Timeline: 1800-1831
1800
Act of April 24 appropriates $5,000 to establish Library of Congress
1801
First books and maps of Library placed in office of Secretary of Senate
1802
Act of January 26 provides for placement of Library in Capitol and appointment of First Librarian of Congress, John J. Beckley
1805
Act of January 2 provides that 300 copies of laws of United States and journals of Congress shall be placed in Library
1812
Justices of Supreme Court authorized to use Library
1814
British burn U.S. Capitol, destroying Library, including 174 law titles; Thomas Jefferson offers to sell personal library, including 475 law titles, to replace destroyed collection
1815
Act of January 30 approves purchase of Jefferson’s library
1816
Senator Robert Goodloe Harper calls for separate law library
Last Updated: 04/04/2011
