The Library of Congress Its Construction, Architecture, and Decoration

by Cole, John Y.; Reed, Henry Hope

• ISBN13: 9780393045635
• ISBN10: 0393045633
• Edition: 00
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1998-01-17
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Summary

Arguably the most beautifully decorated building in the United States, the Library of Congress building (recently renamed the Jefferson Building) is celebrating its one hundredth anniversary this year after an eighty million dollar restoration that returned it to its original state.Designed by John L. Smithmeyer and completed in 1897 at a cost of under seven million dollars, the building is enhanced by the art of over forty sculptors and painters whose ranks include such notables as Herbert Adams, Kenyon Cox, Edward Clark Potter, Louis Saint-Gaudens, and John Quincy Adams Ward.The planning and construction are detailed in John Y. Cole's essay, followed by discussions by Henry Hope Reed, Richard Murray, and Thomas P. Somma of the decorations, paintings, and sculptures. The volume concludes with a study of the restoration by Barbara Wolanin, a chronology, a glossary of architectural and decorative terms, and a biographical dictionary of all the artists, architects, and designers who worked on the building. Throughout, noted photographer Anne Day's color images enhance this splendid book.

Table of Contents

PREFACE The Library of Congress Building--A Continuing Inspiration	8	(2)
Arthur Ross
FOREWORD	10	(2)
James H. Billington The Librarian of Congress
EDITORS' ACKNOWLEDGMENTS	12	(1)
CONTRIBUTORS	13	(2)
THE ARCHITECT'S FOURTH DIMENSION	15	(6)
Daniel J. Boorstin
THE THOMAS JEFFERSON BUILDING	21	(10)
Brendan Gill
STRUGGLE FOR A STRUCTURE Ainsworth Rand Spofford and a New Building for the Library of Congress	31	(34)
John Y. Cole
Spofford and the Idea of a National Library	34	(3)
Expansion within the Capitol Building	37	(3)
A Separate Library Building	40	(15)
Completion: A National Monument for a National Library	55	(10)
SOUVENIRS OF THE OPENING OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS BUILDING	65	(8)
THE THOMAS JEFFERSON BUILDING AS A WORK OF ART	73	(6)
Pierce Rice
HANDBOOK OF THE NEW LIBRARY OF CONGRESS	79	(94)
Herbert Small
Editor's Introduction	80	(2)
The Exterior of the Building	82	(2)
The Main Entrance Pavilion	84	(4)
The Main Entrance Doors	88	(2)
The Great Hall	90	(8)
The North Corridor--Great Hall	98	(2)
The Librarian's Room	100	(2)
The North Corridor and the Northwest Pavilion	102	(1)
The East Corridor--Great Hall	103	(1)
The Lobbies of the Main Reading Room	104	(4)
The South Corridor--Great Hall	108	(2)
The South Corridor	110	(3)
The Members of Congress Room	113	(3)
The Jefferson Congressional Reading Room	116	(2)
To the Visitors' Gallery of the Main Reading Room	118	(2)
The Main Reading Room	120	(18)
The Second-Floor Corridors	138	(4)
The West Corridor	142	(3)
The North Corridor	145	(3)
The East Corridor	148	(2)
The South Corridor	150	(3)
The Decoration of the Corridor Walls	153	(2)
The Galleries and Pavilions	155	(1)
The Southwest Gallery	156	(3)
The Pavilion of the Discoverers	159	(3)
The Pavilion of the Elements	162	(2)
The Northwest Gallery	164	(2)
The Northwest Pavilion, the North Gallery, and the Northeast Pavilion	166	(2)
The North Gallery Links the Northwest and Northeast Pavilions	168	(2)
Other Rooms in the Building	170	(3)
THE DECORATORS	173	(20)
Henry Hope Reed
Edward Pearce Casey	178	(5)
Elmer Ellsworth Garnsey	183	(1)
Albert Weinert	184	(4)
Philip Martiny	188	(2)
Critical Assessment	190	(3)
PAINTED WORDS Murals in the Library of Congress	193	(34)
Richard Murray
American Murals Prior to the Library of Congress	196	(2)
Early Plans	198	(1)
Creating the Program	199	(6)
The Subjects	205	(3)
The Arts and the Sciences: Two Views	208	(8)
Contemporary Issues	216	(6)
Progress and Evolution	222	(2)
Critiques of the Mural Program	224	(3)
THE SCULPTURAL PROGRAM FOR THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS	227	(26)
Thomas P. Somma
General Casey and the Sculpture Committee	230	(3)
The Commissions	233	(5)
Completion and Placement of the Sculpture	238	(8)
Aesthetic Evaluation of the Program	246	(7)
RESTORATION AND RENOVATION	253	(22)
Barbara Wolanin
APPENDIX	275	(13)
Schematic Diagram of the Thomas Jefferson Building	276	(2)
Floor plan of the Thomas Jefferson Building	278	(1)
Architectural Features of the Thomas Jefferson Building	279	(9)
Illustrated Glossary of Architectural and Decorative Terms	288	(8)
Henry Hope Reed
Biographical Dictionary	296	(7)
Henry Hope Reed
Jefferson Building Chronology and Statistics	303	(1)
For Further Study and Reading	304	(2)
John Y. Cole
Endnotes	306	(8)
Index	314