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Guide to the Papers of the Librarians of Congress, 1800-2015

John G. Stephenson and Ainsworth Rand Spofford: 1861-1897

Civil War and Reconstruction

President Abraham Lincoln appointed Republican Party loyalist John G. Stephenson Librarian of Congress in 1861. Stephenson hired Cincinnati bookseller and journalist, Ainsworth Rand Spofford, as his assistant librarian in September 1861 to manage the Library during his frequent absences. After Stephenson resigned, Lincoln appointed Spofford Librarian in 1864.

Congress agreed to acquire two major collections during Spofford's tenure, the John M. Toner library of rare books and medical texts and the Peter Force library of manuscripts and publications documenting early American history. Spofford also convinced the Joint Committee to designate the Library of Congress as the nation's Copyright Office. This made it possible for the Library to acquire any of the deposit copies of works submitted for Copyright at no cost.

Within ten years of his appointment, Spofford argued that Congress's library had become the nation's library and required a monumental building with adequate space for collections. Congress selected the architectural design of the new Library of Congress, now called the Jefferson Building, in 1873, but construction did not begin until 1889 and was finally completed in 1897.

Levin C. Handy, photographer. Construction of the Library of Congress, W.N.W., Washington, D.C. April 19, 1893. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

In 1870, the Library of Congress became nation's Copyright deposit library. Mailbags full of books, prints, musical scores, pamphlets, and other materials flooded the Library of Congress reading room in the U.S. Capitol. Librarian of Congress Ainsworth Spofford informed Congress in 1873 that a separate Library of Congress building was needed. Construction finally began in 1889 and the building now known as the Thomas Jefferson Building opened in 1897.

John G. Stephenson: 1861-1864

The sole item that documents the tenure of Librarian of Congress John G. Stephenson of Ohio, a political appointee and physician, is his certificate of appointment.

The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are included when available.

Ainsworth Rand Spofford: 1864-1897

Ainsworth Spofford's papers comprise 600 items, mostly correspondence, that primarily document his tenure as Librarian of Congress. There are some letters and journals dating to Spofford's work as a bookseller, publisher and journalist in Cincinnati. His letters from Washington, D.C. to his wife detail his work and decision to seek the position of Librarian of Congress. The collection includes letters and writings documenting his literary interests, friendships and social life in Washington, D.C.

The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are included when available.