Hump Day History

 

In April of 1800, John Adams approved legislation to appropriate $5,000 in order to purchase "such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress."

On this day in 1814, the British burned the Capitol, and more than 3,000 books were lost.

Thomas Jefferson responded by selling his collection of 6,487 volumes to Congress.

By 1851, when a second fire broke out, there were 55,000 books, and nearly 2/3 were destroyed.  Within a few years though, the majority of books had been replaced.

Today, there are more than 17 million books and millions of maps.  The Library of Congress is one of the largest in the world.

The remaining Jefferson books are on permanent display in the Great Hall, as part of the Rare Book and Special Collections Division.

"I cannot live without books."

Of note, it's also Bucket List Day, and this is on mine.  I went to Washington DC when I was in middle school, and certainly appreciated what I saw and learned, but Hubby and I have talked about a trip there as adults, who know more what we want to see.

Additionally, the Folger Shakespeare Library is right next door.  Did you finish The Taming of the Shrew?  We'll share final thoughts next week.  :-)