Bibles, prayer books, and hymnals were some of the most common publications in early American and so make up a significant portion of the American Antiquarian Society’s book collections. Not all of those published after 1840 have been prioritized for cataloging yet in part because the contents often are very similar between editions. AAS holds over 2,500 pre-1840 Bibles, plus an additional 150 linear feet of Bibles published in the United States between 1840 and 1876 are uncataloged. AAS also holds several hundred prayer books, which are collections of prayers intended for individual or family use. Many of the ones published after 1840 are uncataloged. The hymnals collection includes compilations of sacred verses and music printed in North America through 1876 and numbers well over 5,000 volumes. Thousands published after 1840 are mostly uncataloged.
Bibles and hymnals are among the earliest books printed in British North America. The 1640 translation of the book of Psalms, known as the Bay Psalm Book, was an early acquisition made by AAS's founder Isaiah Thomas. Like other of the earliest hymnals, it consisted of such metrical psalms and various revisions remained popular throughout the eighteenth century. Verses and tunes were often printed separately, but early hymnals are also found with manuscript, printed, or engraved tunes at the end of the work. Denominational hymnals in the collection are numerous, but the standard modern-day hymnal of tunes, coupled with many verses of text was not commonly published until the second half of the nineteenth century.
AAS also holds the first entire Bible printed in British North America, the Algonquian language Bible (sometimes referred to as the Eliot Indian Bible), published between 1661 and 1663. The Society has extensive holdings of other Native American language Bibles published by mission presses, often with the press work done by Indigenous people themselves.
Access
Bibles published through 1840, and some published afterwards, have records in the General Catalog that can be found using an exact title search for "Bible". Approximately 150 linear feet of Bibles published in the United States between 1840 and 1876 are uncataloged, including roughly 9 linear feet of Bibles published outside the United States, with a strong emphasis on the productions of American foreign mission presses.
Prayer books published though 1840, and some published afterwards, are cataloged in the General Catalog using the Genre/Form “Prayer Books”. An additional 35 linear feet of prayer books are uncataloged.
Hymnals published though 1840, and some published afterwards, are cataloged in the General Catalog using the Genre/Form “Hymnals”. A detailed card catalog checklist of English-language hymnals is available in the AAS reading room.
For access to Bibles, prayer books, or hymnals published after 1840 not in the General Catalog, please contact our library [at] mwa.org (Readers' Services department) or the curator of books.