Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-05
LIBRARIANS OF CONGRESS
There Have Been Only Six Since the
Library Was Established.
James s. Meehan Served for Thirty
Two Years-Mr. SpOfOrtfs Term
of Service.


Congressional Library, although the first
| incumbent of that place was appointed in
1902. The term of service of two of these
librarians aggregates nearly sixty-five
years, the present librarian, Mr.. A. r.
Spofford, and John S. Meehan being the
| long-term inchmbents.
Mr.. Meehan held office longer than any
one up to the present time, having been
librarian for thirty-two years. On the 31st
of next December Mr.. Spofford will have
been in charge of the great collection of
books for thirty-one years.
The growth of the Congressional Library
has been accompanied with many difficult
ties, and the history of it's librarians is
as interesting as is the record of the col
lection itself. The first commission of Ii
brarian on record in the State Department
is that of John Beckley of Virginia. dated
January %. 1902. Mr.. Beckley at that time
held the office of clerk of the House of
Representatives. A room opposite the Sem
ate chamber in the north wing of the early
Capitol was used for storing the few books
then in the possession of Congress. The
library was given in charge of the clerk
of the House of Representatives and its
care was matter of little trouble, for few
private libraries worthy of the name at the
present day would contain fewer books
than did the Congressional Library at that
time.
outcome of u Necessity.
The library was the outcome of neces-
sity. Washington at the time the national
capital was moved here contained no pub
lie or private libraries. Members of Con-
gress were at great loss to secure data
which was urgently needed in legislative
matters and the making of speeches to be
delivered in the Senate and House was a
very difficult matter. Members could not
jot down headlines of what they wanted
to incorporate in their speeches and send
to the librarian to have them furnished
without thought A good book was a
jewel, and the long-felt want of Congress
was a library
In 1907 Patrick Magruder of Maryland
was elected clerk of the House of Repre-
sentatives and shortly thereafter was ap-
pointed librarian. He served during the
two terms of Jeffersons administration, as
well as the greater part of Mr.. Monyoe's
presidency. He employed a clerk to look
after the little collection of books. From
1907 to 1916 items were inserted in the ap-
preparation bills of $500 for contingent ex-
penses of the library, including the libra
rian's salary. In fourteen years of the life
OF the library there were accumulated but
5000 books.
JeffersOn's Collection Purchased.
The library became more pretentious
when Congress purchased Jefferson's col
lection of 6, 700 books for So, $50 and moved
tneH. lney were moved llllO tne DullulNS
located on the site of the present Post
Office Department, and George Watterson
was shortly thereafter appointed librarian
by President Madison, with a salary of
81 900 per annum, this appointment dating
from March q, 1915. Mr.. Watterson was
native of Scotland, having been brought
to this country by his parents when very
little child. He had been carefully edu-
Gated and was fond of books, it is related,
and was a newspaper editor, both before
and after his appointment as librarian.
He was also the author of several books
enc of which was a guide to Washington
But it was Watterson's ability as a muse
that resulted in securing for him the place
of congressional librarian. He wrote
verses complimentary to Mrs. Madison and
that powerful lady, being pleased by the
attention, smoothed the way for Mr.. Wat
terson to secure the place he coveted But
his habit of commenting on the wives of
Presidents got him into trouble. President
Jackson heard that Watterson had made
some unpleasant remarks about his be-
loved wife, Rachael and in 1929 he was re-
moved. This charge was denied by both
Mr.. Watterson and his friends, but it did
not assist him to retain the place.
Mr.. Meehan Appointed.
In 1918 the salary of librarian was in
creased to 81 1,500 per annum, and in the
same year the library was removed to
the Capitol, which Ii had been driven out
of because of the burning of the structure
by the British. General jackson appointed
John S. Meehan, a printer of Washington.
to be librarian on May %, 1929. Meehan
was~the first editor and publisher of the
Columbia Star and the United States Tele-
graph, and had performed efficient political
services for General Jackson. Mr.. Nee
han continued in office until the election
of President Lincoln. a period Of thirty
two years. Mr. Meehan's tastes were lit
erary, and he welded vigorous though
graceful pen. Mr.. Meehan died at his
residence on Capitol Hill April a. 1868,
aged seventy-three years.
John G. Stephenson of Terre Haute, Ind,
served a short term as librarian, serving
in that position from 1861 to 1864.
MIR. SpOfOrd's Term.
President Lincoln appointed MI. A. R. Spot
ford to be librarian of Congress December
81, 1864 Mr.. Spofford had entered the IL
brary as an assistant during the administra-
ton of Mr.. Stephenson, his predecessor, SO
that while not having served as librarian
longer than any other man, his connection
with the great collection Of books exceeds
in years that of any one else. Mr.. Spot
ford is without doubt the most widely
known librarian in this country, and when
he moves into the handsome building now
gressional Library he will preside over the
finest library in this country, and one of
the most complete collections of books in
the world.
ID Ucrr