Admin What happened to the library on August 24 1814?
U.S. Capitol and Its Library Are Burned On August 24, 1814, British troops took control of the capital city and proceeded to burn the President’s House (White House) and the U.S. Capitol, which then housed the congressional library (Library of Congress) in its north wing.
Who burned the Library of Congress in 1815?
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was instrumental in rebuilding the Library of Congress when he sold the bulk of his book collection to the United States government in 1815. During the War of 1812, British forces entered Washington, D.C., burning the Capitol building and the 3,000-volume library inside it.
What happened to Jefferson’s personal book collection?
By 1814 when the British burned the nation’s Capitol and the Library of Congress, Jefferson had acquired the largest personal collection of books in the United States. Jefferson offered to sell his library to Congress as a replacement for the collection destroyed by the British during the War of 1812.
What was a humiliating defeat for the United States?
The Battle of Bladensburg and the burning of Washington were humiliating defeats for the United States. Within a few days, however, citizens were able to return to the decimated city. The British left Washington as swiftly as they had entered, moving on to capture the city of Alexandria and lay siege to Baltimore.
How many books were destroyed in the Library of Congress?
On December 22, 1851, the largest fire in the library’s history destroyed 35,000 books, about two–thirds of the library’s collection and two-thirds of Jefferson’s original transfer. Congress appropriated $168,700 to replace the lost books in 1852 but not to acquire new materials.
What happened to Thomas Jefferson’s personal library?
On this day in 1851, a fire sweeps through the Library of Congress and destroys two-thirds of Thomas Jefferson’s personal literary collection. Jefferson, who died in 1826, had offered to sell his personal library to Congress after the Congressional library, along with the rest of …read more
What is the history of the Library of Congress?
The Library of Congress was established in 1800, when President John Adams approved legislation that appropriated $5,000 to purchase “such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress.” The first books, ordered from London, arrived in 1801 and were stored in the U.S. Capitol, the library’s first home.
Who was the librarian of Congress during WW2?
When Putnam retired in 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Archibald MacLeish as his successor. Occupying the post from 1939 to 1944 during the height of World War II, MacLeish became the most visible Librarian of Congress in the Library’s history.