a tour of Firestone Library artifacts

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I live close to Princeton and have spent some happy days visiting the campus and library looking for remembrances of the days when the University was faithful to the Word of God and produced godly men ready for ministry.

1 Washington Rd, Princeton

David Brainerd’s Hebrew Lexicon 1654 edition

This is my favorite find. It is a Hebrew Lexicon wrapped in otter skin by the Indians David Brainerd ministered to and left with Jonathan Edwards at his death. Jonathan must have kept it close during his Stockbridge years and then brought it to Princeton when he became President in 1758. It stayed within the family until 1907 when Mrs. William F. H. Edwards presented it to the library.

Stephen Nichols has an episode about this book on his 5 Minutes in Church History podcast.

“At Princeton University among the many interesting books is one book in particular that I’d like to talk to you about. Well, for you to get a sense of it, it’s about 4″x 6″x 4,” so about 4 inches wide, about 6 inches in length, and about 4 inches thick. But what’s fascinating about this book is the binding. It is actually bound in otter skin. That’s right, otter skin. And not only is it bound in otter skin, but it’s painted with blue and red stripes; and its painted in a style that’s the characteristic painting of the eastern woodland Indians. So we have an otter-skin bound, painted, Hebrew dictionary.

It is a dictionary of Hebrew and also of Aramaic. It was first published in Bazel in 1654, and somehow it made it’s way into the hands of David Brainerd. When David Brainerd died it passed on to Jonathan Edwards. So it was actually in possession of Jonathan Edwards. And of course at the end of his life, Jonathan Edwards was at Princeton and somehow that Hebrew dictionary made its way through the Edwards family, and some Edwards family member gave it to Princeton University…”

Jonathan Edwards’ Sermon Wallet and Communion Cloth

Edwards’ Silver Tablespoon and Stoddard Porringer

Remnants of Edwards’ homes

A letter dated Feb 28, 1758, less than a month since he came to the college and less than a month before he would die on March 22. He writes to Jonathan Sargeant the treasurer of the college at Newark, NJ, “Sir, This is to desire that when you come next to this place, you would come prepared to pay me an 100 pounds for so much will be due to me from the College Treasury, in the month of March approaching. I also shall desire to borrow an 100 pounds of the College the next May, which the Trustees have consented to. This with humble service to Mrs. Sergeant…Your Humble Servant, Jonathan Edwards.”

To access these treasures, you will need a library card for “independent researchers” You can sign up here. More information regarding specific requests can be found here.

I am currently searching for a few more items of his I have read are at Princeton. Will update if I find!

Jonathan Edwards at Princeton: With a Survey of Edwards Materials in the Princeton University Library this is a great article to use as a resource.

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