Dr. Charles and Roena Tandy have entrusted Hardin-Simmons University with the gift of a rare and valuable collection of early and antique Bibles and Christian writings, some dating to the early 1500's. Dr. Tandy is a 1949 graduate with a deep connection to HSU. He believes the university has given so much to him that he is thrilled to give something back in a way that will increase the prestige and educational impact of the University.

HSU dignitaries view one of only 50 first edition King James Bibles in existance

Hardin-Simmons University held a media event for the gifting of this extremely valuable collection at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, Dec 11, on the second floor of the Richardson Library on the HSU campus. Dr. Tandy and Dr. Brisco, dean of the Logsdon School of Theology, were on-hand to answer questions about the collection.

"The Tandy Collection contains several of the most significant Bibles in the English language," said Dr. Brisco, "including a first edition of the King James Bible and a 'Great She' Bible - a 1613 edition of the King James Version named for the correction of a previous printer's error found in Ruth 3. The collection also includes a 1541 edition of the Great Bible, the work of the Myles Coverdale - a close confidant of William Tyndale- and a first edition of the Geneva Bible translated by Protestant Reformers at Geneva in 1560. The Geneva Bible was the Bible used by William Shakespeare. The Rheims Douai Version, the first English Bible designed for Roman Catholics, is also represented in the extensive holdings."

Dr. Tandy points to an image of King James defaced by an early owner

"Dr. Tandy has a deep passion for the Bible evidenced in this collection developed over many years," Dr. Brisco continues, "HSU is indeed fortunate to have this collection on campus. The generosity of the Tandy's will allow faculty and students at HSU to have access to some of the most important versions of the Bible for study purposes."

The collection consists of 26 Bibles, 19 leaves and fragments, and 31 volumes of secondary literature. Bibles include:

Sacon Bible 1521

Tyndale New Testament facsimile 1976

Coverdale 1550

Coverdale facsimile 1975

Coverdale Psalter 1935

Sixth great Bible 1541

Geneva Bible 1560

Geneva facsimile 1969

Rheims New Testament 1582

Rheims New Testament 1600

Douay Old Testament 1609/10

Geneva Tomson Junius 1606

King James Bible, 1st edition (only 50 copies known to exist)

King James Bible, 1st edition fragment

King James Bible, 1613 "She"

Eliot Bible Leaf Book 1979, second copy of 16

Baskerville Bible 1763

Baskerville Bible 1772
Trenton, Isaac Collins Bible 1793

Noah Webster Bible 1833

John Brown Bible 1816

Philadelphia Bible 1829

First English Revised Version 1881-1885

English Hexapla 1841

Dr. Tandy holds an extremely valuable first edition Elgin Bible

Dr. Tandy, an Abilene High School graduate, applied to HSU in the 1940's knowing he didn't have the resources to go to college. His high school teachers intervened with letters asking the university to help the exceptional student find a job which might defray some of the cost of tuition. He was able to work in the science labs, and through providence and hard work, graduated without ever having to pay tuition. He completed medical school, a stint in the Air Force, and settled at Parkland Hospital in Dallas to practice. Over 50 years and 43,000 personal anesthetics later, he wouldn't change a thing. He married the former Roena Rainey 36 years ago, and kept a busy civic schedule including a term as President of the Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and a position on the Dallas City Council. Dr. Tandy continues to practice anesthesiology, but has cut his schedule back to three days per week.

The University will hold a more formal reception during the first quarter of the new year for Dr. and Roena Tandy. The reception will be educational in nature, complete with talks by experts in early English Bibles and related materials, and will be open to the community.