Exhibits Put Spotlight on Priceless Bibles
D A L L A S, March 12, 2004 -- 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." In the exhibit — and in a new book, Let It Go among OurPeople: An Illustrated History of the English Bible from JohnWyclif to the King James Version— Price and Ryrie offer adetailed political and literary history of the English Bible.
The books on display range from the Wycliffite Bible of theearly 1400s to the first edition of the King James Bible, printedin 1611.
A Rare Showing
The SMU exhibit showcases two Wycliffite New Testaments, namedafter John Wyclif, who instigated the first complete translationfrom Latin to English.
"To see one is something, but to see two in the same place isremarkable," said Ryrie, professor emeritus at Dallas TheologicalSeminary.
Among other Bibles in the SMU exhibit:
The first translation of the Pentateuch — the first five booksof the Bible — by William Tyndale. He was the first person totranslate the Bible's original manuscripts from Hebrew and Greekinto English. He was strangled and burned at the stake in 1536 oncharges of heresy. He violating Henry VIII's anti-Protestantpolicies against translating the Bible into English.
The Coverdale Bible of 1535. Miles Coverdale used "beautifultypography and captivating woodcut illustrations" in his Bible,which contains 158 illustrations made from 68 woodblocks, thecurators said.
Coverdale's Great Bible of 1539, so named because of its largesize — with pages roughly 16 1/2 by 11 inches.
The Geneva Bible of 1560, the most popular English translationuntil the King James Version. It was small and easy to carry. The Bishops' Bible, a 1570s revision of the Great Biblecarried out by more than a dozen bishops and other church officialsunder the direction of Michael Parker, archbishop of Canterbury.It's considered a typographical masterpiece and the most lavishlyillustrated English Bible of the Renaissance.
Steve Ferguson, curator of rare books at Princeton, said theexhibit's significance can't be exaggerated.
"This is one of the great stories of the culture ofEnglish-speaking people," Ferguson said.
Better yet, he said, "This is a show you can visit three timesand have three different experiences."
If You Go…
BIBLE EXHIBIT AT SMU: Located in SMU's Bridwell Library, 6005Bishop Blvd., Dallas. Free admission. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday through April 16.Closed Sundays. Contact (214) 768-3483 or www.smu.edu/bridwell/. BIBLE EXHIBIT AT PRINCETON: Princeton's version will run fromMay 2 through Aug. 8 at the Harvey S. Firestone Memorial Library,One Washington Road, Princeton. Call (609) 258-1470 for moreinformation. BIBLE EXHIBIT AT UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER: A renovation projectwill delay the opening here until September 2006; at the JohnRylands University of Manchester Library, 2004 Oxford Road,Manchester.