America’s 250th birthday festivities have already kicked off and will continue through next year. As the Library continues to gain new items in the collection, some things may be coming at just the right time, such as a pamphlet on celebrating America’s bicentennial published in summer 1975.
Though the pamphlet is 50 years old, most of its time was spent outside the Library, as cataloging started in January 2023. The Library of Congress Control Number was issued in 2021 before its bibliographic record was created and this appears to be the only copy of this particular title in the Library’s collection.
The book is one of hundreds of pamphlets that come through for binding each week. Pamphlet binding is the most basic binding, standard letter size pages folded in half and stapled at the fold to hold the pages together. The style has been around for centuries, with pamphlets being a commonality of the Colonial period and early days after the American Revolution, Historian Joseph J. Ellis referred to them as “the blogs of the time” in his book, “The Cause: The American Revolution and its Discontents, 1773-1783.” There are several possible ways this pamphlet could be processed at the Processing and Preparation Section.
The pamphlet is in good condition as it nears 50 years of age. There was no damage from storage or use and the paper quality is good, so it was not sent to General Collections Conservation for care. At times we have sewn pamphlets in house into acid-free covers, but most are sent to the commercial bindery like many of the different types of items we process.
It was sent out as part of Lot 25-B110, designated item 189 on a UP, unlettered pamphlet, lot on May 1st. It returned on June 6th and was quality reviewed that day by PPS Technician Marques Wright who then sent it on to the General Collection shelves.
The original staples were removed and it has been sewn into a book board and buckram-lined casing that will keep it safe and secure for decades to come. The metal staples have a tendency to rust while the thread is more likely to hold up over time. The buckram provides a sturdy structure that also helps prevent damage.
A journey of 50 years brought it to us here at the Library of Congress, and it will spend America’s 250th birthday celebration on the shelves of America’s library. Looking forward to that celebration, you will most likely find the information in this pamphlet now on a website.
Pamphlets like this may be seeing their end due to the internet and various other digital systems. It takes time, but those there are untold numbers of other books and pamphlets out there right now, and some that don’t yet exist, that may someday grace the marble halls of the Library of Congress. This piece took almost 50 years to get to us and join the collection. When Library of Congress staff prepare for America’s Tricentennial in 2076, will they have any items from 2025 coming across their desks? It’s possible, but we can take heart in knowing a trip to the stacks will be able to find this simple pamphlet as its story lives on.