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Congressional Library, Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson building, Washington DC

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Congressional Library, Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson building, Washington DC

description

Summary

Public domain image of watercolor painting from British-related collections, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description

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

01/01/1897
person

Contributors

Peters, G. W., artist
place

Location

create

Source

Library of Congress
copyright

Copyright info

Publication may be restricted. For information see "Cabinet of American Illustration," http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/111_cai.html

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library of congress thomas jefferson building washington dc
library of congress thomas jefferson building washington dc