The St. John’s Lodge No. 1 Foundation traces George Washington’s inaugural Bible to a 1770 donation by lodge member Jonathan Hampton, who likely ordered the illustrated copy from the Baskett printers in England. Made with vegetable-based inks, the Bible can easily be damaged by bright lights and oils from human skin, and it requires ginger handling. But it has made it to the 21st century in remarkably good condition. It’s been kept in such good shape, in fact, that it’s been used for several successive inaugurations and other solemn occasions connected with the presidency.
The Bible remained closely associated with Washington for the remainder of his lifetime. An extra page featuring his likeness was added, Washington himself brought it back out of the lodge when laying the cornerstone of the Capitol, and the Bible was used in his funeral procession. Over 100 years later, Warren G. Harding was the first president after Washington who asked to use his Bible for his own inauguration. The request was granted, and presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, and George H.W. Bush followed suit. George W. Bush hoped to use the Washington Bible for his first inauguration, but it was decided against due to poor weather that could have damaged the book.
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Washington’s Bible has ties to other presidents outside of inaugural events. It was used in the funeral procession of Zachary Taylor and was present when Abraham Lincoln laid in state in New York. Richard Nixon didn’t use it for his second inauguration, but he did have it put on display at the White House for the occasion.
