Detail from a page of the King James Bible (London, 1611)

About the Collection

Overview

Baker University’s Quayle Bible Collection is an outstanding gathering of Bibles and other sacred and secular materials. These rare books and manuscripts include early and printed materials, handwritten scrolls, significant Bible translations and editions with an additional collection of related reference volumes. Items date from 2000 BC to the present.

More than 900 works are housed in the wing of Collins Library provided by Kenneth A. and Helen F. Spencer. The collection is complemented by the Urishay Castle Room, from Wales, an interior living area about 350 years old.

Historical Strength

The collection’s main strength consists of printed materials before 1800, more than 300 original items reaching back to antiquity. These are preserved in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment. A page from the Gutenberg Bible, the first book printed from movable type, is on permanent display as are clay tablets from the ancient city of Ur. Illustrated manuscripts, those beautiful jewels of the written work, show the art of letter illumination or decoration. The presidential Bible collection, part of the holdings, features autographs of all United States presidents from Truman with each signature affixed to its own Bible.

Since Baker University acquired the collection, many gifts and purchases of Bibles and other rare items related to the history of writing have been added. Purchases have been made with funds provided by Albert C. Espenlaub Memorial, an endowment of maintenance of the Quayle library; by the Jennie M. Brooks bequest designed especially for the purchase of Bibles; and by the generosity of many other friends and benefactors. Some of these gifts have been unusual Bibles that belonged to the donors. Such a gift is the Cambodian New Testament presented by Mrs. Fred Johnson. Others have bought Bibles especially for the collection: the 1960 Gutenberg facsimile presented by Milton McGreevy; the second and third editions of the Conberger Bible given by the William C. Markham family; the 1763 Baskerville made possible by Mrs. Leroy Wolfe who presented the Bible in honor of her mother, Jennie Wolfley Lytle. The Nuremberg Chronicle, not a Bible, but a milestone in the history of printing was purchased with funds provided by Rollie B. Hall.

These and many more friends of the Quayle Bible Collection help keep alive the memory of Bishop Quayle and his avocation—collecting and loving rare and unusual Bibles.