British Prime Minister Winston Churchill onboard the H.M.S. Prince of Wales during a trip to Newfoundland in August 1941. - Prints and Photographs Division
In addition to making many of its extensive resources available on its Web site, the Library shared its treasures with hundreds of thousands of national and international audiences through tours, onsite and traveling exhibitions, major publications and special events and symposia, many of which were broadcast and later archived on the Library's Web site.
Exhibitions. Several of the Library's major exhibitions in 2004 commemorated historic events. These included "‘With an Even Hand': Brown v. Board at Fifty," which marked the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision to end school segregation, and "From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life in America," which commemorated the first Jewish settlement in New Amsterdam (New York City) in 1654 and the subsequent assimilation of American Jewry over a period of more than four centuries. A major Library exhibition titled "Churchill and the Great Republic" emphasized Sir Winston Churchill's lifelong connection to the United States and the pivotal role he played in shaping the events of World War II. An exhibition titled "Humor's Edge," featuring 60 original drawing by Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Ann Telnaes, showcased her pointed commentary on national and international issues.
Left, Nettie Hunt, sitting on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court building, explains the significance of the court's May 17, 1954, desegregation ruling to her daughter, Nikie. (UPI Tele/Files, New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Collection, Prints and Photographs Division) Right, cartoonist Ann Telnaes and husband David Lloyd attend the opening of her exhibition titled "Humor's Edge." - Rodney Bailey
In keeping with conservation and preservation standards, several rotational changes were made in the continuing "American Treasures of the Library of Congress" exhibition. These included an assemblage of materials and oral histories drawn from the Veterans History Project titled "From the Home Front to the Front Lines," and "‘I Do Solemnly Swear...': Inaugural Materials from the Collections of the Library of Congress," which featured some 50 items from the inaugurations of 18 presidents.
Publications. The Publishing Office produced more than 30 books, calendars and other products describing the Library's collections in 2004, many in cooperation with trade publishers. Several publications accompanied Library exhibitions with the same titles. These included "Humor's Edge: Cartoons by Ann Telnaes" (with Pomegranate Communications), "From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life in America" (with George Braziller Inc.), and "A Heavenly Craft: The Woodcut in Early Printed Books" (with George Braziller Inc.).
"Bound for Glory: America in Color 1939-43" offers a rare color portrait of America in the pre-war era.
In collaboration with National Geographic Books, the Library published "Voices of War: Stories of Service from the Home Front and the Front Lines." Released on Veterans Day, the book features the personal accounts of more than 70 veterans and civilians—from World War I to the Persian Gulf War—gathered by the Library's Veterans History Project.
Published in association with Harry N. Abrams, "Bound for Glory: America in Color, 1939-1943" is the first book to feature the color photography work of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Collection.
Published in association with Black Dog & Leventhal, "First Daughters: Letters Between U.S. Presidents and Their Daughters" chronicles the triumphs, hopes, tragedies and daily lives of 21 presidents and their daughters, as recorded in their private correspondence. The assemblage is drawn from the Library's collection of 23 American presidents as well as other repositories.
At year's end the Library, in cooperation with Bernan press, published the "Encyclopedia of the Library of Congress: For Congress, the Nation & the World," an authoritative, one-volume reference work describing the historical development of the collections, functions and services of the world's largest library and research institution, from its origin in 1800 through late 2004.
Literary Events. A variety of literary events—most notably the 2004 National Book Festival—concerts and symposia were held at the Library throughout the year, many of which were cybercast on the Library's Web site.
The Library organized and sponsored the 2004 National Book Festival, which was held on Oct. 9 on the National Mall. Hosted once again by Laura Bush, the event drew the largest crowd yet, an estimated 85,000.
Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry Ted Kooser- University of Nebraska – Lincoln Photography
The event, which was free and open to the public, featured more than 70 award-winning authors, illustrators, poets and storytellers, including children's book authors Kate DiCamillo (2004 Newbery Medial winner), Sonia Manzano (Sesame Street's "Maria") and E. L. Konigsburg; illustrators Marc Brown and David Shannon; historians Douglas Brinkley and Nathaniel Philbrick; journalists Cokie Roberts and Juan Williams; mystery writers Clive Cussler, Sandra Brown and Stephen Hunter; novelists Joyce Carol Oates, Anna Quindlen and Barbara Taylor Bradford; Poet Laureate Ted Kooser; chef Patrick O'Connell; and home improvement experts Tom Silva and Kevin O'Connor of the PBS home renovation series "This Old House." A new Science Fiction & Fantasy pavilion featured futurist Frederick Pohl and other masters of the genre such as Ben Bova and Catherine Asaro. Sports legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar came to the festival to promote literacy (through the National Basketball Association's "Read to Achieve" program) and to discuss his new book "Brothers in Arms: The Epic Story of the 761st Tank Battalion, WWII's Forgotten Heroes." In addition to author readings and book discussions, the festival featured book sales and signings and appearances by children's storybook characters.
Sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, the Books & Beyond lecture series centered on the importance of books and readings. In 2004 the series featured several new books about presidents, including "Dark Horse: The Surprise Election and Political Murder of President James. A. Garfield" by Kenneth Ackerman; "Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life," by Kathleen Dalton; and "First Daughters: Letters Between U.S. Presidents and Their Daughters" by Gerald W. Gawalt of the Library's Manuscript Division and his daughter Ann G. Gawalt.
In August Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced the 2004-2005 appointment of Ted Kooser as the Library's 13th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. Kooser opened the Library's fall literary season on October 7 with a reading of his poems.
Concerts. The Library's 2003-2004 concert season featured many classical performances in the Coolidge Auditorium by ensembles such as the Juilliard String Quartet, the Beaux Arts Trio, the Mendelssohn String Quartet and the Kennedy Center Chamber Players. Robert Mann, the founder of the Juilliard String Quartet, was honored in a concert featuring the winners of the Walter W. Naumburg International Competitions in Chamber Music—the Biava String Quartet, violinist Frank Huang and pianist Gilles.
Sponsored by the American Folklife Center, the outdoor concert series titled "Homegrown: The Music of America" continued with performances by country musicians Norman and Nancy Blake; the Paschall Brothers; the Oinkari Basque Dancers from Boise, Idaho; the Phuong Nguyen Ensemble; and a performance of North American Indian Kathak music and dance.
In April country singer, songwriter and musician Dolly Parton performed for the Library's Madison Council members and invited guests and was presented with the Library's "Living Legend" award by Librarian of Congress James Billington.
Left, country singer and songwiter Dolly Parton performs at the Library of Congress. (Photo by John Harrington) Right, former Secretary of State George Shultz delivered the third annual Henry Kissinger Lecture.
Lectures and symposia. During the year the Library sponsored a number of lectures and symposia in conjunction with its major exhibitions. These included "Churchill and Three Presidents" (Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower); and a series of programs to commemorate the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board decision and celebrate 350 years of Jewish life in America.
George P. Shultz , secretary of state for eight years under President Ronald Reagan, delivered the third annual Henry A. Kissinger Lecture on "A Changed World." Chosen annually by the Librarian of Congress, the Kissinger Lecturer is an individual who has achieved distinction in the field of foreign affairs.
The second debate in the series of Holmes Debates was held in June. The series, which is sponsored jointly by the Law Library, the Burton Foundation for Legal Achievement and the law firm of Shook, Hardy & Bacon, explores contemporary legal issues. Moderated by former Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen, the debate focused on balancing the need for law enforcement in the wake of increased national security and the toll that may take on traditional American civil liberties.
