This Friday, April 15th, 4-7  pm…

Bible. English. Authorized:

Celebrating 400 Years  of the King James Bible

(at the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library)

Please join us as we commemorate one of the most important publishing ventures in the western world.

King James the First was nothing if not determined. When he ascended the English throne in 1603 the idea of a new translation of the Holy Bible was making its way through parliament. He called together the privy council, a group of bishops, and assorted learned men to Hampton Court in January of 1604 to discuss ecclesiastical matters. What started as an agenda of both reformation and reconciliation evolved into an airing of grievances r esulting in a resolution to create a new translation of the Holy Bible. This mighty endeavor could create a unified country based on national pride, Protestantism, and royal authority. That, at least, was the hope. Seven years (and fifty translators) later, the King James Bible was published by Robert Barker and the English-speaking world has never been the same.

Drawing on the rich collections of the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, the exhibition will include both contemporary and modern works and show how this new translation has continued to influence biblical scholarship, bibles, and the people who read them.

Exhibition on view April 11- June 30, 2011.