Reformation, Restoration, and Romeyn: Faith and the Founding of Union College

Reformation, Restoration and Romeyn presents objects that reflect the connections between Union College and the Reformation movement. The exhibit features four recently restored Bibles, including the family Bible of Dirck Romeyn, a Protestant minister and principal founder of Union College. Written in the Dutch vernacular, the Romeyn Bible is the direct result of the Reformation’s influence on making the gospels accessible to ordinary citizens.

Read the exhibit panels below for full exhibit info. 

In June 2017, I joined Union faculty on a study tour of Berlin, a trip supported by a Presidential Leadership Grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. That experience inspired me to think globally and consider the specific ways in which the Reformation impacted the founding of Union College.

- India Spartz, Curator Head of Special Collections & Archives Schaffer Library

Exhibit Opening Reception
Thursday, October 5th @  12:50-1:50 p.m.

Includes 1:00 p.m. recital on the pedal harpsichord by Stefan Kiebling

Selected images of the exhibit: 

Selected photos from the reception:

Reformation Reception

Reformation Reception 23

Reformation Reception 20

Reformation Reception 12

Reformation Reception 8

Exhibit Acknowledgements 

I am grateful to faculty colleagues for their help and guidance in creating this exhibit: Peter Bedford (Religious Studies), Dianne McMullen (Music), Therese McCarty (Economics), Hans-Frederich O. Mueller (Classics), John Cramsie (History) and Erika Nelson-Mukherjee (Modern Languages and Literatures).  Many thanks for the support and guidance of my Schaffer Library colleagues: Leslee Barkley, Marlaine DesChamps, Rebecca Fried, Jennifer Goodwin, Gail Golderman, Annette LeClair, Julie Lohnes, Dan Michelson, John Myers, Sarah Oswald, Robyn Reed, Gordon Rood, Raik Zaghloul and especially Frances Maloy, College Librarian.  Special thanks to President Stephen Ainlay, Laura Lee from the First Reformed Church of Schenectady, Wim van‘t Zelfde and Fineke van Driel of the Statenbijbel Museum in Leerdam, The Netherlands, organist Stefan Kießling, writer-editor Alexander Stevens, and especially to the Berley Foundation for providing funds to restore the Romeyn Family Bible so that it may be exhibited and studied for many years to come.

    - India Spartz, Curator Head of Special Collections & Archives Schaffer Library