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- "Free People Free Libraries" Button, Used by Velma Turman Moody, 1976 - "Free People, Free Libraries" was the slogan for National Library Week in 1976. The slogan -- appropriate for the country's bicentennial -- celebrated the contributions libraries have made to a democratic society and the growth of America. Staff at many public libraries created displays, provided community programs, and encouraged patrons to come in and check out a book.
- 1976
- Collections - Artifact
"Free People Free Libraries" Button, Used by Velma Turman Moody, 1976
"Free People, Free Libraries" was the slogan for National Library Week in 1976. The slogan -- appropriate for the country's bicentennial -- celebrated the contributions libraries have made to a democratic society and the growth of America. Staff at many public libraries created displays, provided community programs, and encouraged patrons to come in and check out a book.
- Interior of the Library of Congress, 1921-1922 - United States lawmakers established the Library of Congress in 1800. For nearly 100 years, the growing library occupied limited space in the U.S. Capitol. Congress eventually authorized the construction of a permanent building in 1886, and the structure opened in 1897. Since its founding, the Library of Congress has become one of the world's largest repositories of recorded knowledge.
- 1921-1922
- Collections - Artifact
Interior of the Library of Congress, 1921-1922
United States lawmakers established the Library of Congress in 1800. For nearly 100 years, the growing library occupied limited space in the U.S. Capitol. Congress eventually authorized the construction of a permanent building in 1886, and the structure opened in 1897. Since its founding, the Library of Congress has become one of the world's largest repositories of recorded knowledge.
- "Researching the Commonplace," November 1993 -
- November 16, 1993
- Collections - Artifact
"Researching the Commonplace," November 1993
- Magnavox Storefront, circa 1920 -
- circa 1920
- Collections - Artifact
Magnavox Storefront, circa 1920
- Postcard, "Library of Congress and Annex, Washington, D.C.," circa 1940 - United States lawmakers established the Library of Congress in 1800. For nearly 100 years, the growing library occupied limited space in the U.S. Capitol. Congress eventually authorized the construction of a permanent building in 1886, and the structure opened in 1897. Since its founding, the Library of Congress has become one of the world's largest repositories of recorded knowledge.
- circa 1940
- Collections - Artifact
Postcard, "Library of Congress and Annex, Washington, D.C.," circa 1940
United States lawmakers established the Library of Congress in 1800. For nearly 100 years, the growing library occupied limited space in the U.S. Capitol. Congress eventually authorized the construction of a permanent building in 1886, and the structure opened in 1897. Since its founding, the Library of Congress has become one of the world's largest repositories of recorded knowledge.
- Postcard, "The Free Library of Philadelphia, Logan Branch, Wagner Avenue and Old York Road," circa 1910 - Until the 20th century, most book collections were not available to everyday Americans. They were either privately owned, accessible only by paid subscription, or stored away haphazardly. In some communities, wealthy citizens funded libraries. Philadelphia philanthropist George Seckel Pepper bequeathed $225,000 to establish The Free Library of Philadelphia in 1889. Over time, the Free Library system grew to include many neighborhood branches.
- circa 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Postcard, "The Free Library of Philadelphia, Logan Branch, Wagner Avenue and Old York Road," circa 1910
Until the 20th century, most book collections were not available to everyday Americans. They were either privately owned, accessible only by paid subscription, or stored away haphazardly. In some communities, wealthy citizens funded libraries. Philadelphia philanthropist George Seckel Pepper bequeathed $225,000 to establish The Free Library of Philadelphia in 1889. Over time, the Free Library system grew to include many neighborhood branches.
- Bookplate for the Philip Sidney Patton Library for Sick Children, Ryerson Public Library, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1903-1904 - Bookplates show ownership, but they can also tell us more. Often pasted on the inside of a book's front cover or endpaper, these printed labels contain the owner's name and sometimes the words "ex-libris" (Latin for "from the library of"). Coats of arms, crests, other decorative images, poems, mottoes, and even font type provide insight into the beliefs, passions, and interests of the book's owner.
- 1903-1904
- Collections - Artifact
Bookplate for the Philip Sidney Patton Library for Sick Children, Ryerson Public Library, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1903-1904
Bookplates show ownership, but they can also tell us more. Often pasted on the inside of a book's front cover or endpaper, these printed labels contain the owner's name and sometimes the words "ex-libris" (Latin for "from the library of"). Coats of arms, crests, other decorative images, poems, mottoes, and even font type provide insight into the beliefs, passions, and interests of the book's owner.
- Postcard, "Public Library, Detroit, Mich.," circa 1905 - Until the 20th century, most book collections were not available to everyday Americans. They were either privately owned, accessible only by paid subscription, or stored away haphazardly. For communities with dedicated public library buildings (often among the most imposing structures in town), they were sources of civic pride. Built to house the Detroit, Michigan, library, this structure opened in 1877.
- circa 1905
- Collections - Artifact
Postcard, "Public Library, Detroit, Mich.," circa 1905
Until the 20th century, most book collections were not available to everyday Americans. They were either privately owned, accessible only by paid subscription, or stored away haphazardly. For communities with dedicated public library buildings (often among the most imposing structures in town), they were sources of civic pride. Built to house the Detroit, Michigan, library, this structure opened in 1877.
- Library in the Ford Motor Company Engineering Laboratory, Dearborn, Michigan, April 1939 -
- April 03, 1939
- Collections - Artifact
Library in the Ford Motor Company Engineering Laboratory, Dearborn, Michigan, April 1939
- Vase, "Carnegie Library, Syracuse, NY," 1905-1920 - Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) amassed an immense fortune from railroads, oil, and steel. He devoted his later years to philanthropy. Between 1886 and 1919, Carnegie donated more than $40 million to build 1,679 new libraries in communities of all sizes across America. The library building depicted on this vase was built in 1905 in Syracuse, New York, with a $200,000 Carnegie grant.
- 1905-1920
- Collections - Artifact
Vase, "Carnegie Library, Syracuse, NY," 1905-1920
Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) amassed an immense fortune from railroads, oil, and steel. He devoted his later years to philanthropy. Between 1886 and 1919, Carnegie donated more than $40 million to build 1,679 new libraries in communities of all sizes across America. The library building depicted on this vase was built in 1905 in Syracuse, New York, with a $200,000 Carnegie grant.