3 Exhibits About the Library of Congress

In an earlier post about my library history promotion activities last year, I noted that I had developed a philatelic exhibit about the Library of Congress which I entered in a national stamp show competition. I have revised the exhibit and it will be on display next weekend at the St. Louis stamp show. Using philatelic and other artifacts, my exhibit includes: an overview of the history of the Library of Congress; an overview of the use of the mail by the Library of Congress; a close look at how the Copyright Office used the mail; a section on the services of the library; a section on the collections of the library; and finally a component on the bicentennial of the library. In the past the Library of Congress itself has developed two major exhibits about the history of the library to help celebrate significant anniversaries. The first of those exhibits occurred in 1950 to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the library. A publication, which I have in my collection, resulted from that exhibit and is appropriately titled Library of Congress Sesquicentennial Exhibit.  The logo for the sesquicentennial is shown above. John Y. Cole, LOC historian, looked back at the sesquicentennial in the April, 1999 issue of Information Bulletin. When the library celebrated its bicentennial in 2000 another exhibit focusing on the history of the Thomas Jefferson Building was on display. That exhibit and an accompanying brochure were titled "The Thomas Jefferson Building: 'Book Palace of the American People'". The 1950 exhibit featured print, manuscript, and photographic artifacts. The 2000 exhibit also included souvenir items, some of which were from the collections of LOC staff members. Exhibits are a great way to celebrate significant library anniversaries.  If you're in the St. Louis area next weekend, drop by to see my exhibit.  It will also be on display in Washington, D. C. in June.