History Between the Pages: The Family Bible in Genealogical Research

— Featuring the Montgomery History Bibles Collection —

Introduction

Increasingly, genealogy research has become an online endeavor. With a couple of keystrokes, we can search multiple decades of census records, birth and death indexes, land records, and newspapers. Many churches and cemeteries have even joined the digital age, making their registers available through free and subscription genealogy databases.

While this type of research may facilitate information gathering, it can’t beat the excitement and sense of connection that comes from handling old documents and books, especially an old family Bible—feeling the pages between your fingers, examining the handwriting of your forebears, imagining their thoughts and feelings as they carefully wrote down births and deaths, and marveling at the “treasures” they kept between the pages.

Old books exert a strange fascination for me —

their smell, their feel, their history;

wondering who might have owned them, how they lived, what they felt.

Lauren Willig, Author

At Montgomery History, we are privileged to be the caretakers of more than 40 family Bibles, prayer books, and hymnals. Each one contributes to the stories of our communities. One could say this online exhibition is a Story of the Bible, but not in the traditional sense. Instead, it is the story of the family Bible in America and how families used their beloved Bibles to share their own stories through the generations.

We invite you to wander through this online exhibition and explore the rich history and exquisite beauty of the family Bible. Our exhibition includes the following chapters, each featuring photographs and excerpts from Montgomery History’s fabulous Bibles collection.

(Source: Printed by Samuel Green & Marmaduke Johnson, Cambridge, MA, accessed at Wikimedia Commons)

The Family Bible in America

Since the mid-nineteenthcentury, a number of books have been written about the history of the Bible in America. While there appears to be some uncertainty about when and which Bibles were first brought to America, authors generally agree that the first complete Bible printed in America was in 1663 at the Cambridge, Massachusetts printing house of Samuel Green and Marmaduke Johnson. Often called the “Indian Bible,” this first American-printed Bible was translated into the language of the people of the Algonquin tribes.¹

Despite the printing of this early Bible, Bible printing in America remained limited in the seventeenthand early eighteenthcenturies, with most Bibles either being supplied by British and European printers or brought to America by immigrants. With advances in printing techniques and machinery, combined with demand, by the late eighteenthand early nineteenthcenturies, Bible publishing took off in America. Boston, Philadelphia, and New York distinguished themselves as primary publishing locations.²

Henderson Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

According to Bible historian Paul Gutjahr, for much of the eighteenthcentury, the Bible had huge popularity and was the “most printed, most distributed, and most read written text in North America.”³ For many families, the Bible not only reflected commitment to their religious and spiritual lives, but it also served as a connection to distant relatives and deceased ancestors as well as a source of pride. Recognizing this latter point, publishers began offering Bibles with ornately carved or embossed covers and elaborate, sometimes colored, illustrations. Where space allowed, families often displayed their Bibles prominently in their homes.

Green Family Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Illustrations from the Getzendanner Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

“The Old Fashioned Bible”

“Ye scenes of tranquility, long have we parted,

My friends almost gone and my parents no more;

In sorrow and sadness I live broken hearted,

And wander unknown on a far distant shore.

Yet how can I doubt of a Saviour’s protection,

Forgetful of gifts from his bountiful hand!

Oh, let me with patience, receive his correction,

And think of the Bible that lay on the stand;

The old-fashioned Bible, the dear blessed Bible,

The family Bible, that lay on the stand.”

(Source: Excerpt From “The Old Fashioned Bible, as Sung by the Alleghanians” (Verse 3) c. 1856)

Chiswell Bible printed by Mathew Carey, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

The business of Bible publishing produced several prominent printers in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; yet, one—Mathew Carey (1760-1839), a Philadelphia printer—stands out for his contributions to Bible printing in America, as well as his prominent connections.

Carey was an Irish-Catholic, who fled Ireland for political reasons. He worked as a printer for Benjamin Franklin in Paris and, eventually, with the financial support of General Lafayette, established his own newspaper and printing press in Philadelphia. With the encouragement of John Carroll, the first Archbishop of the Catholic Church in America and a prominent figure in Maryland and Montgomery County history, Carey printed the first Catholic Douay Bibles in America. However, he soon found that producing the Protestant King James Bible was more lucrative, as Catholic Bibles were not in high demand until after about 1820.⁴

“Carey’s sensitivity to the marketplace, exacting attention to detail, quick adoption of standing type, and aggressive marketing practices made his methods both a model and a harbinger for much of the nineteenth-century scripture production. Carey became the largest American producer of Bibles in the first two decades of the nineteenth century.”⁵

Your Family Bible as Your Family Story

“Ay, write it down in black and white—

The date, the age, the name;

For home has never seemed so dear

As since our baby came.”

