When did British forces destroy the Library of Congress?
British forces set fire to the Library of Congress on the 24th of August 1814, destroying over 3,000 volumes of the collection.
Common questions about Library of Congress
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who donated the collection that rebuilt the Library of Congress after the 1814 fire?
Thomas Jefferson donated his personal library of 6,487 books to replace the destroyed collection, and Congress approved the purchase in January 1815 for $23,950.
When did the second fire destroy two-thirds of Thomas Jefferson's collection at the Library of Congress?
A fire in the Capitol Building on the 24th of December 1851 destroyed 35,000 books, including two-thirds of Thomas Jefferson's original collection.
Who served as Librarian of Congress from 1899 to 1939 and expanded foreign acquisitions?
Herbert Putnam held the office of Librarian of Congress from 1899 to 1939 and expanded foreign acquisitions including the 1904 purchase of a 4,000-volume library of Indica.
When was Carla D. Hayden sworn in as the fourteenth Librarian of Congress?
Carla D. Hayden was sworn in as the fourteenth Librarian of Congress on the 14th of September 2016, becoming the first woman and the first African American to hold the position.