In 2015, after William Scheide's death, his library — assembled across three generations — became part of your Princeton University Library, housed in the Harvey S. Firestone Memorial Library. In 2015, following the death of William Scheide, the library was donated to the University, marking the largest donation in the university's history. As you stand here, imagine a collection assembled across three generations: William T. Scheide, his son John H. Scheide, and his grandson William H. Scheide.
This is the only library outside of Europe to possess all four of the first printed bibles—the Gutenberg Bible, the 1460 Bible (or Mentelin Bible), the 36-line Bible, and the 1462 Bible. Nearby on the shelves are manuscripts by Abraham Lincoln, J.S. Bach, and Ludwig van Beethoven, a copy of the Declaration of Independence, and first editions by Shakespeare and Milton. The holdings also include significant medieval manuscripts and incunabula, plus printed books on travel and exploration and Americana.
Picture those pages and bindings, then notice the Harvey S. Firestone Memorial Library that now shelters this remarkable collection.