Explore Black History

1952

A hardback copy of the New Catholic Edition of the Holy Bible published by the Catholic Book Publishing Company. The black, leatherbound, hardback book has a sewn binding with red page edges. The bible has an embossed cross at the center of the front cover. The cross is embellished with embossed circular patterned bands and rays. At the top is the embossed title, [HOLY BIBLE][underlined]. The book’s spine has five raised, horizontal bands running across it. Between the first and second band is the title, [THE / HOLY / BIBLE] printed in gold leaf text. Between the third and fourth bands is gold leaf text that reads [New Catholic / Edition]. The back cover is plain. The pastedown and free endpapers are adorned with a repeating pattern of square crosses, flowers, and leaves printed in black. At the center of the front pastedown is a white rectangular box with a prayer [Before Reading the Holy Scriptures] printed inside. Printed at the center of the first endpaper is white circle with a Chi-Rho symbol bookended by an alpha and omega symbol on either side. The first page is a beige page titled [Presented / TO] with four lines of handwritten black text written on the fillable lines below that reads [Ken and Marie Reardon / for Bible Discussions/ in our home & friends / homes – Castine, Me 1952]. Opposite the title page is an illustration of Jesus Christ wearing a thorn crown. The copyright page features a four paragraph explanation of the translations by Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York. The interior pages are primarily white with black text. The bible is divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament. In between are beige pages with blue and maroon text, illustrated frames, and fillable lines. One page titled [Family Record] has four lines of handwritten black ink text with blue and black ink notes beside them that read [Father – John Kenneth Reardon / Mother – Marie Theresa (Larsen) / Son – Michael Dennis 10-13-51 / Daughter – Maureen 3-17-53]. The next page titled [Births] has ten lines of black and blue handwritten text that reads [Michael Dennis – Oct. 13, 1951 / Maureen Mar. 17, 1953 / John Kenneth – Dec 16, 1921 / Marie Theresa – Dec 6, 1924 / Brian Michael Reardon / 08/02/72 / Portsmouth, NH / Sean Michael Reardon / 04-08-82 / New Orleans, La.]. The next page titled [Marriages], has two line of blue handwritten text that read [Maureen Reardon / Michael Reardon]. The last beige page is titled [Deaths] and has two lines of blue handwritten text that read [John Kenneth Reardon / June 19, 1963]. The Old Testament is 1086 pages and the New Testament is 383 plus 8 pages of color unnumbered maps and illustrations of biblical locations.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

The Rock Rest Tourist Home Collection

Books and Published Materials

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail, Inc.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2011.12.52.29

hardcover books

Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

ink on paper (fiber product) with leaf (metal) and leather on cardboard

H x W x D: 8 3/16 × 5 7/8 × 1 15/16 in. (20.8 × 15 × 5 cm)

Title • Holy Bible: New Catholic Edition

nmaahc_2011.12.52.29

NMAAHC

HOLY BIBLE: NEW CATHOLIC EDITION

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1950s

Catholic Book Publishing Corporation • Sinclair, Clayton • Reardon, John Kenneth • Rock Rest Tourist Home • Reardon, Marie Larsen • Pius • Reardon, Maureen • Spellman, Francis • Sinclair, Hazel • Reardon, Brian Michael • Reardon, Michael Dennis • Reardon, Sean Michael • Matthew F. Sheehan Company

United States • Maine • North and Central America • Massachusetts • Kittery • York County • Suffolk County • Boston

Description and travel • Black Enterprise • Literature • Black interiors • Segregation • Religion • Worship services

African Americans • Catholics

City • Kittery • County • York County • State • Maine • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • City • Boston • County • Suffolk County • State • Massachusetts

No Known Copyright Restrictions