Jim Leach Chairman, National Endowment for the Humanities
Thank you, Dr. Witmore. On behalf of everyone at NEH, I would like to express appreciation to the thoughtful curators and staff of the American Library Association, the Bodleian Library, the Harry Ransom Center, and, of course, the Folger Shakespeare Library for allowing us to stand together, surrounded by these hallowed bibles in an exhibition that showcases the inspiring translation into English of the sacred text of Christianity.
It is a privilege to view these bibles in this beautiful setting, but please know that attendant to this uplifting exhibition is an educational website, www.manifoldgreatness.com [2], that will allow millions of Americans unable to view this exhibition or its travelling counterparts to learn more about the four hundred year history of the King James Bible.
Homeschoolers, teachers, people from all faiths, and of all ages, will have the chance to learn, for instance, that many phrases all of us use, like “bite the dust” or “wit’s end” were first recorded in the King James Bible. There is a feature on the website for developing a lesson plan around the history of family bibles; there is an audio clip of the Apollo 8 crew reading from Genesis on Christmas Eve, 1968; there are lists of pop songs with lyrics from the bible and video clips for kids’ craft projects; there are suggested reading lists and resources for scholars; and these – to use a phrase from the King James Bible – are “just a drop in the bucket.”
Now, I’d like to introduce Congressman Tom Petri of Wisconsin. Along with David Price, Tom is co-chair of the Congressional Humanities Caucus.
Tom…