University of Minnesota Libraries mark 400th anniversary of the King James Bible

The 1611 King James Bible is one of the best known and most frequently printed books in the English language, but most don’t know the story behind its creation. A series of exhibits and events at the University of Minnesota Libraries will reveal that story.

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"The Word Made Flesh" exhibit, open now through Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, features examples of biblical texts, medieval manuscripts, and facsimiles from the University Libraries’ special collections. Highlights include two leaves from the 42-line Gutenberg Bible; the original New Testament portion of the King James Bible; other early printings such as the Geneva Bible and the "Breeches" Bible; and related works stemming out of the Reformation such as publications, broadsides and pamphlets from Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon and others.

The traveling exhibit "Manifold Greatness: The Creation and Afterlife of the King James Bible" will be installed from Wednesday, Jan. 25 through Wednesday, February 15, 2012. Organized by the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., and the American Library Association Public Programs Office, "Manifold Greatness" is based on an exhibition of the same name developed by the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, with assistance from the Harry Ransom Center of the University of Texas, to mark the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible. The traveling exhibition was made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Learn more at manifoldgreatness.org.

Free and open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday (except University of Minnesota holidays) on the 4th floor of Wilson Library, 309 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis. A reception and colloquium, featuring presenters Bernard Levinson, David Haley, Michael Hancher, Mark Granquist and Chris Armstrong, will be held from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, 2012.

Other related local events are listed at z.umn.edu/kjv400mn.


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