Poem Excerpted from “The Family Record,” Harper’s Bazaar, August 28, 1875, (562)

Wood engraving, Winslow Homer, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Public Domain

We are not certain when the practice of documenting births, marriages, and deaths in the Bible began. In 1856, Richard Sims, of the British Museum wrote: “Entries of births, deaths, and marriages, frequently occur in the calendars prefixed to missals and books of hours, as early as the middle of the fifteenth century . . .”⁶ Initially, Bibles did not include dedicated pages for recording family records; thus, inside covers, blank pages, and the backs of pages were often used. Isaiah Thomas (1749-1831), a Massachusetts printer often touted for his elaborately (and expensively) illustrated Bibles, is credited with printing the first Bible in 1791 that included dedicated family record pages.

Documenting family records in the Bible as well as attaching, or inserting between the pages, obituaries, poems, and other mementoes gained in popularity in the eighteenthcentury.

Photographs in the Henderson Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Items found between the pages of the Chiswell Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

What appears to be a Confederate War Bond found between the pages of the Machenheimer Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Bible historian Gutjahr discusses this act of “inserting oneself” into the Bible, not only as a demonstration of a life well lived but also as a means to become part of an “immortal narrative.”⁷

“Perhaps literally interpreting John’s exhortation that Christians should lead lives worthy of being recorded in God’s Book of Life, American Protestants meticulously used family pages to record not only names and dates, but places of birth, occupations, causes of death, and important personal characteristics—often supplemented with newspaper clippings or handwritten narrative accounts. Through such insertions, people quite literally fused their personal narratives to the biblical narrative. Consequently, the Bible served American Protestants not only as the Book of Life, but also as the book of their lives.⁸

Family Record page, Neale Family Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Family Record Page, Beavans Family Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

The Bibles Collection at Montgomery History

Over the past 50 years, Montgomery History has been privileged to be the recipient of more than 40 family Bibles, prayer books, and hymnals. The collection is diverse, with publication dates ranging from 1723 to 1916, and features exquisite examples of printing, binding, and illustration. Most of the Bibles include handwritten family records, and some include photographs, glued-in obituaries and newspaper clippings, and other memorabilia. Many of the original owners of the Bibles were related or connected in one way or another. All of the Bibles are quite fragile, with broken bindings, loose or detached covers, torn pages, and foxing—all signs of age, use, and the environmental conditions in which the Bibles may have been stored prior to donation.

While we consider each Bible in our collection to be special with distinctive features, several Bibles stand out and deserve special mention. [Note that the Bibles listed below include links to Montgomery History’s collections catalog where you will find the names of individuals recorded in the Bibles, when legible.]

Jonathan Willson Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Jonathan Willson Family Bible

This is the oldest Bible in our collection, dating back to 1723. It is one of three Willson (or Wilson) Bibles in our collection and, according to Montgomery History records, was passed down through the Willson and Waters families of the Clarksburg area. The Bible was printed in England by John Baskett, printer to the King. It has a plain, handsewn brown leather cover. It features woodcut illustrations at the beginning of each book of the Bible, as well as more elaborate inserted, foldout maps of biblical lands. Although the Bible does not include dedicated family record pages, family records were written on the blank side of the New Testament title page, where Jonathan Willson eloquently wrote:

“Be it Remembered that on the 12th Day of May anno Domini 1737 I Jonathan Willson Inter-married with my Wife Martha the Daughter of Capt John Brisco Late of Charles County Deceas’d and on the 6th Day of May following, my wife Martha was Delivered of a Man Child whom God preserv’d and was Baptized the 15th Day of the Same Month by the Name of John, and I Beseech God of his Mercy to Bless John Willson.”

The Bible is also unique in that the family records are listed along with what appears to be records of enslaved individuals. For example: “Hannah’s Child Leah was born at the middle of April 1751. Moll’s Child Basil was born the 21st Day of September 1751. Charity’s Child Chloe the 2nd Day of December 1751.”

