3001 Mercer University Dr., Atlanta, GA 30341 • 678/547-6680 • www.abhsarchives.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Betsy Dunbar September 8, 2011 THE START OF SOMETHING BIG: THE ROMANCES OF EMILY JUDSON KICKS OFF BICENTENNIAL ATLANTA, GA— The American Baptist Historical Society is kicking off the Judson Bicentennial with a program of drama and discourse, Friday night, September 23 at 7:00pm. Emily Chubbuck Judson, herself (as portrayed by actor Carol Anderson of Acts of Renewal), will begin the evening, followed by a lecture on “The Romances of Emily Judson” by Dr. George Tooze. Famous for her writing career under the pen name “Fanny Forester,” Emily became even more famous as the third wife of the twice- widowed missionary Adoniram Judson. Dr. Tooze is the editor of The Life and Letters of Emily Chubbuck Judson, published by Mercer University Press. Open to the public, this event will be held at Mercer University’s Atlanta Administration & Conference Center (2930 Flowers Rd S., Atlanta, 30414). Why Is This Such a Big Deal? The Judsons—Adoniram and Ann, his first wife, who were sent in 1812 as Congregational missionaries, but became Baptists on the ocean voyage, his second wife, Sarah Hall Boardman Judson, whose first husband died in Burma, and Emily—are credited as pioneers of the modern missionary movement. In Burma (now Myanmar), Judson is celebrated as the author of the first Burmese dictionary, still in use today. “Back in the U.S., Adoniram and Ann were as famous as rock stars today,” said Dr. Deborah B. Van Broekhoven, executive director of the Historical Society. “Ann’s letters were published in both the religious and secular press. ‘Adoniram Judson’ became a favorite name for baby boys second only to ‘Abraham Lincoln.’ The Judsons pioneered literacy and religious liberty in Burma, and their stories stirred the American imagination.” The Judson Bicentennial will be celebrated in the U.S. and around the world for three years, from 2012- 2014. Several days of events will be held February, 2012, with the 200th anniversary of the missionaries’ commissioning and sailing from Salem, MA, to India. Celebrations will continue through 2013, the anniversary of the Judsons arriving in Rangoon—with perhaps the largest celebration planned held in Myanmar, where he is revered not only for religious reasons, but also in secular circles for his work with the language—his grammar and dictionary are still in use today, and conclude in 2014 with the bicentennial of the Triennial Convention—the first national mission organization in the Americas organized for the purpose of supporting the Judsons in their Burma mission. Two Hundred Years Later, It Still Matters The Judson legacy continues its impact across countries and cultures. “Oh, Judson!” the Rev. Veronica (Ronnie) Lanier, 92, of Melrose, MA, said recently. “Judson was my hero! It’s because of him I became a missionary.” Her story, filmed recently, will be shared on the Historical Society’s special website, currently under construction, at www.Judson200.org. Links to numerous events—plans are being made across the U.S. and Myanmar (Burma) — and online exhibits from the Society’s collections will also be highlights of the site. Most importantly, perhaps, for the latest wave of refugees to America from Myanmar, many of whom are Baptist, will be original resources in Burmese and other ethnic languages, such as Karen and Chin. “We were giving a tour to a group of immigrant pastors from Myanmar this summer, and came across old hymnbooks written in Chin,” related ABHS archivist Jan Ballard. “As I answered a question from one pastor, the group examining the hymnbook suddenly burst out in song! It was a magical moment, and clearly illustrated what these items from the past mean to people today.“ “We’re excited that we have just received a grant from the Palmer Trust so the Society can make these resources available during the next few years on the website for these congregations—and translated for those of us who only speak English—to help tell the story of the Judsons and others who were mission pioneers.” Online exhibits are also planned, drawing on the Historical Society’s extensive collections of Judson and Burma materials, including original correspondence, journals, rare Burmese- language books and printed items, maps, prints and artifacts. Founded in 1853, the American Baptist Historical Society preserves and shares its collections documenting the influence Baptists have had on religious and civic life. Its six miles of shelving hold the archives of the national mission societies of the American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A., of which it is a part, the personal papers of prominent Baptist leaders, original church records, periodicals representing the world-wide Baptist press, national, state and associational published minutes from the vast array of Baptist denominations in the U.S., and books and pamphlets that are by, about, for and against Baptists. Researchers come from all over the world from a multitude of disciplines, including American history, political science, women’s studies, anthropology and sociology. For more information about ABHS, including how to make a research appointment or to volunteer, visit our website at www.abhsarchives.org. ### .