A Smithsonian museum is restoring the “Jefferson Bible,” a unique volume the third president cut and pasted himself — omitting lots of theology — from portions of the New Testament.
Thomas Jefferson assembled the book in 1820 when he retired after two terms as president. ‘The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth’ resembles a scrapbook that puts Jesus’ life in chronological order. Its 86 pages include clipped passages from the Gospels in English, Latin, French and Greek.
It includes the Crucifixion and burial of Jesus but not the Resurrection and leaves out the miracles attributed to him.
Conservators at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will repair the fragile book’s torn pages. It is scheduled to be displayed starting in mid-November for four months. The project, paid for by private and federal funds, will cost about $225,000.