July 28, 2009 Junior Fellows Summer Interns to Display Treasures from the Library of Congress

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C.
First floor, Room LJ 119

WHO: Junior Fellows Summer Interns and Library curators will present a display of rare and unique items from the Library’s unparalleled collections. This private event is open only to members of Congress and their staffs, Library staff and the press.

WHAT: More than 100 items from 27 unique collections selected by the fellows to reflect their special projects and discoveries will be on display. Featuring examples of both American and international knowledge and creativity, the display will include:

Emblem book created for Peter the Great, 1705

Kammavācā (Buddhist monastic code of discipline), written in Pali in Burmese tamarind-seed script on lacquered cloth leaves, circa 19th century

“The Latest War Map of Europe” comically portraying the countries of Europe from a French perspective, 1870

First edition of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s “Biesy” (“The Possessed”), printed in St. Petersburg, Russia, 1873

Pop-up model for Farman No. 1 biplane, 1907

Turn-of-the-century print advertisements, e.g., an “After Shaving” ad for the A.S. Hinds Company’s Honey and Almond Cream skin lotion, 1924

George Gershwin’s Song-Book (piano arrangements of 18 songs published in 1932) with a hand-written inscription to his “favorite director,” Rouben Mamoulian

Now in its fifth year, the Junior Fellows Summer Internship program is made possible through the generosity of the late Mrs. Jefferson Patterson and the James Madison Council, a private-sector advisory group.

Forty-seven students attending colleges throughout the United States and the United Kingdom participated in the 10-week program at the Library of Congress. Working with curators and staff in 18 Library divisions and offices, the fellows focused on increasing access to the Library’s collections for scholars and researchers. They researched, inventoried, cataloged and prepared finding aids for a wide array of items in various formats.

Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution. The Library seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs and exhibitions. Many of the Library’s rich resources can be accessed through its website at www.loc.gov and via interactive exhibitions on a new, personalized website at myLOC.gov.