Images(5)

Bible

Object number2016.157.3 a,b

Manufacturer Union Labor Memorial Bible Company

Date1961

OriginLancaster, OH

MediumLeather; Paper; Ink; Wood; Metal; Elastic fabric

Credit LineGift of Theresa K. Long

DescriptionCommemorative memorial bible and bible box.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (a): 8.125 × 5.75 × 2.125 in. (20.6 × 14.6 × 5.4 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (b): 9.25 × 7.375 × 2.625 in. (23.5 × 18.7 × 6.7 cm)
Inscriptions(a)
Cover has gold text on front "HOLY BIBLE / ILLUSTRATED / PRINCE OF PEACE / CATHOLIC EDITION", spine "HOLY / BIBLE / MEMORIAL / EDITION", and back "PRESENTED BY / FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE / FORT PITT LODGE NUMBER 1".

Interior front pages include a dedication page with printed black text and handwritten text in blue ink "DEDICATED / To The Memory Of / Joseph Francis Gaetano / Pittsburgh Penn. / Birthplace / Dec 7, 1929 / Date / June 10, 1966 / Date of Death / Pittsburgh Penn / Place / Age 36 / Age / 36 / Years / 6 / Months / 3 / Days".

Interior front pages include a presentation page with printed black text and handwritten text in blue ink "Presented to / [two blank lines] / by / Fort Pitt Lodge No #1 / Date June 1966."

(b)
Front has carved text at bottom "Holy Bible".

Interior left side has white paperboard label adhered at bottom with gold text "PRESENTED BY / FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE / FORT PITT LODGE NUMBER 1".
Marks(a)
Title page has printed black text including "NEW AMERICAN CATHOLIC EDITION / The Holy Bible / ... / UNION LABOR MEMORIAL BIBLE Co. / ...LANCASTER, OHIO"; reverse of this page has black printed text including "© 1950, 1958, 1961, by Benziger Brothers, Inc."

(b)
Stamped union label on the reverse at bottom center includes text "ISSUED BY AUTHORITY OF / UNITED BROTHERHOOD OF CARPENTERS AND JOINERS OF AMERICA / UNION MADE".
Historical NotesObject pertaining to the donor Theresa K. Long's uncle, Joseph F. Gaetano, who was a Pittsburgh Police officer killed on the job in 1966. Gaetano was of Italian descent, the son of a mason, he grew up in Beechview. He joined the polic force in 1954, when he was around 25. The year before his death he was married to Jean, who he met in a club where she worked. By the time of Gaetano’s death he worked in the Public Safety building, taking fingerprints and booking new suspects, etc., as he had trained in fingerprint identification. On June 10, 1966, as he was escorting Edward Bittner from booking to a holding cell, Bittner grabbed Gaetano's gun when they were alone on the elevator and shot him fatally in the chest. Gaetano was killed and Bittner jumped through a window and escaped, only to be caught later that day in the Hill District. This object was given to the family by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).

Related person Joseph Francis Gaetano

Related person Edward E. Bittner

Related institution Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

Related institution Fraternal Order of Police

Related person Jesus Christ

Subjects