Exhibits Put Spotlight on Priceless Bibles
D A L L A S, March 12 -- Few universities can match the caliber of the 60rare English Bibles on display at Southern Methodist University.
But at least two universities will, as part of a new kind oftraveling exhibit showing at SMU's theology school library.
The historical notes and research findings that accompany SMU's"Bible in English: Before and After the Hampton Court Conference,1604" exhibit will form the foundation of displays at PrincetonUniversity and the University of Manchester in England — but withpriceless Bibles taken mostly from those universities' owncollections.
"There is such a thing as a 'traveling exhibit,' but this is anentirely different concept and easier because you don't want to beshipping your Coverdale Bibles around the world," said Valerie R.Hotchkiss, director of the Bridwell Library at SMU's Perkins Schoolof Theology. Coverdale Bibles date to the 16th century and were thefirst complete English printed Bibles.
Whole Is Better than Parts
Stella Butler, head of special collections at the John RylandsUniversity Library of Manchester, said she's "delighted to beworking with Bridwell Library on such an innovative project."
While all three universities boast extensive collections of rareBibles, "exhibitions bring together material in such a way as thewhole is much more significant than the parts," Butler said.
Curators David Price and Charles C. Ryrie worked for more thanthree years to create the exhibit, which marks the 400thanniversary of the Hampton Court Conference. That meeting of KingJames I with English bishops and Puritan leaders in 1604 gave birthto a project to translate the Bible into English.
"It was the first major political act of King James I," saidPrice, a specialist in Renaissance studies who teaches churchhistory at SMU. "It was a surprising decision because there wereexcellent Bibles available at the time, and the suggestion came outof nowhere."
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