The Library of Congress (in its own separate building for the first time) opened its doors. Construction on the joint had been going on for nigh on 20 years … an immense project. Up until that point – the collection had been housed in the Capitol Building, in the main reading room. I’m sure most of us know the story of how the Library of Congress came to be. In the war of 1812, the British invaded Washington and burned shit up. (I remember that funny moment recently when Tony Blair visited the Capitol Building – and somebody said, “And there is the fireplace where you burned up all our books” – or something like that – and Tony Blair, without missing a beat, said, “My apologies.”) There were 3,000 volumes in the library – all gone. So Jefferson – who was now Mr. Retired Philospher King on the mountaintop – sold [corrected from “donated“] his unbelievable book collection (the book collection that had him in perpetual debt up to his ears – there were almost 7,000 books in his own personal collection) to the United States government, to begin building up a national library again. sniff, sniff.
Of course, that original collection from Jefferson is now housed in the rare book room (which goldurnit I have to go see). Image of part of it here:
I am drooling.
Check this image out. Pretty amazing. That photograph is from 1888 – and it’s the excavation of the site where the Library of Congress would eventually stand.
Marvelous.
As a librarian’s daughter – such historical events have a very special resonance.
“the book collection that had him in perpetual debt up to his ears – there were almost 7,000 books in his own personal collection”
Maybe it’s just me but I find that fascinating.
Not only the number of books but that he
went into debt to obtain them.
Also, your being a librarian’s daughter explains a lot. I’ve sometimes wondered how it is that you read so much.
Great image also.
On a side note, have you checked out Lilek’s Fargo
history stuff?
regards, Hank
Only a few more months until I’m a librarian! I can hardly wait.
Harriet –
Congrats!! Excited for you. :)
Hank – I am so with you. I find Thomas Jefferson’s whole indebtedness thing fascinating too. He kept immaculate records (if you’ve ever seen copies of his account books you’ll know what I mean) … it would be like balancing your checkbook down to the last penny – only there’s no money in the account.
Such an interesting individual.
He was so in debt that there was really no way out. And so he just kept spending. And he kept marking down every penny he spent that he did not have.
Oh – and yes, I love that whole Fargo series!
Is it true that they have a copy of every book ever published in the US?
I heard that as part of a fraternity urban legend: My cousin is a Lambda Chi member, and he said that President Harry Truman went to the LoC and removed the copy of Lambda Chi’s ritual so that no one would ever know what it was.
I smell bullshit, but. . .you never know!
Lisa – that is not an urban legend. But Dad, please confirm.
But I do know this: If you look on the copyright page of any book you have lying around that was published in America – you will see the Library of Congress Cataloguing Data. The ISBN number, etc. Kind of amazing.
Not to sound all elegiac and “what’s the world coming to” and “ah, that was such a Golden Age, men like that will never walk the Earth again…”, how many people in this day an age do you think would go into debt to buy books?
I mean, I’ve seen those pound-of-flesh-extractors payday loan companies promoting loans for vacations and big-screen tvs and boats and such, but books? never.
(I know books are a lot less expensive now, comparatively speaking, than in Jefferson’s day – but also, I think our respect for and feelings towards them have changed to the point that someone going into debt for books would be seen as a chump rather than a noble figure.)
I’ve never gone into debt from buying books, but I do know that at times our financial situation has made me turn to the library. Especially when it’s just a book I want to READ. Instead of spending $5 or $6 dollars on the paperback at Wal-Mart, I’ll go check it out of the library. I’ve saved hundreds of dollars doing that, I’ll bet.
But books I want to KEEP? Considering I once spent over $100 on a book of photographs of Queen Victoria’s family, I can kinda feel President Jefferson’s pain.
When you wrote about staring at that copyright mark next to your name for the Sewanee piece, I knew the exact feeling, but I got it from staring at the Library of Congress Catalog Card Number ISBN: 1-55821-450-X. Maybe nobody read it, but by God there it is.
ricki – I guess I don’t agree with your interpretation there. Maybe just cause I grew up surrounded by book sellers, book collectors, librarians, and people who would buy books before they would ever buy a new car or a TV or … new shoes even.
Book-buying at that obsessive level has always been an elite activity practiced only by the very few – just the same as it was in Jefferson’s day (or probably even more so – when people, in general, didn’t even own any books besides the Bible, and maybe Shakespeare, or nursery rhymes for their kids)
To think of an equivalent to buying a new TV, or new car, or whatever – in Jefferson’s day: There were probably folks at the time who were in debt buying the latest fancy buggy, or keeping their wife happy in silks and china and the latest gadgets from Europe … what have you. Stuff that maybe others would find “frivolous”.
Just my interpretation. :)
Steve –
goosebumps. I know what you mean. :)
//Considering I once spent over $100 on a book of photographs of Queen Victoria’s family, I can kinda feel President Jefferson’s pain.//
Lisa – ha!!! Of course you did!!
