News & Updates

Shiloh Twain: The Israelite House of David and Mary's City of David

By Christian Goodwillie

September 12, 2019

Now on view in special collections, Burke Library, 3rd floor:

"Shiloh Twain: The Israelite House of David and Mary's City of David"

This new exhibition features artifacts from these two intentional communities based in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

Led by Benjamin Purnell and Mary Purnell, the Israelites owned all property in common, were celibate, vegetarian, and let their hair and beards grow long. They operated an amusement park and fielded champion baseball and basketball teams. They did all of these things while purifying their bodies in anticipation of achieving bodily immortality as part of the 144,000 elect of God.

Hamilton College holds the world's largest archive of materials from these communities.