Thomas Jefferson’s library was the largest private library in America in its day. It has since grown into the largest library in the world: the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.
During his own lifetime Jefferson had three libraries:
1. The Shadwell Library (1757-1770), c. 300 volumes, ages 14 to 26
Kept at Shadwell, his mother’s estate, it began with the 40 volumes his father left him when he died. His father was a surveyor, so it was strong on maps. Jefferson added books he bought for his studies. When it was lost in a fire in 1770 it was worth £200 (800 crowns), so it probably had about 300 books.
2. The Monticello Library (1770-1815), 6,487 volumes, ages 26 to 72
His biggest and longest-lasting library. About 2,000 of the books he bought when he lived in France in the late 1780s as the American ambassador. It had books in 17 languages, three of which he could read easily (English, French and Latin). It was heavy on law, philosophy and history but it also had books on science, cooking, beekeeping, gardening, whist and how to make beer. It had plenty of maps and travel books – he was never able to travel as widely as he wanted to. It had every book about America he could get his hands on. And a ton of Cicero. This is the library he sold to Congress in 1815 for $23,950 (17,000 crowns): he was deep in debt and Congress’s library had been burned down by the British during the War of 1812.
Jefferson’s library was:
- twice the size of the old Library of Congress and far broader;
- 50% larger than Ben Franklin’s (who had 4,276 volumes at his death in 1790).
3. The Retirement Library (1815-1826), 1,600 volumes, ages 72 to 83
After the last wagon load of his books left for the capital, he wrote to Abigail Adams, “I cannot live without books.” And so despite his debts he bought hundreds more during his last years. You can see some at Monticello, some at the University of Virginia, but most were sold off after his death, along with his slaves, to settle his debts.
Keep in mind that Virginia in the 1700s was not big on books. It had like only two book shops. Most rich people preferred racing horses and playing cards.
The Library of Congress has continued Jefferson’s practice of getting books on all subjects and in many languages. Its practice of arranging books by subject also comes from him (an idea he got from Francis Bacon). As the Library grew, his books remained mixed in with all the others. Jefferson’s 6,487 books have grown to over 22 million.
On Christmas Eve 1851 a fire destroyed most of the Library of Congress. Two-thirds of Jefferson’s books were lost forever.
In 1998 the Library of Congress was given $1 million (187,000 crowns) by private donors to recreate Jefferson’s library. They still had a third of his books. For another third they had copies of the same editions that Jefferson once owned. For the remaining third they bought the right editions from rare book sellers in America and Europe. Only 300 books (5%) are still missing.
The recreated library is on public display at the Library of Congress.
See also:
Ahh.. Jefferson – one of America’s premier (yet DELUDED) pillars and cornerstones/originator of the “white racial frame” AND racism/white supremacy. He was also quite the hypocrite – as many white men are prone to be!
He reminds me of these lyrics:
“Gold coast slave ships bound for cotton fields….”
In other words: do you want some “Brown” with your “Sugar?”
LikeLike
What I get from this post is:
A fire destroyed the building (probably deliberately set), compensation of $1 million given by private donors to recreate the building/rebuild/refurbish.
LikeLike
Ok Jefferson was a racist like just about all whites at that time, but he did read books. I have some friends who do not read books and I must say, it shows. So even if my enemy reads books, I take note that he does so. Books are the real corner stone of our civilisation. Ok, I admit, some books, like Hitlers Mein kampf, could have been left out, but in general books are worth it. And yes, I read all the time all kinds of books, even the ones I hate. It is educational always.
LikeLike
His “I cannot live without books.” quote is included on a poster montage of quotes related to libraries that’s hanging on my wall at work (was laying around/needed “decor”). I didn’t know the LOC was morphed from his collection…:/
LikeLike
@bulanik: I think it was Subir Mehta or what the heck was the guys name, who conducted Wagner with the Jerusalem philharmonics in the then new theater of the city back in the 80’s. Anyways he said: “it is important to remember that even if Hitler liked this music and the nazis hijacked the composer, it does not mean his music can not be played by the jewish orchestra. For all we know, Hitler liked ice cream too.”
LikeLike
I wonder if he read those books before or after pumping Sally Hemmings? Perhaps they served as an aphrodisiac.
