Library of Congress Founded

Setting the scene

The Library of Congress was founded on April 24, 1800, when President John Adams approved an act of Congress providing $5,000 to purchase books for the use of Congress. The library was established as part of the move of the federal government from Philadelphia to the new capital, Washington, D.C. The initial collection, housed in the Capitol, consisted of 740 volumes and 3 maps, purchased in London. The library was intended as a legislative reference library, not a national library, reflecting the founders' belief that informed legislators were essential to republican government.

What happened

The library was destroyed on August 24, 1814, when British troops burned Washington during the War of 1812, destroying the 3,000-volume collection. Former President Thomas Jefferson offered his personal library—6,487 volumes, the largest in America—as a replacement. Congress purchased it for $23,950 in 1815, despite objections that it contained works on philosophy and atheism. Jefferson's collection, organized by his own classification system (Memory, Reason, Imagination), transformed the library from a legal collection into a universal one, establishing the principle that the library should cover all subjects.

Why it still matters

The Library of Congress grew slowly in the 19th century but expanded dramatically after the Copyright Act of 1870 required deposit of two copies of every copyrighted work. Today it is the world's largest library, with over 173 million items, including books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, and recordings. It serves Congress, but also the public through its reading rooms and digital collections. The library's mission has evolved from legislative reference to preserving the nation's cultural heritage, embodying Jefferson's belief that democracy requires an informed citizenry with access to knowledge.

Background

It grew into a major research institution.