In the Rotunda Gallery
Words and phrases from the King James Bible appear in
literature, movies, speeches, popular songs and sermons
today, but oddly, many of us know very little of the history
of that venerable book. Translated over several years by six
committees of England’s top scholars, and first published in
1611, the King James Bible became the most influential English
translation to date.
The Library District honors the 400th anniversary of the
printing of the King James Bible by hosting a traveling exhibit
examining its history and impact. The Manifold Greatness exhibit will be on view to the general public in the Adriance Rotunda Gallery from May 29 – June 29. In
addition, nine public programs and a film series are planned, giving the community
an opportunity to learn about the history of the King James Bible and gain a better
understanding of the book’s social, cultural, literary and religious influence.
The exhibit Manifold Greatness: The Creation and Afterlife of the King James Bible
offers a ‘biography’ of one of the world’s most widely read books. The fourteen
artistic display panels combine fascinating narrative text with beautiful images of
rare books, manuscripts, and works of art to trace the extraordinary process of
translating and printing the King James Bible, and its multifaceted impact on the
world.