Book of Common Prayer. Mohawk

Book of Common Prayer. Mohawk
by Episcopal Church
Adopted for Conservation by
Ingrid Rose
In memory of Milton Rose
on March 15, 2021
Title Page

The Book of common prayer, according to the use of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. / Translated into the Mohawk or Iroquois language, by the Rev. Eleazer Williams, V.D.M.

By Episcopal Church. New-York: T. Whittaker, 1875.

The introduction of print by Europeans to Native North America, which previously had a long rich oral tradition, is also the story of attempts to convert the Indians to Christianity. In their efforts to do so, missionaries relied on Native people to teach them the language and to assist them in the translation and printing of bible passages, hymns, prayers, and liturgies. This translation of the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer into the Mohawk language by the Reverend Eleazer Williams (1787-1858) is an example. It is particularly special as it has three pages of handwritten notes in the back perhaps by the pastor which include phrases used during a service and what appear to be the composition of his congregation and the family names of many congregants. 

Condition and Treatment: 

This volume has a late-19th century cloth publisher's binding with gold stamping on the cover. The boards are detached and the spine is missing. The sewing has also failed.  Conservators will resew the sections and repair the case. The resewn text will then be recased into the original binding.

Discover more about this book in our Catalog.

Adoption Type: Preserve for the Future