Skip to main content
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA
Bible
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA
Copyright and other proprietary rights in material on this site may be held by individuals or entities other than or in addition to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. The John F. Kennedy Library does not warrant that the use of materials displayed on this site will not infringe on the rights of third parties, such as artists or artists' heirs holding the rights to these works. It is your responsibility to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions before copying, transmitting, or making other use of protected items beyond that allowed by "fair use," as such term is understood under the United States Copyright Act. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum respects the intellectual property rights of others. The John F. Kennedy Library may, in appropriate circumstances and at its discretion, remove, disable and/or terminate access to any material on or linked to or from this site that it suspects to be infringing upon a third party's intellectual property rights or other rights.

Bible

Artifact IDMO 63.1461
Object Type Bible
Date ca. 1760
Date Presented10/1/63
Place MadeEthiopia, Africa
Medium Leather, vellum
DimensionsOverall H 10 in x W 11 1/2 in x D 3 in (25.4 cm x 29.2 cm x 7.6 cm)

Physical DescriptionBible with a leather cover and vellum pages. This bible is written in Ge'ez, the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the medium of traditional Ethiopian learning and scholarship.
Historical NoteThis bible was presented to President John F. Kennedy by Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia (1930-1975), during his state visit to the White House on October 1, 1963
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteItem was a gift from a foreign official to the President and First Lady received through the Executive office during the Kennedy Administration and transferred to the General Service Administration where it was held until donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum by the Estate of President John F. Kennedy in 1965.
Credit LineJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; Gift of the Estate of President John F. Kennedy
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedUse Restriction NoteReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
Not on view
Related Links
Welcome address to Haile Selassie: