About William Quayle
Bishop William Alfred Quayle (1860-1925) enrolled at Baker in 1881. During the following nine years he received his bachelor’s degree, was ordained into the Methodist ministry and became president of his alma mater.
A man of great energy, he read at least one book each day. He was a prolific writer and much in demand as a speaker. Quayle developed great respect and affection for rare books and manuscripts, amassing a fine collection of Bibles and related works. He prized, for example, two first edition copies of the King James Bible (1611) and a small Bible bearing the signature of the English poet Robert Browning.
The collection came to Baker University at the time of his death. His will reads...
"I give and bequeath to Baker University my collection of Bibles . . . where these books, illustrative of chirography, printing, and the poetry of religion, may be always before the eyes of students to the end that thereby they may be incited to a scholarly love of books and deep enjoyment of them and abiding love of God."
