Header: John James Beckley (August 4, 1757 – April 8, 1807) was an American politician who served as the first and fourth clerk of the United States House of Representatives and the first librarian of Congress.
1800 to 1899
Timeline
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1800
John Adams approves the act funding the relocation of the government to the District of Columbia. The law includes $5,000 for the purchase of books for a congressional library. A committee is appointed to oversee the purchase, produce a catalogue of acquisitions, and make rules and regulations for the operation of the library. 2 Stat. 55, s. 5.
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1802
John J. Beckley appointed first Librarian of Congress.
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1809
The House approves a resolution directing the House Clerk to deposit, at the end of each session, two sets of the House journals and of all printed reports and documents laid before congress. 19 AC 1375.
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1814
In August, British forces under Admiral Sir Alexander Cockburn burn public buildings in Washington, including the Capitol. Most of the library’s holdings are lost.
In September Thomas Jefferson offers to sell his personal library to the government to replace the materials lost in the Capitol fire.
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1815
Approval of bill to purchase the Jefferson library for $23,950. 3 Stat. 195
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1816
Approval of bill to open library’s collections to members of the diplomatic corps and the Attorney General. 3 Stat. 283
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1830
Approval of joint resolution allowing members of the cabinet, congressional officers and ex-presidents to access collections. 4 Stat. 429.
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1832
Bill drafted by Senators Grundy and Marcy to create and fund law department passed and signed (July 14); authorizes appropriation of $5,000 for acquisitions with an additional annual appropriation of $1,000 for acquisitions during the next five years; the justices of the Supreme Court are granted access and authorized to make rules on the use of the library. 4 Stat. 579.
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1833
Charles Henry Wharton Meehan is appointed the first “assistant in law,” and is placed in charge of the collection. He will serve in the position, which later gets the title “custodian of law,” until 1872. In addition to his professional life Meehan wrote a book on the card game of euchre.
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1837
Approval of appropriation of $5,000 for law books; the Chief Justice is to publish a catalog of the collection. 5 Stat. 163, 175.
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1842
Approval of joint resolution allowing for removal of law library from main library to room near the Supreme Court chambers on the ground floor. This will prove significant after the 1851 fire. 27 CG 3:255.
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1848
Joint Committee on the Library authorizes the purchase of constitutions and legal materials of Mexico. Beginning of the collection from Latin America. (Cole, p. 19)
Approval of law for exchange of documents with other countries. 9 Stat. 240. This will be repealed in 1851.
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1851
A fire in the Capitol building on Christmas Eve destroys many volumes in the collection of the Library of Congress; however, because of the Law Library’s location most of its collections escape damage. (Cole, pp. 21-23)
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1860
The Law Library is moved into the old Supreme Court chamber on the east side of the Capitol. (Cole. P. 26)
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1865
In the fall the Librarian sends letters to 8 governors of Southern states asking for copies of all laws, legislative journals and official reports (Cole, p. 30)
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1866
The Librarian also asks 10 governors of Northern states for copies of all laws, legislative journals and other reports (Cole, p. 30)
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1877
Approval of appropriation for the Library to index “resolves, ordinances and acts of the Continental Congress and the Congress of the Confederation. 19 Stat. 406.
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1882
The Joint Committee recommends purchasing the collection of records and briefs of the Supreme Court belonging to the late Senator Matthew H. Carpenter. This will be approved next year. (Cole, p. 42)
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1888
Approval of government appropriations. In the text is a requirement that the Law Library being open anytime one house of congress is in session. 25 Stat. 256, 262.