Family records, Jonathan Willson Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Fold-out map, Jonathan Willson Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Handsewn cover of the Chiswell Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Chiswell Family Bible

Printed in 1816, this is the only complete Bible we have in our collection produced by well-known Philadelphia printer, Mathew Carey. The Bible features a plain handsewn leather cover and exquisite woodcut illustrations. It is the Bible of the Chiswell family of the Poolesville area. Like the Jonathan Willson Bible, this Bible is rather unique in that it not only includes information about the Chiswell family on the family record pages, but it also contained a blank page on which birth information was recorded for enslaved individuals from about 1824 to 1850. Unfortunately, the page is now detached from the Bible and has tears and apparent water damage.

Family Record page, Chiswell Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Record of enslaved individuals, Chiswell Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Woodcut, Chiswell Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Moore Family Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Moore (or Moor) Family Bible

This Bible is truly a special part of our collection, as it once belonged to the descendants of Lucinda (Lucy) Jackson Moore, formerly enslaved by the Beall family. On dedicated family record pages, the Bible contains birth and death records for Lucy’s five children, four of whom, like their mother, were born into slavery. The Bible comprises two volumes, featuring beautifully embossed red with gold covers and exquisitely detailed engravings. The Bible was printed by George Virtue, a prominent London printer, who also had a publishing house in New York. Unfortunately, the Bible contains no publication date; however, based on the printer and the illustrations, we believe it was printed in the mid to late nineteenth century. (See also “A Fine Collection,” posted February 1, 2011.)

Title Page, Moore Family Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Records of Lucy Moore’s children, Moore Family Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Getzendanner Family Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Getzendanner Family Bible

Published in 1870, this Bible likely belonged to Joseph T. Getzendanner, born in Rockville in 1817, or his daughter Maud by his third wife. Maud was married to Charles C. Waters, and they resided in the Germantown area at “Pleasant Fields” in what is now known as the Waters House. The Getzendanner Bible is a fine example of Gutjahr’s idea of “inserting oneself” into the narrative. The Bible includes several completed family record pages, spanning the years 1817 to 1934. It also includes two unlabeled photographs of a young man and young woman; a 1909 obituary for Captain W.H. Getzendanner, who was born in Maryland and moved to Texas; and two locks of hair. Given the Bible’s carved leather cover and numerous engraved and lithographic illustrations, it’s not hard to imagine this Bible being prominently displayed at “Pleasant Fields” at one time.

Photographs in the Getzendanner Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Tschiffely Family Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Tschiffely Family Bible

Published in 1870, this is one of the fancier Bibles in our collection, with a raised, gold embossed cover; gold edge gilding; and numerous color accents and illustrations. The Bible belonged to Mary T. Magruder Tschiffely, a gift from her husband, Wilson B. Tschiffely. Wilson was the son of Frederick Tschiffely who owned what is now the Kentlands in Gaithersburg. The Bible contains records for the children of Mary and Wilson.

Gift page, Tschiffely Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Family record page, Tschiffely Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Henderson Family Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Henderson Family Bible

This Bible may also be known as the Bickford Family Bible based on inscriptions in the front cover documenting its more recent ownership by the Bickford family. Printed in 1875 in Washington, DC, this Bible reflects how Bible publishing evolved over time, reaching beyond the scriptures to inform and engage readers in other ways. This particular Bible contains 2,000 illustrations, some elaborately colored, using the latest methods for the times. The cover of the Bible has a gold-embossed leather cover and contains two metal closure clasps. The contents include a dictionary, history of the books in the Bible, and descriptions and maps of biblical locations. In addition to family record pages, which contain information about the Henderson, Bickford, Welsh, and Wilson families, the Bible contains several photographs on allotted pages.

Family record pages, Henderson Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Photograph, Henderson Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Other Bibles in our collection that contain family records include:

Check out our online catalog at Montgomery History to search our full collection of Bibles, prayer books, and hymnals. Our vertical family files at the Jane C. Sween Research Library also contain photocopies of family records pages from our Bibles collection. To view original Bibles, please contact the Archivist/Librarian; many of the Bibles in our collection are quite fragile, and access may be restricted for conservation reasons.

Your Family Bible and Genealogy Research

If you are fortunate to possess or perhaps find your family Bible, it may not only provide a glimpse into the spiritual and social customs of your ancestors, but it may also offer valuable insights into your genealogy research.

