The King James Bible is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year, and to commemorate it, the Special Collections office is displaying some of history's oldest collections of Bibles.
Although the King James Bible exhibit is not permanent, it will be on display until late in the fall, around November or December, and it will remain available to anyone who wishes to come back and request to take a Bible off the shelf and examine at it.
Because these Bibles and manuscripts all belong to Auburn University, they will be here for anyone to look at whenever they please.
"The Coming of the King James Gospels: A Collection of the Translator's Work in Progress," a book written by former Auburn professor Ward S. Allen and co-author Edward C. Jacobs, is included in the collection.
Even though these books were not initially appraised, Auburn doesn't plan on getting rid of them any time soon. Certain books, like the 1611 King James Bible, are currently selling for $160,000 online.
The Bible featured in Special Collections is just a facsimile or exact replica of the actual text.
Among the Bibles on display, many, like the Book of Isaiah's illuminated manuscript, date back to as early as A.D. 1300.
Students even have the chance to flip the pages of one of these Bibles themselves, and although the books' bindings have been rebound, the pages and text are all authentic.
Although many people frequent the library everyday, most of them walk right over thousands and thousands of years of history that Auburn has put on display for their enjoyment.
This "secret department" is located in the back corner of the bottom floor, and many students may be surprised with what they find down there.
Dwayne Cox, head of Special Collections and archives, Greg Schmidt, librarian and preservation officer, and Todd Shipman, librarian, are willing to talk to and help anyone.
Those is interested in visiting the Special Collections office can walk right in, register at the front desk and access any one item or article they like.
"Todd Shipman is who organized and suggested that the display in Special Collection be changed," Schmidt said. "And we often look for anniversaries and significant dates to commemorate, so the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible seemed like a good idea."
With all the excitement about the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, students should remember that other collections from hundreds of other time periods are available in the office.
From the Civil War diaries and memoirs, to World War I documents, there are hundreds of timeless collections laying in the library basement.
"We have lot of good stuff, like arrowheads and other pre-Columbian artifacts, but some of the more historical books and artifacts require the person observing them to wear gloves, which we provide here," Schmidt said.
Schmidt and Shipman are knowledgable about all of the collections available at RBD.
"We're chock full of old Auburn photographs that are sixty years old," Shipman said.
Don't plan on taking any home.
"These books aren't allowed to be rented or circulated," Schmidt said.
Preservation is the goal for all the collections and Schmidt said he is most concerned with keeping the archives the way they were found.
"Just be sure to leave your backpack and your pen at the door," said Schmidt.
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