Digital Resources
Educating in an Online Age
Digital resources are more powerful and vital than ever. In order to share the breadth of tools and knowledge at Concordia Historical Institute, we have worked hard to produce high-quality, totally free online exhibits, databases, and more, so you can (re)discover your Lutheran history anytime, anywhere.
From a full inventory of C.F.W. Walther’s sermons, to multiple fully-online exhibits, to an increasing number of finding aids and other research resources digitized and online, CHI wants to ensure there are no burdens hampering the study of North American Lutheran history, especially for the young, lay people, or up-and-coming scholars who may not be able to physically visit our space or may need additional assistance before digging into primary resources. These resources not only share the treasures of our heritage, but they also help individuals get acquainted with how archives work, what types of materials we have, and how to navigate an archival collection.
Our most recent online exhibit is Martin Chemnitz at 500. Opened on November 9, 2022, it honors the 500th anniversary of the great theologian’s birth. Chemnitz straddles the line between being a “first generation” reformer—having overlapped with both Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon at Wittenberg—and a thinker of the period of Lutheran Orthodoxy. He was a rather atypical, “second career”-of sorts student. Nevertheless, Chemnitz eventually became the ecclesiastical supervisor of Braunschweig (Brunswick). He also published many works of theology still significant in the Lutheran church today, most notably the Formula of Concord. Our exhibit looks at Chemnitz and his reception within North American Lutheranism, considering his own life as well as his legacy within the LCMS.
Our Hands, Your Help
We are proud of the work we’ve done so far to make Lutheran history accessible in the digital age. We also hope to expand our offerings in the near future. CHI has plans to create a multimedia studio to increase the number and quality of online resources we can produce. Podcasts, short- and long-form video, and more online exhibits may be on the horizon. These future projects will require research, web design, and media resources, all of which are expensive. Here at Concordia Historical Institute, we supply the “sweat” (or brain) equity, but your support will make continued production of these kinds of resources possible. By financially partnering with Concordia Historical Institute, you can help ensure that the treasures of our Lutheran history are available for all, for free, online.
Become a Partner for Digital Resources
Support the expansion of CHI’s Digital Resources today with a one-time financial gift. Make your most generous gift today at https://concordiahistoricalinstitute.givecloud.co/.