Family Bibles are commonly listed in genealogy reference books as starting places for building your family tree. For more experienced genealogists, the family Bible, especially a recently discovered one, might provide hints on “unknown” or “missing” ancestors, fill in gaps on dates, and/or provide new information, such as locations, church names, or maiden names. In the days before the systematic recordkeeping of births, deaths, and marriages by states, counties, and/or towns, family Bibles were often the primary source of this information. For example, family Bible records were once used, among other personal documents, to support pension or land claims.

“The Revolutionary War pension and bounty-land warrant application files contain many 18th-century documents such as commissions, discharges, deeds, wills, diaries, journals, muster rolls, newspaper clippings, letters, marriage certificates, and family Bible pages.” ⁹

Example of glued-in family records, Waters Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

While the discovery of a family Bible may be fun and exciting, as with any genealogical resource, you should maintain your professional skepticism. Current genealogy evidence standards support the need for evaluating the validity and reliability of Bible records, which can be done in a number of ways. In Evidence Explained, a primer on citing genealogical sources, Mills explains: “As researchers, we can take no record at face value.”¹⁰ She cautions that with family Bibles, dates and entries may have been intentionally misrepresented: “A marriage entry in an original family Bible might have been backdated to hide the early birth of a firstborn.”¹¹ When citing the Bible as a source, Mills advises that the citation address at least two key issues: “whatever provenance is known for the material; any characteristics (ink, penmanship, damage, etc.) that affect your analysis or interpretation of the data within this source.”¹²

Jerome Anderson, a former reference librarian at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, emphasizes that one should look at the family Bible “within its own context”—that is, evaluating it as a whole and in consideration of its provenance (or ownership over time) and other information you may have collected. Other considerations for using Bible records:

Are you looking at the original Bible, a reproduction, excerpts, and/or a transcript (where someone hand copied information out of a Bible)? Poor quality reproductions, incomplete pages, or incomplete or erroneous transcripts can result in incomplete or incorrect information.
Has the Bible remained in the family? This consideration relates to the context question Anderson raised and alludes to the whether entries were made by individuals who had first-hand knowledge of events.
Have original entries been changed? After-the-fact modifications call into question the validity and reliability of records, which highlights the importance of checking other sources as well.
Were all the records entered at the same time? It’s not wholly uncommon to find a family Bible in which all of the family records spanning multiple generations were entered in the same handwriting and ink or in which event dates occurred prior to the publication of the Bible. If it appears that records were all entered in one sitting, “it is less likely that all dates are correct than if each event was recorded as it occurred.”¹³ This means that in multi-generational Bibles, you would hope to see a mix of different handwriting styles and ink.

Example of different writing over time, Chiswell Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

When working with Bible records, best practice requires that you attempt to corroborate the information with other sources, such as available civic records, church records, or land records, as well as attempt to resolve conflicts between records.

Not sure if your ancestors had a family Bible? Here are some tips for tracking it down:¹⁴

Check with distant relatives, as the Bible may have been passed down through their lines. Bibles were commonly passed down to oldest sons or daughters.
Check other people’s sources when reading genealogies of your ancestors and using online genealogy databases.
Check probate records, as they may provide property inventories and lines of inheritance.
Search the Internet; Bibles might be found on rare book or online auction sites or in research libraries and repositories (such as historical societies).
Contact the local historical society or State library in the region where your ancestors lived to see if they have family Bible collections.
Obtain military pension record files for Revolutionary War ancestors.
Search for published records or transcripts. For example, the Jane C. Sween Research Library has a number of books containing transcripts of family Bibles.

Example of prior bookworms, Chiswell Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Preserving Your Family Bible

As with any old book or document, your family Bible can be easily damaged by mishandling, moisture, sunlight, heat, bugs and other pests, and more. Therefore, it is important to take steps to protect it. Preservation does not have to be cost-prohibitive; there are simple things you can do yourself. The Library of Congress and the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works offer valuable suggestions:

The first step is proper handling:

Be sure your hands are clean and dry before touching the Bible.
Keep food and drink away from the Bible.
Support the Bible’s spine when opening it. You can do this by propping it with a book wedge, pillow, large binder, or even a box in a pinch.
When turning pages, try to only touch the white spaces on a page, not the printed sections.
Minimize handling of the Bible. Photograph family record pages and other information you may want to refer back to. Generally avoid photocopying pages, as most photocopiers require you to press the Bible face down on the glass, which increases the risk for broken bindings and torn pages.
Avoid using the Bible to press leaves or flowers, as these items can attract bugs that may damage the Bible.
Avoid writing, adding self-adhesive labels, or taping or gluing information in the Bible.
Avoid do-it-yourself repairs, such as trying to fix broken bindings or torn pages. When it comes to family Bibles and other old books, duct tape is not your friend!

