Thomas Jefferson Building

The Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress

The oldest of the three United States Library of Congress buildings, the Thomas Jefferson Building opened in 1897. It is known for its elaborately decorated facade and interior, for which more than forty American painters and sculptors produced commissioned works of art.

History

Needing more room for its growing collection the Library of Congress under Librarian Ainsworth Rand Spofford suggested to the Congress that a new building be built specifically to serve as the American national library. Prior to this the Library existed in a wing of the Capitol Building. The new building was needed partly because of the growing Congress, but also partly because of the Copyright Law of 1870, which required all copyright applicants to send to the Library two copies of their work. This resulted in a flood of books, pamphlets, maps, music, prints and photographs. Spofford had been instrumental in the enactment of this law.

With Congress approving construction of the building in 1886, it would take 11 years to complete. The building opened to the public on November 1, 1897 and was met with wide approval and was immediately seen as a national monument. Originally called simply the "Library of Congress Building" its name was changed on June 13, 1980 to honor former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, who had been a key figure in the establishment of the Library in 1800. Jefferson offered his personal book collection to Congress in September 1814 a month after the British had burned the Capitol in the War of 1812.

Reference

The below references are public domain websites of the Library of Congress

• http://www.loc.gov/loc/walls/jeff1.html - "On These Walls" Library of Congress website
• http://www.loc.gov/jefftour/history.html - Thomas Jefferson Building

See also

• John Adams Building
• James Madison Memorial Building