I relate. :)
Dearest: Library of Congress has the largest book collection of any library in the world [no one is even a close second]. A part of its responsibility is to register copyrights for US published books–to do so publisher had to deposit 2 copies. So, for those titles published since the law went into effect, and for those publishers who registered, LC has a copy. They have also gone out of their way to back track and get earlier published stuff, and titles that were never registered. In that sense, it is true. By the way–I think Jefferson sold his collection[at a very reasonable price] to the nation, not donated. love dad
Dad –
Thanks, Dad!! Knew you would come in here with the deets.
Oh, and of course you are right about Jefferson SELLING the books, not donating. Duh.
And I am sure he made note of the exact price in his volumninous ledger books. (Wouldn’t make a dent in that debt though.)
When looking at the excavation photos, what boggles my mind is that they had to do it largely by HAND. Steam shovels were involved, I’m sure, but they didn’t have dump trucks, bulldozers, and other diesel monsters; “caterpillar” was a bug. Just awesome.
Nightfly – it’s interesting that you say that because just the other day I was having a conversation with an old friend and we were talking about some of the old buildings in New York – you know, the late 19th century buildings – with the gorgeous intricate masonry, and the beautiful window-frames – works of art those buildings are, and it’s almost like the skill that was used to build such a building is lost … even though they were doing most of this stuff by hand back then. I mean, there are certainly specialized artisans who keep certain skills alive – but – it’s become more and more of a specialty, as opposed to just part of how certain jobs are done. It’s an amazing thing – the buildings built back then look so much more solid than they do now. But not just solid – it’s that there’s more artistry in them. The brick patterns, the way certain bricks or stone are cut and then fitted together … I love all that stuff, I love the glimpses of the past in those old buildings, here and there on our modern streets. Kinda breathtaking.
You’re probably right, red. It’s just – I live in a fairly anti-bookish milieu right now, where I’ve actually been laughed at for my fondness for literature, so I guess I’m a little bit embittered by it all.
Oh yeah, me too. People who don’t buy books like that will never get it – in the same way that I don’t get spending 400 bucks on a pair of shoes.
HOWEVER. I just try not to judge what people choose to spend their money on – if they have the money to burn.
I have friends who get the same thrill of excitement walking into a fancy shoe store that I get walking into the Strand.
And I don’t get it … but they’re happy, so am I!
What I DON’T understand – are people who buy books for SHOW. hahaha Like: read the damn things, please!!!
This Day in History: Library of Congress opens … Yay! Stamp Act … Boo.
I believe I will tell my creditors that I am attempting to recreate history by attaining Jeffersonian style debt. I’m sure they’ll love that. Maybe I could get a grant.
I love the picture of the collection in the rare book room. My all-time favorite library image, though, is fictional – the labyrinthine collection in the abbey that was the setting for the Sean Connery film “The Name of the Rose”. I never forget the joy in his monk character’s face as he rushes from room to hidden room piled high with volumes.
Right now my house is piled high with hundreds of books I’ve yet to read – all acquired cheaply through used book sales to support local libraries! :)
That insipid preppie chick that Patrick brings home to meet “Auntie” in “Auntie Mame”:
“Books. I love books. They’re so deCORative!”
ricki –
HA!!!
I believe I will tell my creditors that I am attempting to recreate history by attaining Jeffersonian style debt. I’m sure they’ll love that. Maybe I could get a grant.
Cullen – heh. It’s too bad you’re not Chuck Norris. “Every April 15th, Chuck Norris sends the IRS a blank 1040 and his own picture, crouched and ready to strike. Chuck Norris has never had to pay taxes, ever.”
Sehila – agreed on the artistry in the old buildings. People weren’t interested in simply tossing up some functional eyesores; they wanted classically-informed buildings that were a credit to the skyline. It showed. You can be proud that your city has a Chrysler Building or the Eiffel Tower, for reasons that have nothing to do with the size. You can also be proud of the Flatiron or St Patrick’s. They show remarkable craftsmanship and care.
Heck, the Elks building in downtown New Brunswick, NJ has some fine detailing and beautiful lines. I’m sure everyone here can name a few local examples, like older schools and even municipal buildings like courthouses and such. It’s as if they wanted the Supreme Court to be able to sit there for a case and not feel ashamed of the surroundings.
What I DON’T understand – are people who buy books for SHOW. hahaha Like: read the damn things, please!!!
Gotta disagree there, Sheila, the purchase of rare books is more like buying a piece of history… Hopefully, the information in the book is allowed to a much larger audience, but holding the orginal printing of a book is like holding a piece of history. For example, my father-in-law has bought some original siege maps of Charleston during the Revolutionary War (at prices anywhere from 25K to 50K)… you can get duplicates for 10 bucks, but to display actual HISTORY is really cool to me. Most people who buy these rare books have already read the books and just want to have a part of that history…
Am I wrong?
