his death in 1847. Wright was one of the founders of the American Anti-Slavery Society and served as chair of the New York Vigilance Committee, which worked to prevent the kidnapping of free African Americans.