Dried flowers removed from Waters Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Example of a pre-donation DIY repair with tape, Moore Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

Example of a pre-donation DIY sewn page, Chiswell Bible, Montgomery History Bibles Collection

When not in use, your Bible is safest stored in a cool, dry location.

Proper storage includes:

Remove all loose materials between the pages of the Bible, such as pressed leaves or flowers or newspaper clippings that can result in discoloration of pages. You can preserve these items separately, if you wish to keep them.
Remove any paper clips, other metal clips, and rubberbands.
Inspect the Bible for active water damage, mold, or bugs. If you suspect any of these, consult with a book conservator.
Store the Bible in an acid free, archival quality box or tissue paper.
Store the Bible in a cool, dry place. For many of us, this means avoiding the basement, which may be too humid; the attic, which may be too hot; or, the garage, where it is difficult to control humidity and temperature.
Store the Bible in a flat position.

Example of archival box and tissue paper for storing Bibles.

In addition to these do-it-yourself preservation techniques, you might also want to consider donating your family Bible to a research repository, such as the local historical society. At Montgomery History, we accept Bibles and Bible records for families who have history in Montgomery County, and we make these records available to local historians and genealogists. Contact the Archivist/Librarian at the Jane C. Sween Research Library for more information.

Resources To Learn More About Family Bibles

Other Family Bible Resources at Montgomery History (with Shelf Location):

Acklen, Jeannette Tillotson (Compiled by). Tennessee Records: Bible Records and Marriage Bonds. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2000. (Originally printed by Clearfield Company, Inc. 1933). [929.3 TE Ack]

Barnes, Robert W. (Supervision of) and Genealogical Council of Maryland. Inventory of Maryland Bible Records, Volume One. Westminster, MD: Family Line Publications, 1989. [929.3 MD Gen]

Burns, Gary L. (Compiled by). Bible Records. Charlestown, MD: Genealogical Society of Cecil County, 1990. [929.3 MD C4 Bur]

Howard County Genealogical Society (Compiled by). Howard County Maryland Records, Volume 5: More Cemetery Inscriptions plus Family Bible Data. Columbia, MD: Howard County Genealogical Society, 1985. [929.3 MD H2 How]

Marshall, Nellie M. (Compiled by). Bible Records of Dorchester County, Maryland, 1612-1969. Cambridge, MD: Dorchester County Historical Society, 1971. [929.3 MD D Mar]

O’Brien, Mildred Bowen (Compiled by). Calvert Co. Maryland Family Records, 1670-1929: Church & Newspaper Records, Tombstone Inscriptions, Family Bible Records, Court House Marriage & Birth Records – Over 10,000 Names. Baltimore, MD: Gateway Press, Inc., 1978. [929.3 MD C1 O’Br]

Peden, Henry C. Jr. (Compiled by). Bible and Family Records of Harford County, Maryland, Families, Vol. IV. Aberdeen, MD: The Harford County Genealogical Society, 1996. [929.3 MD H1 Har]

Reightler, Shirley L. (Compiled by). Bible and Family Records of Harford County, Maryland, Families, Vol. I. Aberdeen, MD: The Harford County Genealogical Society, 1988. [929.3 MD H1 Har]

Reightler, Shirley L. (Compiled by). Bible and Family Records of Harford County, Maryland, Families, Vol. II. Aberdeen, MD: The Harford County Genealogical Society, 1989. [929.3 MD H1 Har]

Reightler, Shirley L. (Compiled by). Bible and Family Records of Harford County, Maryland, Families, Vol. III. Aberdeen, MD: The Harford County Genealogical Society, 1994. [929.3 MD H1 Har]

Wright, F. Edward (Compiled by). Bible Records of Washington County, Maryland: From copies, notes and in some cases, the Bibles themselves – on file at the Washington County Historical Society. Westminster, MD: Family Line Publications, 1992. [929.3 MD W Was]

