Riddle Family Bible | Roda, VA
The Family Bible: Our First Archive In many Appalachian homes, the Holy Bible was the single most precious possession—the one item families would reflexively grab if forced to flee a house fire. More than a religious text, the family Bible served as a "safe" for the records of a life lived. In pioneer times it was often the only printed book in the house, making it the de facto storehouse for vital documents, keepsakes, and irreplaceable paper heirlooms. Personal tomes like these and the keepsakes they contain can reveal much about the individuals and culture that created them.
