King James Bible

The Bible is the single most influential book in the history of mankind, and no where is this more true than with the King James Bible and the English language. I had a chance to go see an original King James Version (KJV) Bible at the exhibit at the Harold B. Lee Library, an experience I won't soon forget. When I first came to BYU and heard about the exhibit, I kind of took it for granted. I didn't really realize what an opportunity this was, having a 400 year old and older sacred texts within a 5 minute walk, until I took the time to go to the exhibit and look at everything. Here's what I found:

The King James Bible, "She-Bibles," "He-Bibles," and all that jazz

   This link is to a classical radio station so you have the option of feeling particularly cultured while reading this post, if you want to.  Deep in the depths of the Harold, there is a room.  Within that room, there is another room, a smaller room, partitioned off by what appear to be stained glass windows, and within that room are... a lot of Bibles.

   That's right.  We are now in "The Life and Legacy of The King James Bible," the exhibit currently on display in BYU's Special Collections, and it is now 405 A.D.  Saint Jerome has finally finished his translation of the Greek and Hebrew Bibles into Latin, what will later be known as the Vulgate Bible.  This is written on vellum, and will eventually be the Bible most used by all of Western Europe up through the Middle Ages.  You can read more about the history of the King James Bible here.

The Vulgate Bible

The "Matter of Words"

What if there was some kind of modern exhibit on the effect, influence, and meaning of print over the years? What if it was in a museum on our campus?? Well, you are in luck because at the Museum of Art, the main exhibit is called “Matter of Words” with 46 contemporary works of art by artists Adam Bateman, Harrell Fletcher, and John Fraser. 

83,000 lb sculpture made entirely from books