The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-03-10
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~ HE Library OF Congress is COM
pIete satisfaction to the perturbed
soul of the scholarly Edward Ever
EFT, who years ago exclaimed 'Who
without shame that the fed
ns6M eraI government of America is the
J" !" : : :.
HXES9N only government in the civilized
~ VA world that has founded
NJ M literary institution of any description
IH NH or sOrt?"
TSSEENN So said Representative Simeon D.
\ G1SSR Fess of Ohio the other day in the
. W house in address on the subject
of the library. Mr. Fess is a scholar
himself He is lawyer. He has served col
eye president and professor in several 1nSutu-
ions. He is the author of works on American
politics and history. In connection with apprO
)riatiOns for the Congressional Library he
asked to deliver address upon the Library as
| literary institution for the information of the
aembers. In his address. reported in the Con-
ressiOnal Record the following interesting facts
re found
East of the Capitol stands the most beautiful
Tuiding in the world, the creation of the genius
# the architect sculptor, and painter. Within
is walls is found a collection of publications
which is rapidly Overtaking the Bibliotheque Ma
ionale of Paris and the British Museum of Lon
lon, the only other libraries which exceed in
lumber of books the Congressional Library.
Like all other great institutions. this had its
small and insignificant beginning. It started some
line before the beginning of the last century with
he appointment of committee to report on need
md selection of suitable books. Five thousand
dollars was appropriated in 1900 Beckley of
Virginia was appointed librarian by jefferson in
1902. The first catalogue was of nine pages, pre-
pared in 1902 the Library then containing 964
Jolumes and nine maps classified on the basis of
size into quartOs, OctavOs and forth. The pur-
pose of the Library stated by Senator Aftchill
n 1906 to be ito furnish with such materials as
will enable statesmen TO be correct in their in
7estigatiOns, and by becoming display of erudi-
ion and research give a higher dignity and
brighter luster to truth"
The catalogue of 1872 contained titles of 3,O76
volumes and 50 maps and charts. When the Cap
tOl was burned in 1914 by the British the Library
had cost all told about $4,000 for books and oper-
alton. The librarians salary was at first s. per
lay. The Library destroyed August "a and
IN September 81 Jefferson wrote from his home
endering his library to congress- The commit
zee authorized by act of congress to purchase
he 1000 volumes for $685. which was done in
January 1915. Jefferson catalogued the Library,
which later declared by Spofferd as IAN adj
nirable selection of the best ancient and modern
literature up to the beginning of the present
tury' These books were hauled from Monticello
% Washington in farm wagons.
From 1915 to 1851 the Library grew from 1000
% 1000 volumes.
On the evening of December %, 1925 Edward
Everett discovered fire in the galleries of the
Library, and lie, assisted by Daniel Webster and
other members of congress. put it out. In 1851
a second fire destroyed all but 10000 volumes of
the then handsome collection of $4,000 volumes
Only One-third of the Jefferson collection was
saved. Congress at once took steps to rebuild the
loss. Before the year was ended in several spe-
cifc it had appropriated S263 700 for the pur-
pose. Ten years later a general catalogue of
1895 pages was published. In 1869 the last COM
plete catalogue, arranged by subjects pub
iShed in two volumes of LA pages
The card catalogue adopted about 1863,
and was perfected from time to time to its pres
ent wonderfully serviceabe system
In 1864 a r. SpOfford selected as librarian.
and that year might be taken the beginning OF
the third stage of Congressional Library history.
Congress sympatheticaly responded to Iegisla-
tive demands. Frequent appropriations were
voted and many private collections were secured
after the fashion of the famous beginning in 1915.
Three years after the selection of Spofford con-
greSs authorized the purchase of the valuable
collection of Americana from Peter Force. 1t
contained 10000 volumes and cost 100000. 1t
was regarded as a rare collection of books and
pamphlets on American subjects, manuscripts,
newspapers, maps, autographs and SO forth.
About the same time the collection Of the Smith
sonian Institution, comprising 10000 volumes
was transferred to the Congressional Library. It
contained invaluable publications of the various
learned societies throughout the world with which
the institution had exchange arrangements
Accessions were constantly made, among which
were, in 1866, the Petigru law library; 1882, the
manuscript papers of Benjamin Franklin; 1888,
the Matthew Carpenter law library; 1892 the
Toner collection OF $1,000 volumes which con-
tanned, among other invaluable publications an
almost complete collection of copies of letters and
papers of General Washington.
As far back as 1916 a provision OF the copy
right law required deposit in the Library OF one
copy Of every book, map, chart, musical compost