History

The Law Library of Congress was established in 1832 as a department of the Library of Congress. Today, the Law Library of Congress is not only the largest law collection in the world, with 2.9 million volumes, it is also an institution serving Congress and the public with unparalleled research and reference services, and extensive electronic services. This timeline highlights some of the milestones of this development.

• 2021

  Aslihan Bulut appointed Law Librarian of Congress
  Jane Sánchez, Law Librarian of Congress, passed away. Memorial Service (June 2, 2021). Memorial Tree Dedication, (November 4, 2021).

• 2020

  The Law Library of Congress debuted its Legal Research Institute, a series of pages that gather together the Law Library's educational offerings for foreign and domestic law, as well as recordings of past webinars.

• 2017

  Jane Sánchez was appointed Law Librarian of Congress.

• 2016

  Roberta Shaffer was appointed to serve a second term as Law Librarian of Congress.

• 2014

  The Law Library's Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor exhibition opened, featuring a 1215 copy of the Magna Carta from the Lincoln Cathedral.

• 2012

  David Mao was appointed Law Librarian of Congress.

• 2009

  Roberta Shaffer was appointed Law Librarian of Congress.

• 2007

  Law Library celebrates 175th anniversary; collection grows to 2.6 million items

• 1998

  Groundbreaking digitization project, “A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1873,” released on website

• 1996

  GLIN debuts on Library of Congress website; National Aeronautics and Space Administration provides satellite technology assistance to GLIN partner countries

• 1994

  Rubens Medina appointed Law Librarian of Congress

• 1993

  Law Library begins providing foreign legal research to Immigration and Naturalization Service

• 1991

  Global Legal Information Network (GLIN) established to share laws of member nations

• 1989

  World Law Bulletin launched to provide Congress overview of foreign law developments

• 1981

  Law Library moves into Madison Building

• 1973

  Law Librarian Carleton W. Kenyon establishes publication series to make research for Congress available to public

• 1967

  Library begins assigning Class KF call numbers to American law publications

• 1960s

  KF cataloging schedule for American law developed

• 1961

  Index to Latin American Legislation published

• 1950s

  Hispanic Law Division begins compiling Hispanic Law Index

• 1940s

  Foreign law divisions established

• 1941

  Law Library Reading Room opens in Jefferson Building

• 1935

  Supreme Court Building opens; official administrative ties between Law Library and Supreme Court end  

• 1932

  At Law Library’s centennial, American Bar Association forms Committee on the Facilities of the Law Library of Congress
  George Wickersham founds Friends of the Law Library

• 1924

  John T. Vance, scholar and diplomat, becomes Law Librarian, helps establish Law Library as foreign law research center

• 1921

  Directorship of LRS becomes separate position
  Law Library becomes responsible for Congressional requests for foreign law research, while LRS becomes responsible for American law and public policy Congressional requests

• 1917

  Main site of law collection established in Northeast Pavilion of Jefferson Building, while Law Library remains in Capitol

• 1914

  Legislative Reference Service (LRS), predecessor to Congressional Research Service, established under direction of Law Librarian

• 1911

  Dr. Edwin Montefiore Borchard, international law expert, appointed Law Librarian

• 1908

  Publication of “Index Analysis of the Federal Statutes,” by George Winfield Scott (Fifth Law Librarian) and Middleton Goldsmith Beaman (Sixth Law Librarian)

• 1907

  On 75th Anniversary, Law Library mounts exhibition with American Association of Law Libraries

• 1897

  Thomas Jefferson Building opens to house the Library of Congress; Law Library remains in Capitol Building

• 1888

  Act of July 11 provides that Law Library must be kept open whenever either chamber of Congress is in session

• 1884

  Senate grants Law Librarian floor privileges

• 1880

  House of Representatives grants Law Librarian floor privileges

• 1872

  Charles Henry Wharton Meehan dies; Charles W. Hoffman appointed as second Law Librarian of Congress

• 1870

  Act of July 8 centralizes all U.S. copyright registration and deposit activities at Library of Congress

• 1860

  Supreme Court moves to former Senate Chamber; Law Library moves to former Supreme Court Chamber

• 1851

  Second fire in Capitol destroys two-thirds of books of Library of Congress; law collection is unscathed

• 1848

  Following U.S.-Mexican War, library authorized to purchase all constitutions and laws of Mexico

• 1842

  Law Library moved to the Capitol Building’s ground floor across from the Supreme Court Chamber

• 1839

  First separate catalog of law books printed

• 1833

  Charles Henry Wharton Meehan appointed as “assistant at law,” becoming first Law Librarian of Congress

• 1832

  Act of July 14 creates separate “Law Department” of Library of Congress, establishing Law Library of Congress
  Law Library moves into separate room in Capitol Building adjacent to Main Library

• 1816

  Senator Robert Goodloe Harper calls for separate law library   

• 1815

  Act of January 30 approves purchase of Jefferson’s 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

• 1812

  Justices of Supreme Court authorized to use Library

• 1805

  Act of January 2 provides that 300 copies of laws of United States and journals of Congress shall be placed in Library

• 1802

  Act of January 26 provides for placement of Library in Capitol and appointment of First Librarian of Congress, John J. Beckley

• 1801

  First books and maps of Library placed in office of Secretary of Senate

• 1800

  Act of April 24 appropriates $5,000 to establish Library of Congress