Selected Organizations with Bible Collections or Records:

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Genealogy Research. Bible Records and Transcriptions. (Searchable Database)

Library of Virginia. Family Bible Records. (Searchable through catalog)

The Genealogical Society of New Jersey. Bible and Family Records Collection Index. (Searchable PDF)

Maryland State Archives. Special Collections. (Some family collections include Bibles or Bible records)

Ancestor Hunt. Bible Records. (Extracted from family Bibles)

State Library of North Carolina Digital Collections. Family Records Collection. (Searchable index of Bible records, including PDF images)

Bibliography and Credits

The following sources were used in researching and preparing this exhibition:

American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC). Caring for Your Treasures: Books. [Information Sheet].

Anderson, Jerome E. “Family Record-Keeping: A Rich and Diverse Heritage.” National Genealogical Society Quarterly. Volume 90, No. 4, December 2002.

Carmack, Sharon DeBartolo. “Looking for the Family Bible: Eleven Places to Check.” National Genealogical Society Quarterly. Volume 90, No. 4, December 2002.

Coleman, Margaret M. “Roots for the New Neighborhood of Beau Monde Estates.” The Montgomery County Story. Volume 23, No. 4, November 1980.

Gutjahr, Paul C. An American Bible: A History of the Good Book in the United States, 1777-1880. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1999.

Homer, Winslow. “The Family Record.” [Wood engraving] Harper’s Bazaar, August 28, 1875. Accessed at Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (and the Metropolitan Museum of Art).

Library of Congress. Care, Handling, and Storage of Books. [Information Sheet.]

Mills, Elizabeth Shown. Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2012.

Mystic. “The Family Record.” Arthur’s Home Magazine (1861-1870). July 1864; 24, American Periodicals, pg. 39. Accessed via ProQuest.

Nudd, Jean. “Using Revolutionary War Pension Files to Find Family Information. Genealogy Notes.” Prologue Magazine, Volume 47, No. 2, Summer 2015.

Oakley, William H. The Old Fashioned Bible: As Sung by the Alleghanians. New York: W.H. Oakley and Company, 1856.

Philibert-Ortega, Gena. “Genealogy 101: #4 The Family Bible.” [Blog]. GenealogyBank.com, November 8, 2016.

Rising, Marsha Hoffman. “Examining and Analyzing the Family Bible.” National Genealogical Society Quarterly. Volume 90, No. 4, December 2002.

Rumball-Petre, E. Alfred Robert. America’s first Bibles: with a census of 555 extant Bibles. Portland, Me.: The Southworth-Anthoensen press, 1940. Accessed via HathiTrust.

Simms, P. Marion. The Bible in America: versions that have played their part in the making of the republic. New York: Wilson-Erickson, incorporated, 1936. Accessed via HathiTrust.

Sims, R. A manual for the genealogist, topographer, antiquary, and legal professor, consisting of descriptions of public records; parochial and other registers; wills; county and family histories; heraldic collections in public libraries, etc., etc.. London: J. R. Smith, 1856. Accessed via HathiTrust.

Sween Research Library. Montgomery History. Family Files. Vertical Files.

Wright, J. Early Bibles of America: being a descriptive account of Bibles published in the United States, Mexico and Canada. 3rd ed., rev. and enl. New York: T. Whittaker, 1894. Accessed via HathiTrust.

This exhibition was researched, photographed, and created by Claire McDonald, Volunteer Librarian at Montgomery History.

Special thanks to Sarah Hedlund, Montgomery History Archivist/Librarian for consultation, technical guidance, and support.

¹Rumball-Petre, America’s First Bibles, p. 8
²Gutjahr, An American Bible, p. 185
³Gutjahr, An American Bible, Pref.
⁴Gutjahr, An American Bible, p. 126
⁵Gutjahr, An American Bible, p. 23
⁶Sims, A Manual for Genealogist …, p. 323
⁷Gutjahr, An American Bible, p. 146
⁸Gutjahr, An American Bible, p. 146
⁹Nudd, Genealogy Notes
¹⁰Mills, p. 33
¹¹Mills, p.33
¹²Mills, p. 140
¹³Rising, NGSQ, p. 259
¹⁴Carmach, NGSQ, p. 297