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[First quarters for storing prints, southeast pavilion attic, Print Division, Library of Congress]

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[First quarters for storing prints, southeast pavilion attic, Print Division, Library of Congress]

description

Summary

Photograph shows staff member David E. Roberts at one of the large sorting tables in an attic area of what is now called the Thomas Jefferson Building. Labels identify the material on shelves under the tables, including photographs; some appear to be bundles of stereographs wreapped with string. Map cases and tall shelving units are along two walls.

The Library of Congress Building or the Jefferson Building is the oldest of the four United States Library of Congress buildings, built between 1890 and 1897 in Washington, DC. It is located on First Street SE, between Independence Avenue and East Capitol Street. The new building was needed 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. After Congress approved construction of the building in 1886, it took eleven years to complete. The building's main architect was Paul J. Pelz, born in Prussian Silesia, initially in partnership with John L. Smithmeyer, a native of Vienna, Austria, and succeeded by Edward Pearce Casey during the last few years of construction. More than fifty American painters and sculptors produced commissioned works of art. The building opened to the public on November 1, 1897, met with wide approval and was immediately seen as a national monument. The building name was changed on June 13, 1980 to honor former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson.

date_range

Date

01/01/1900
person

Contributors

Handy, Levin C. (Levin Corbin), 1855-1932, photographer
place

Location

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Source

Library of Congress
copyright

Copyright info

No known restrictions on publication.

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