Books, Maps, and Politics: A Cultural History of the Library of Congress, 1783-1861

Appendix

217 APPENDIX table 1. Selected Subject Holdings in the 1812 Library of Congress and Six Contemporary Social Libraries, by Number of Titles and Percentage of Catalog history1 law2 geography3 politics and economics4 literature5 theology6 # % # % # % # % # % # % Library of Congress, 1812 248 26.4 170 18.1 159 16.9 96 10.2 43 4.6 11 1.2 Burlington, 1807 204 19.3 46 4.4 101 9.6 129 12.2 191 18.0 Baltimore, 1809 625 16.9 87 2.3 334 9.0 300 8.1 643 17.4 316 8.5 Charleston, 1811 411 13.8 176 5.9 279 9.3 585 19.6 247 8.3 New York, 1813 688 15.0 374 8.1 371 8.1 828 18.0 610 13.3 Alexandria, 1815 75 7.5 326 32.7 103 10.3 Hartford, 1818 14 1.2 191 16.6 255 22.2 218 appendix 1 Each library had a unique classification scheme. To follow is a list of the subject classifications at each library that were included in the table under “History.” Multiple classifications corresponding to the subject of history are separated by semicolons. Library of Congress: Civil history, including chronology, biography, antiquities. Burlington: Biography (79); history (125). Baltimore: Antiquities, chronology and mythology (77); biography (197); history (351). Charleston: Biography and history, ancient and modern. New York: Civil and military history, antiquities, mythology, chronology, biography and memoirs. Alexandria: One classification encompasses civil history, voyages and travels, geography , antiquities, and biography (320 titles). No attempt has been made to separate out the history books from the rest of the classification, which explains the absence of figures in this column. Hartford: As in Alexandria, history, voyages, and travels were classified together in one large category (245 titles) and therefore have been omitted from the table. The biography category has an additional 120 titles. 2 Law books were classified in the different libraries as follows: Library of Congress: Law. Burlington: Law. Baltimore: Law. Charleston: Law and politics. These books are listed under law in the table, but obviously the proportion of law books is actually smaller than the figure in the table indicates. New York: No classification corresponds exactly to law books. The books in the classification covering politics, legislation, political economy, commerce, and revenue are included in the table under “Politics.” Alexandria: Law, politics, political economy, agriculture, commerce. Because law is the principal classifier, these books are listed under “Law” in the table. The table therefore overestimates to some extent the proportion of law books. Hartford: Law. 3 Geography books were classified in the different libraries as follows: Library of Congress: Geography and topography, voyages and travels. Burlington: Geography (12); topography (16); voyages and travels (73). Baltimore: Geography (58); voyages and travels (276). Charleston: Voyages and travels. New York: Geography, topography, voyages, and travels. Alexandria: Geography and history books were classified together at this library; therefore, figures have been omitted entirely from the table. Hartford: Figures omitted because classification makes it impossible to separate the geography books from the history books. 4 Books on politics were classified in the various libraries as follows: Library of Congress: General and local politics, political economy (70); trade and commerce (26). Burlington: No classification at this library corresponds to the subjects of politics and economics. Baltimore: Political (230); political economy (70). Charleston: Books in the classification labeled “Law and Politics” are included in the table under “Law.” New York: Politics, legislation, political economy, commerce, revenue. appendix 219 Alexandria: Books in the classification labeled “Law, Politics, Political Economy, Agriculture , Commerce” are included in the table under “Law.” Hartford: No classification in this library corresponds to the subjects of politics and economics. 5 Works of literature were classified in each library as follows: Library of Congress: Poetry, drama, works of fiction, wit. Burlington: Literature, belles lettres, dictionaries, grammars (94); novels (35). Baltimore: Belles lettres and criticism (139); novels (336); poetry and the drama (307). Charleston: Poetry and plays (202); novels and romances (383). New York: Poetry and drama (279); fictitious writings, novels, romancesandfables(67); novels (482). Alexandria: Poetry, the drama, belles lettres, and criticism (165); novels and romances (161). Hartford: Novels and romances (124); poetry (67). 6 Books on theology were classified in the various libraries as follows: Library of Congress: Sacred history (1); ecclesiastical history...