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Brief History of the Library of Congress AUTHOR'S NOTE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSAUTHOR'S NOTEThis book is intended primarily for visitors to the Jefferson, Adams, and Madison Buildings. The wording of inscriptions and quotations and the spelling of proper names corresponds to what the visitor will see "on these walls" and occasionally differs slightly from what one finds in the cited sources. In most cases, when a source is cited it is to a general reference which readers can pursue further, using the Index and Guide to Names as a starting point. The Biblical references are to the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible. Each of the Library of Congress's buildings--but particularly the Jefferson Building--is a wonderful "do-it-yourself" educational experience which this book is meant to enhance. I also hope it inspires historians to undertake much-needed work of the Jefferson Building's art, architecture, and iconography. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSI am heavily indebted to Herbert Small's invaluable Handbook of the New Library of Congress in Washington (Boston, 1897), a contemporary guidebook that Small prepared after consultation with many of the people responsible for the construction and decoration of the Jefferson Building. Valuable information was found in records in the Library of Congress Archives in the Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, where John Knowlton, specialist in Library of Congress history and archives, provided expert guidance. Many other Library of Congress staff members have helped with this project, which has occupied me intermittently for more than ten years. Anne Boni, Sharon Green, Pat White, and Michael Thompson assisted with the preparation of the manuscript; Alan Bisbort provided research assistance and editorial help; Maurvene D. Williams prepared the index. In the summer of 1988, intern Barbara S.C. Clark helped with the research and fact-checking. Barbara Wolanin, Office of the Architect of the Capitol, and Ford Peatross of the Library's Prints and Photographs Division reviewed the manuscript and offered encouragement and useful suggestions. My thanks to all. TABLE
OF CONTENTS - Introduction - A
Brief History of the Library of Congress Library of Congress Contact Us ( January 11, 2006 ) |