“Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor” Opens – Pic of the Week | In Custodia Legis: Law Librarians of Congress

Yesterday via In Custodia Legis, we announced the opening of the Library of Congress exhibition, “Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor.”

To celebrate the upcoming 800th anniversary of Magna Carta and the exhibition’s opening, a ceremony took place in the Great Hall of the Thomas Jefferson Building. HRH The Princess Royal Princess Anne; British Ambassador to the United States Sir Peter Westmacott; other British officials; the Librarian of Congress Dr. James H. Billington; and Law Librarian of Congress David S. Mao participated in the ceremony. Special musical performances were made by the Howard University Singers, the Temple Church Choir, and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets.

Below is a sample of photos that document the event.

HRH The Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and others are welcomed to the Library of Congress by Law Librarian of Congress David S. Mao for the opening ceremony of “Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor,” Thursday, November 6, 2014. Photo by Amanda Reynolds

Nathan Dorn, left, exhibition curator, discusses the 1215 Lincoln Cathedral Magna Carta with HRH The Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and Sir Peter Westmacott, during a tour of the Library of Congress exhibition, “Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor,” Thursday, November 6, 2014. Photo by John Harrington

Opening Ceremony of Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor, including HRH The Princess Royal, the Honorable James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress, and David S. Mao, the Law Librarian of Congress, Thursday, November 6, 2014. Photo by Amanda Reynolds

From left to right: Marjorie Billington, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, HRH The Princess Royal, and Dr. James H. Billington at the opening ceremony for the Library of Congress exhibition, “Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor,” Thursday, November 6, 2014. Photo by Amanda Reynolds

The opening ceremony for the Library of Congress exhibition, “Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor,” held in the Great Hall of the Thomas Jefferson Building, Thursday, November 6, 2014. Photo by John Harrington

The exhibition runs through January 19, 2015. It is located in the South Gallery of the Thomas Jefferson Building and is open Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you are in the Washington, D.C. area, please visit the Library to get a first-hand look at this magnificent 1215 exemplification of the “Great Charter.” An online exhibition is available as well.

Update: Event video added below.

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