This copy of the Gospel of John was one of approximately six million copies printed by the American Bible Society (ABS) during the time of America’s involvement in World War I. After the United States entered the war in April 1917, the ABS launched a campaign to provide portions of the Bible to any American soldier or sailor who wanted one. It eventually focused on distributing Proverbs and individual Gospels, raising money from local churches across the country through a national “Army-Navy Fund Campaign.” As with similar efforts in previous wars, societies such as the ABS believed providing soldiers with parts of the Bible would help strengthen their morale, as well as their morals, amidst the hardships of war.