LikeLike
Bulanik,
“A deluded and hypocritical slave-owner can also crave the elevation and beauty of books and reading.”
I agree with you. Books can not hug you at night, kiss you or give you a cuddle. Neither can you have a conversation with a book.
Of course, I enjoy reading books and own vast numbers of books to the point where I have many books than bookshelf, but what good is all the education in the world if you are and will remain emotionally detached and cannot have conversations with real people.
I suppose a deluded slave-owner can only crave the enjoyment of books and of course porn, because they cannot DEAL with REAL realtionships.
I know ‘somebody’ is going to be upset when they read this….But, it’s true.
LikeLike
I meant to say *relationships.
LikeLike
“I wonder if he read those books before or after pumping Sally Hemmings? Perhaps they served as an aphrodisiac.”
I thought Brown Sugar was THE aphrodisiac ..
Courtesy of the historical lyrics/narrative of the America’s esteemed paragon of “ROCK” music – the Rolling “STONES.”
Sold in a market down in New Orleans
Scarred old slaver knows he’s doing alright
Hear him whip the women just around midnight
Brown sugar how come you taste so good?
As busy as he was it’s a wonder he had any time at all – to read.
LikeLike
I see…
LikeLike
I wonder ifhe retired to his library after raping Sally Hemmings.
I detest Thomas Jefferson. He was a psychopathic rapist. Nothing more.
LikeLike
True, but let’s not forget that women are prone to rape too. Especially those women who are white. I blame the process/INDOCTRINATION/conditioning that “WHITENESS” imposes on them for much of this horrific dysfunction. Just more evidence, in my opinion, of how whiteness is a spiritual/mental/emotional breakdown/malady/sickness.
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=39783
LikeLike
Western Catholic and Protestant religions are ripe with such blatant, perverse and hypocritical contradictions yet still religious devotees just don’t get it!
So is it any wonder that people who’ve been brought up and raise themselves in line with such dubious moral ethical standards, despite the volumes of literary works available to them, should display the characteristic actions of perverted schizophrenic psychopaths?
LikeLike
@Bulanik
Sometimes a person can do something so heinous that it overshadows everything else that they do. To hold a human in bondage, rape her for decades was his choice. And history must hold him accountable for this.
Hitler and his cohorts did some incredible things but no one says that we should ignore the genocide he perpetrated because of the developments he made. It’s only when it comes to atrocities committed against African Americans that people equivocate.
LikeLike
@ Bulanik
“In this context, I also omitted to mention that nuns were not exempt from the cruelties associated with the child abuse scandal here in Ireland.”
Speaking of scandals in Ireland, there’s a bit of a row there about what a particular Mayor recently said publicly about – black Africans. As usual, the comments under the article are revealing, suggesting that other predominantly white nations are no more post racial than America is – Library of Congress’ origin notwithstanding. 😉
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/irish-mayor-who-disowned-africans-quits-6267077.html
LikeLike
@Bulanik
My comment to you is a response to this by you;
“I don’t disagree, but I am not sure about nothing more.”
In my opinion, once someone rapes another human there is nothing more. That is the act that for all time they must be judged.
LikeLike
@Matari:
Maybe the mayor suffers from the Irishman’s curse, hence his crappy attitude!
LikeLike
@Kwamla
I hate to turn this into a religious discussion, but your statement demands rebuttal. It is human to think that every Christian represents the official teachings of Christ, but truth is, due to human weakness very few do. So, it is easy to get confused and associate the behavior of Christians with what is actually condoned by Christianity. The behavior that you find repulsive in Christians is PROSCRIBED by Christianity. No one becomes exempt from human frailty and concupiscence, hypocrisy will always be present, particularly if the creed is a tough one to follow. Judge it by its OFFICIAL doctrines. And for this, one would have to go to the Catholic Church not the myriad protestant denominations that have made it difficult for people to know what to believe, since each one teaches different things, and there is no infallible authority. The Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches give credence to Apostolic Succession, and their teachings can be taken with more certitude, although not the fullness of truth.
“The best argument against Christianity is Christians” -GK Chesterton
“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians” -Mahatma Gandhi
“You do not judge a religion by those that fail to practice it”
LikeLike