Sacred Texts in Special Collections:

We often have requests from patrons and tourist to see an "old Bible."  Since this type of request is often non-specific, below is a list of older Bibles held in the Special Collections Department that may answer the needs of patrons who desire an "old Bible."  Other sacred text that patrons may want to see are the featured Book of Mormon or the featured Koran included in this list.  Other sacred text are also available.  Please contact the Special Collections staff with specific requests.

• Vulgate Bible. The Vulgate is an early Fifth Century version of the Bible in Latin. The Special Collections has a facsimile version of the Gutenberg Bible, which is a Vulgate version of the Bible. Printed in 1455.  "Gutenberg "was the name of the printer who printed the Bible and the Gutenberg Bible is famous because it is and EARLY PRINTED BIBLE.  It is in Latin.  It is an example of an early Bible and early printing.  Two examples are listed below.

The Gutenberg Bible : a commentary, historical background, transcription, translation / Jean-Marie Dodu. [Paris] : Éditions les Incunables, c1985.  Vol. 1-2 consists of a facsimile reprint of the Mazarin Library copy of the Gutenberg Bible; vol. 3-4 contains historical background, a list of all known copies of the Gutenberg Bible, transcription, and translation into English.

Bible. Latin. Vulgate. 1454.  [Biblia Latina.  Moguntiae, Joh. Gutenberg, ca. 1450-55.]. Leipzig : Inselverlag, 1913-1914.

• King James'Bible. The Authorized King James Version is an English translation of the Christian Bible conceived in 1604 and brought to fruition in 1611 by the Church of England.

The Holy Bible : Conteyning the Old Testament, and the New: Newly translated out of the originall tongues: and with the former Translations Appointed to be read in Churches.  Imprinted at London : by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most excellent Maiestie, Anno Dom. 1613.   "The true 1613 folio edition of King James' Bible."

• Book of Common Prayer. The Book of Common Prayer is the common title of a number of prayer books of the Church of England and of other Anglican churches and was first published in 1549.

The Book of common prayer, and administration of the sacraments, and other rites and ceremonies of the church : according to the use of the Church of England; : together with the Psalter or Psalms of David, pointed as they are to be sung or said in churches.  London : Printed by Charles Bill, and the executrix of Thomas Newcomb, deceas'd ..., 1704.  

Other Bibles can be found in LC call # area: BS and Dewey call # area: 200s. Samples of various editions of the Bible can be found in the Eunice L. Adams Bible Collection.

[Eunice L. Adams Bible collection].  This group of donated Bibles will be shelved in the Special Collections Workroom for easy access.  It has several various versions of the Bible, including:   Biblia sacra.  Londini: Typis Milonis Elesher, 1640; Holy Bible. Philadelphia: Alexander Towar, 1832; English Version of the Polyglot Bible.  Springfield, Mass, 1842; Holy Bible.  New York: American Bible Society, 1844; Holy Bible.  London: Printed by George E. Eyre, 1853; New Testament.  London: Burns, Oates, and Company, 1858; New Testament.  New York: American Bible Society, 1863; Holy Bible.  New York: American Bible Society, 1921.  This collection was donaated by Mrs. Adams in 2009.

• Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the churches of the Latter Day Saint movement. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr. as The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi. According to Smith, the book was originally written in otherwise unknown characters referred to as "reformed Egyptian" on golden plates that he discovered in 1823 and then translated. The Book of Mormon is the earliest of the defining publications of the Latter Day Saint movement. The churches of the movement typically regard the Book of Mormon not only as scripture, but as a historical record of God's dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas, written by American prophets from perhaps as early as 2500 B.C. to about 400 A.D.

The Book of Mormon : an account written by the hand of Mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of Nephi ... / translated by Joseph Smith, Jr.  Kirtland, Ohio : Printed by O. Cowdery & Co. for P. P. Pratt and J. Goodson, 1837.

• Qur'an. The Qur'an is the central religious text of Islam.  The book is the culmination of a series of divine messages.  The Qur'an is regarded as God's revelation to Muhammad by Muslim believers. Academic scholars often consider it the original version authored or dictated by Muhammad.

 [al-Qurān].  [Turkey? : The Scribe, 1650?] . 

Koran of 302 leaves written out on fine paper in a good Naskh hand by the scribe Khalil Sanjani ca. 1650 A.D. and acquired for the library of E.R. A. Osler, October 1967"--Note on inner cover.

Magazines (periodicals in library language) have always been an immediate reflection of the culture in which they are written and produced - cultural barometers of what is "new and current" at a particular moment in history. Today, the printed word is struggling, but many publications have migrated to online versions.

Cleveland Public Library has a vast collection of periodicals dating back one hundred years or more.  You can read the serialized stories of Sherlock Holmes, which first appeared a chapter at a time, in the monthly publication The Strand, or enjoy the ads of old cars and women's fashions in Life.

The Special Collections Department houses some of the rarer and more valuable periodicals.  The Owl, published in London from 1919-1923, was a literary magazine which also included work from some of the leading artists of the time. (Image at left is by Rockwell Kent.)

Broom, an international magazine of the arts, published in Rome from 1921-1924, was intended to be an outlet for members of the "lost generation," some American writers and other artists disillusioned with the United States following World War I who moved to Europe (including most famously F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Cole Porter).

Attached to this post is an Excel file containing recent additions to the Fine Arts Department. Once you open the file you will see links to the online catalog that will facilitate item requests. Be sure to visit our blog regularly to be the first to check out these new items!

     Cleveland has seen its share of blunders over the years, and each one has been well publicized.  What receives little or no acknowledgement though is that Cleveland has produced its share of treasures as well. One such treasure is the artist Ora Coltman, who was born in Shelby, Ohio in 1858.  He studied at the Art Students League in New York City and the Academie Julian in Paris.

The Cleveland Public Library Fine Arts Department is pleased to present the next event in our "Music at Main" series on Saturday, August 8th, 2009 at 2PM. This event will feature the Kent Shindig All-Stars (featuring some of the finest traditional musicians in northeast Ohio) performing old-time music outside in the beautiful Eastman Reading Garden. This event is free to all ages. In case of inclement weather, the group will perform inside the library's Louis Stokes Wing Auditorium.

The Kent Shindig (video), one of the only regular old-time music and dance jam sessions in northeast Ohio, was started in 1997 by Chardon clog dancer and musician Laura Lewis, as a way to keep Appalachian music and dance alive in our area.

Performers will include:

Rob Rhamy, fiddle
Heather Malyuk, fiddle
David Badagnani, fiddle
Gary Mulheim, harmonica
Jim Miller, wooden flute and whistle
Jim Francis, lap dulcimer
Tina Bergmann, hammered dulcimer
John Truitt, banjo
Joel Specht, banjo
David Fuente, guitar
Ed Mills, guitar
Bryan Thomas, double bass
Sally Freeman, flatfoot dancer.