Library showcases ancient documents with Bible exhibit ANN ARBOR—Bibles and other religious works dating back to the year 119, including the earliest known copy of the letters of St. Paul, will be part of the annual exhibit in the Special Collections Library at the University of Michigan starting Nov. 5. The exhibit, entitled "From Papyri to King James: The Evolution of the English Bible," includes materials written on papyrus, parchment and paper that led to the English translation of 1611 known as the King James Bible. On display are many distinguished documents marking significant milestones in the history of the biblical text. These documents, spread across nations, people and languages, trace the development of the Bible from ancient manuscripts to early printed books. Fragments on papyri from Deuteronomy and Matthew, portions from several of the letters of Paul and writings of early church leaders such as Melito, the Bishop of Sardis and Hermas of Rome are all shown in the exhibit. Also included are medieval versions of Jerome’s Latin translation of the Bible of 404, first appearances in print of the Greek and Latin biblical texts and early translations into English. Many of the Bibles will be opened to the same passage, providing an opportunity to compare translations and to observe developments in languages, handwriting and type designs. The exhibit illustrates the development of the codex and presents a brief study of 16th-century English political history through the inclusion of the Tyndale, Coverdale, Geneva, Douay, Great and Bishops’ Bibles. The free exhibit will be displayed in the Special Collections Library on the seventh floor of the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library, Ann Arbor, from Nov. 5, 2002 through Jan. 11, 2003. Hours are from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. – noon on Saturday. (Closed Nov. 28 – 29, Dec. 21 – Jan. 1, and Jan. 4.) Guided tours are available for groups by appointment only. To arrange a tour, call (734) 764-9377.