Capturing the Collections: Heart Shield Bibles

In June 2026, as the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approached, a special Bible arrived at Museum of the Bible's digitization lab. This striking Bible was a World War II Heart Shield Bible, specifically, a style with metallic covers that turns the heads of both visitors and staff. These Bibles were advertised as not just a way for soldiers to bring the Bible with them to the battlefield but also as a means of protecting them.

Figure 1: Title page of a Heart Shield Bible, given to a soldier by his mother. Image © Museum of the Bible, 2026. All rights reserved.

Figure 2: Front cover of a Heart Shield Bible with the inscription, “To my dear Boy.” Image © Museum of the Bible, 2026. All rights reserved.

In the years 1941 and 1942, as the United States started to deploy troops to Europe and the Pacific Theater, many soldiers received government-sanctioned Bibles. Scripture was regarded as a source of protection for those on the front lines. These Bibles, featuring metal covers, were typically placed in the soldier's upper left pocket, directly over the heart. The inside covers bore religious phrases, including prayers and Bible quotations, underscoring the power of faith and prayer for some soldiers. While Scripture was believed to offer spiritual protection, the metal cover was intended to provide physical protection, with the potential to stop bullets. The thin metal was generally ineffective against high-velocity projectiles, although it occasionally succeeded.

Figure 3: Photo of Judy Sammons, a Rockette, attached to the front cover of a Heart Shield Bible.

One Heart Shield Bible (Figure 3) was found with a photograph of a woman attached to the inside cover. Many times, photos were found with men on the battlefield, serving as a heartfelt symbol—a way to keep a sweetheart, loved one, or even a dream close. This picture is of a New York Rockette, someone who this soldier admired so much that he wanted to keep that connection close to him, even in the heat of battle.

The preservation and showcasing of Heart Shield Bibles are important not only to ensure these artifacts do not get lost in the whispers of the past but also to humanize those who carried them. The notes, underlined prayers, pictures, and other means of personalizing the Bibles will be digitized, helping us remember those who called on its words during their darkest times.

We encourage you to learn more about these Bibles through our new special exhibit, The Bible in Times of War, located on Floor 2.