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Posted by: Erin Allen
When “The Seinfeld Chronicles” first aired on NBC on July 5, 1989, no one could have predicted that the “show about nothing” would become a cultural phenomenon. Inspired by real-life people and events, the show followed the life of a stand-up comedian and his friends. The pilot episode (pictured left), written by show creators Jerry …
Posted in: Audiovisual, Collections, Copyright, Film, Manuscripts
Posted by: Erin Allen
A Message from the Librarian Today, on the Library of Congress’s 215th anniversary, I want especially to congratulate the Library’s extraordinary staff for their work in building this amazing, one-of-a-kind institution. I am, and always will be, deeply grateful for all they do. The heart and soul of this great library always has been its …
Posted in: Capitol Hill, Collections, Congress, Copyright, Education, Libraries, Preservation, Thomas Jefferson Building, Today in History, Veterans History Project, Washington DC
Posted by: Erin Allen
On Oct. 16, 1758, Noah Webster, the “Father of American Scholarship and Education” was born. Lexicographers everywhere celebrate his contributions on his birthday, also known as “Dictionary Day.” As a young, rural Connecticut teacher, he used his own money to publish his first speller in 1783. Reissued throughout the 19th century, the 1829 “Blue Back …
Posted in: Collections, Copyright, Education, History, Manuscripts, Today in History
Posted by: Erin Allen
(The following is an article written by Harry Katz in the September-October 2014 issue of the Library of Congress Magazine, LCM. Katz is a former curator in the Library’s Prints and Photographs Division and author of a new Library publication, “Mark Twain’s America.”) Samuel Clemens’ fight for the intellectual property rights to Mark Twain’s works helped protect …
Posted by: Erin Allen
(The following is an article written by Rosemary Girard, intern in the Library of Congress Office of Communications, for the Library staff newsletter, The Gazette.) After weeks of researching, curating and unearthing some of the Library of Congress’s millions of artifacts, members of the Junior Fellows Program had a chance to present their most interesting …
Posted in: Audiovisual, Capitol Hill, Collections, Copyright, Curators, Education, Events, Film, History, Law Library, Manuscripts, Music, Photos, Thomas Jefferson Building, Veterans History Project, Washington DC
Posted by: Wendi Maloney
Engraver Abel Buell “came out of nowhere,” at least in terms of cartography, when he printed a United States map in 1784. “He’d never done a map before,” says Edward Redmond of the Library’s Geography and Map Division. Nonetheless, Buell set records. He was the first U.S. citizen to print a map of the United …
Posted in: Capitol Hill, Collections, Copyright, Exhibitions, History, LC Web site, Maps, Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington DC
Posted by: Erin Allen
Last week, the Library hosted the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Foundation for its annual “We Write the Songs” concert, featuring the songwriters performing and telling the stories behind their own music. Carly Simon, Randy Newman and Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart joined others in performing some of their most popular tunes. “We used …
Posted in: Collections, Concerts, Copyright, Events, Music, Photos, Pic of the Week, Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington DC
Posted by: Erin Allen
The Library of Congress celebrates its 214th birthday today. Founded on April 24, 1800, thanks to an appropriation approved by Pres. John Adams of $5,000 for the purchase of “such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress.” What started with a whopping 740 books and three maps has evolved to more than …
Posted in: Capitol Hill, Collections, Copyright, History, Manuscripts, Photos, Thomas Jefferson Building, Today in History, Washington DC
Posted by: Wendi Maloney
The Library’s “Songs of America” online presentation highlights how copyright records can help to shed light on American culture and history. The exhibit draws on hundreds of thousands of pieces of sheet music and sound recordings registered for copyright since 1820 to explore the American experience through song. One copyright record has an especially interesting story. …
Posted in: Audiovisual, Collections, Copyright, History, LC Web site, Music