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The Oxford Self-Pronouncing Bible, signed by Gerald Ford, Betty Ford, and Rosalynn Carter

Collection ID
BIB.002497
Type
Bible - Printed Book
Date
20th century
Geography
England
Language
English
Medium
Printed on Paper
Dimensions
6.6 × 4.4 × 1.2 in. (16.9 × 11.3 × 3 cm)
Exhibit Location
Not on View

President Gerald R. Ford inscribed this Oxford Self-Pronouncing Bible, and it was also signed by First Ladies Betty Ford and Rosalynn Carter. After President Nixon’s resignation on August 9, 1974, Gerald Ford was sworn in as the 38th president of the United States of America. Following the oath, President Ford addressed the nation stating, “I am acutely aware that you have not elected me your President by your ballots, so I ask you to confirm me as your President by your prayers.” That quote appears in this Bible, inscribed and signed by President Ford.

Published in the 20th century by Oxford University Press. Acquired by the James S. Copley family, California;[1] Privately purchased in 2010 by James Cummins Booksellers, New York; [2] Purchased in 2010 by Green Collection, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, under the curatorial care of Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC.

Notes: [1] James S. Copley (1916–1973), newspaper publisher and philanthropist, collected Americana documents and books. [2] This Bible was privately purchased by James Cummins Bookseller from the Copley family around June 2010 (Email from James Cummins Bookseller to Museum of the Bible, July 12, 2018).

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