This summer, the Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library at the University of South Carolina will open its galleries for two weekends. On July 23 -- 24 and August 20 -- 21, the galleries will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A lecture and special gallery tour are also planned for August 11. All of these events are free and the public is invited to attend.
During the two weekends that the galleries will open, the Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections Gallery will exhibit "The English Bible: An exhibition for the Four-Hundredth Anniversary of the King James Bible, 1611." Highlights of this exhibit include a folio printing of the King James Bible dated 1611; leaves from the Coverdale Bible, 1535, the first complete Bible in English; a Geneva Bible, the major Puritan translation, dated 1595, donated to the South Carolina College library by Governor John Drayton; and a 1608 Bible believed to have been brought to America by one of the Pilgrim Fathers. Guided tours of this exhibit will take place at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Also in the Hollings Library, the South Carolina Political Collections Gallery will exhibit "Life in the Mansion: A glimpse into the everyday lives of historic South Carolina First Families" and "Selected Treasures: A showcase of personal papers by influential policymakers."
On August 11, a lecture and special gallery tour of "The English Bible" exhibit will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Dr. John R. de Witt, Pastor Emeritus of the First Presbyterian Church (ARP) of Columbia, will talk about the history and significance of the King James Bible. Guests can tour the exhibit before and after the lecture. Light refreshments will follow.
For driving and parking directions to the Hollings Library, go to http://library.sc.edu/tcllocate.html. Regular hours for the Hollings Library galleries are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For more information about these and other events at the University of South Carolina Libraries, contact Christine Nicol-Morris at 803-777-0546 or nicolmor@mailbox.sc.edu.