Well, it seems to me you’re talking about being a collector, JFH. I’m talking about people who buy books because they go with their room, and you can buy a set of them, so they look pretty on the shelves.
These people aren’t collectors – they are interior decorators.
Again, if that’s how people choose to spend their money and that’s what makes them happy – fine, I just don’t get it.
Also, frankly, I think it’s strange that after reading this post and reading my comments here – and also being a regular reader of my site – that you would think that I think that displaying history is NOT a cool thing.
Regarding the books for show vs. for reading thing, I recall a great story from Barbara Tuchman’s “The Proud Tower”, that goes something like this.
A literary fellow was visiting the home of a duke or other big-name aristocrat, and was examining the library. He picked up an edition Shakespeare sonnets printed in the Bard’s lifetime, astonished. His Grace walked in, asked him what he was reading, took it from him and sat down, leafing through it himself.
At that moment, Her Grace walked in and poked His Grace with her umbrella, saying, “If he begins reading poetry, he will never go for his walk!”
Happy the man who can casually enjoy the rarities of life!
Yeah, normally, I’m am bit (but just barely) more astute to your clear writing… sorry.
chronicler – hahaha!!!
Having known some serious book collectors in my life (uhm, including my dad) – there is nothing quite like having them show you some of their treasures. People like that touch books differently. They notice things – the binding, the paper, the typeface – It’s very cool.
Speaking of books as interior decoration:
There’s also a great little moment in the movie Balls of Fire when Barbara Stanwyck, the showgirl, picks up a big heavy book off of Gary Cooper’s desk. He’s the stuffy English professor. She picks it up and says something like (any Balls of Fire fans here – uhm – Bill?? correct me – because I can’t remember it exactly) “I have this!”
Cooper is a bit snobby – and is surprised that she would have whatever it was, the Complete Juvenilia of Shelley or whatever.
“You do, Miss O’Shea?”
She says, “Yeah – it’s actually a radio … it looks like a book, but it’s a radio… is yours a radio?”
Cooper says, stiffly, “No.”
Like – she thinks of books as KNICK KNACKS … or decoration – as opposed to .. you know, a book that has words on the pages and stuff.
Cute moment.
Speaking of buying books for decoration, does anyone remember the TV ads for the “Great Books” in the late 70s, early 80s… Quotes kind of like:
“Look at the raised ridges on the binding, this is a quality book”
“The gold edges on the pages, I’d pay over 50 dollars for a book like that!”
(Yeah, I made up the quotes but they weren’t far off from that)
JFH – no problem!
I think people who are COLLECTORS – like you describe – people who … are always on the hunt for things – objects that they are passionate about – whatever it may be – Civil War stuff, or books, or old china – I just love people like that. They see things in these objects that perhaps we do not see. It’s great to get collectors talking. “So, tell me. Why is this fountain pen so special?” Then ensues a half-hour monologue.
hahaha
JFH – HA!! I do remember those!
Yeah, now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!!!
Oh, goodness! Ball of Fire! Great movie, and thanks for reminding me of that scene. :)
I always liked it because it was the first of two movies I can remember Stanwyck was in with S.Z. Sakall (aka Carl in Casablanca: “Honest! This place is honest as the day is long!”). He also played Uncle Felix in Christmas in Connecticut. :)
S.Z. Sakall!!! You are awesome for remembering that name! Isn’t he so great? What an amazing career! And yes! He was SO funny in Ball of Fire – I love all the little professors. And Henry Travers was one of them, too – member? He was Clarence in It’s a Wonderful Life!
I adore the LOC, and miss it (as as a part of my generally missing DC). Of course most of the actual collection is in the other two buildings now, Adams and Madison, but the original building (retrospectively named the Jefferson building after Adams was completed) is such an exquisite architectural jewel. I spent quite a lot of my senior year in college, researching my undergrad history thesis. An unparalleled resource, but so much more than that. A lot of my work involved sifting through late 19th-century newspapers and magazines in the Madison building, and that was cool, too, but the time in the old Main Reading Room was something more…magical.
Dearest: for many years I have been interested in the rare books/interior decorators syndrome [Strand actually highlights its rental service of yards upon yards of leather bound books for interior shots in commercials]. FlannO’Brien, writing as Myles in the irish Times during WWII, offered an ‘annotating service’ to such people, on the off chance that a knowledgeable someone would actully look inside the volumes–he would, for a price, write pithy comments in the margins like ‘oh so true, see Aquinas on simony’ or ‘tripe!!’, etc. I often think of this when looking at bookseller’s descriptions of such marginalia, justifying substantial increases in the books actual value, and wonder if Myle’s was the annotator. love, dad
Dad – HA!!! I remember you telling me that story – that is so so funny. An annotating service. hahahahaha