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February2007
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Hunting for Buried Treasure

When Benjamin Harrison was elected president in 1888, his wife Caroline came to the White House with the hope of not just refurbishing the mansion but structurally rebuilding it. In 1890, the first lady proposed an extensive expansion of the mansion as designed by her friend, engineer Frederick D. Owen. Her model was George Washington's home in Mount Vernon, with its central block and side wings connected by colonnades.

Intern Emily Giglierano shows treasures from the Library's drama collections to Librarian of Congress James Billington Blueprint for Proposed White House Expansion by F.D. Owen. 1900

Interns working at the Library recently unearthed a blueprint copyrighted in 1900 by Owen outlining the proposed expansion, which entailed a west and east or "public art wing," a conservatory and courtyard "divided into walks, grass, flats and plant beds, and to be enriched by a central fountain which is intended to be electrically illuminated upon rosined occasions" as stated by Owen in a handwritten letter accompanying his copyright application.

Unfortunately, Congress refused to approve her plans and she was left with a more modest remodeling overhaul that included repairing the furniture, redoing the floors and plumbing, repainting, exterminating, adding bathrooms and installing electricity. Her interest in china led her to catalog past administrations' pieces, thus establishing the collection of china associated with White House history.

The October 2006 issue of the Library of Congress Information Bulletin features an article on many of the Copyright Deposit treasures found by this summer's interns, including old theater posters and musical scores, colorful product advertisements and historical photographs. Last summer was the second time student's delved into the deposits to find and itemize these priceless items, making them more readily available for researchers. In October 2005, the LCIB featured an article highlighting many of these gems, such as an old home movie featuring Marilyn Monroe, rare baseball cards and the text of a lecture by Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller's teacher.


A. Intern Emily Giglierano shows treasures from the Library's drama collections to Librarian of Congress James Billington. Photographer Charles Gibbons. 2006. Reproduction Information: Not available for reproduction.

B. Blueprint for Proposed White House Expansion by F.D. Owen. 1900. United States Copyright Office. Reproduction Information: Rights status not evaluated