King James Bible - 400th Birthday

Manifold Greatness: The Creation and Afterlife of the King James Bible

Celebrate the 400th Birthday of the King James Bible during the month of October. From October 7th to November 2, 2012, the traveling exhibit “Manifold Greatness” will be on loan from the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., through the sponsorship of the American Library Association and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The exhibit will be on display at UW’s Coe Library (follow the signs) and features reproduced materials relating to the composition and publication of the King James Bible in 1611.

The Manifold Greatness exhibit will be accompanied by several displays featuring the history of the Bible and its translation. At Coe Library, there will be two displays of Protestant Bibles to illustrate the history of English-language Bible translation since the Reformation.  The American Heritage Center has a large display on translations into other European languages by Protestant and Catholic churches (available before October 1). Last but not least, the Albany County Public Library has an exhibit comparing historical Bible translations and their printings.

• Dr. Philip Stine, United Bible Societies, will speak Sun., Oct. 7 at 4:10 p.m., on "The History and Impact of the King James Bible." Location: Coe Library 506

• Dr. Paul V.M. Flesher, Director, Religious Studies Program, University of Wyoming, will speak Wed., Oct. 10 at 4:10 p.m., on "The World's First Scripture Translations: The Targums and the Septuagint." Location: Coe Library 506
  • View Dr. Flesher's lecture by clicking here.

• Dr. Philip L. Barlow, Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture, Utah State University, will speak Mon., Oct. 15 at 7:00 p.m., on "The Role the KJB Played in Mormonism and the Settlement of the West." Location: Wyoming Union, Yellowstone Ballroom

• Dr. Kris Utterback, Religious Studies Program, University of Wyoming, will speak on Thurs., Oct. 18 at 4:10 p.m., on "Jerome's Vulgate Translation: The First People's Bible." Location: Wyoming Stock Growers'Room
  • View Dr. Utterback's lecture by clicking here.

• Dr. Susan Frye, Department of English, University of Wyoming, will speak on Mon., Oct. 22 at 4:10 p.m., on "Seventeenth-Century Needleworkers and the King James Bible." Location: Coe Library 506
  • View Dr. Frye's lecture by clicking here.

• Ms. Anne Marie Lane, Curator, Toppan Rare Books Library, University of Wyoming, will speak on Wed., Oct 24 at 4:10 p.m., on "Illustrated Hieroglyphic Bibles for Children in the Late 18th Century." Location: Coe Library 506

Film Presentations:

The film, Fires of Faith: The Coming Forth of the King james Bible, will be hosted by the Albany County Public Library at 2:00 p.m. on October 14, 21, and 28, 2012.

More information on the event:

• The Library Associate newsletter, Winter 2012, Vol 21, No 1, Pages 1 and 6.
• Religion Today article, "The Oral Character of the Written King James Bible," by Paul V.M. Flesher; June 19, 2011