Today In History: The Library of Congress Is Established
The Library of Congress, our nation's oldest federal institution, was established on April 24, 1800, when President John Adams signed an Act of Congress. The legislation provided for the transfer of the seat of government from Philadelphia to the new capital city of Washington, D.C. Within, Adams appropriated $5,000 "for the purchase of such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress ..., and for fitting up a suitable apartment for containing them...." Thomas Jefferson signed into law the position of Librarian of Congress, first held by John James Beckley, and a Joint Committee on the Library, to administer and manage the collection. Jefferson donated his own personal collection when the Library of Congress was burnt to the ground by British troops in 1814.
The Thomas Jefferson Building, is a grand example of the Beaux Arts; marble, granite, gold, bronze, and mahogany are among the fine materials used in a lead design by 19th century Washington architects, John L. Smithmeyer and Paul J. Pelz; the plan included a rotunda, book stacks, four courtyards, corner and central pavilions, Corinthian columns, and monumental staircase. Described by Architect of the Capitol as "a style perfectly suited to a young, wealthy, and imperialistic nation in its Gilded Age", the Library of Congress is a building to behold, but, more importantly, a symbol of our national heritage which speaks to the role of intellectual endeavor and pursuit of learning across the lifespan.
Additional buildings include the John Adams Building, James Madison Memorial Building, and Packard Campus for Audio-Visual Conservation, which together with the Thomas Jefferson Building hold over 173 million items.
The following articles are drawn from Proquest Historical Newspapers, which informs and inspires classroom teaching and learning.
- What People Talk About: Library of Congress. (1909, Jan 07). Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922)
- Porter, K. (1929, Jun 02). The Library of Congress at 129: Last Three Decades Have Seen Its Greatest Progress. The Sun (1837-1991)
- Fitzpatrick, J.C. (1930, Jan 26). Priceless Documents in Nation's Archives: Where Many Valuable Documents Are Kept. New York Times (1923-Current File)
- Porter, Keyes. (1936, Feb 23). Our National Library Is Now "Biggest and Most Important" in World. The Washington Post (1923-1954)
- America's Shrine of History. (1938, Dec 18). The Sun (1837-1991)
- Sadler, C. (1940, Aug 18). How Congressional Library's 1,000,000 Visitors Spend Their Time. The Washington Post (1923-1954)
- History of a Great Library. (1942, May 03). The Sun (1837-1991)
- Wroth, L. C. (1947, Jul 20). Notes for Bibliophiles: The Past and Future of the Library of Congress. New York Herald Tribune (1926-1962)
- Mitchell, H. (1975, Apr 25). Birthday Observance for the Grand Old Library of Congress. The Washington Post (1974-Current File)
- Tower, S. A. (1982, Apr 18). For the World's Largest Library. New York Times (1923-Current File)
- Monaghan, C. (2000, May 14). Speaking Volumes: America's Library. The Washington Post (1974-Current File)
Tips:
- See: History of the Library of Congress (LC website)
- Conaway, James. America’s Library : the Story of the Library of Congress, 1800-2000. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press in association with the Library of Congress, 2000. Stacks ; Z733.U6 C595 2000
- Johnston, William Dawson. History of the Library of Congress. Volume 1, 1800-1894. District of Columbia: Govt. Printg. Off., 1904. e-book
Images:
- Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress in the Thomas Jefferson Building, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
- Thomas Jefferson Building, 1902, Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
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