Contents Notes |
Exhibition guide for an ongoing exhibit that opened on April 11, 2008 at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., featuring a reconstruction of Thomas Jefferson's library organized according to his original thematic and taxonomic system. "Jefferson followed a modified verson of the organization of knowledge created by British philosopher Francis Bacon (1561-1626). The books were divided into categories of 'Memory,' 'Reason,' and 'Imagination' -- which Jefferson interpreted as 'History,' 'Philosophy,' and 'Fine Arts' -- and further divided into forty-four 'chapters.' Included in this re-creation are 2,000 volumes from the original Jefferson Collection. An additional 3,000 or so volumes -- editions that match those lost in the fire that struck the Capitol in 1851 -- come from other collections in the Library of Congress. Other missing works have been acquired through gifts [and purchases]."--p. [5]. Thomas Jefferson's library -- Jefferson the collector -- The reconstruction of Jefferson's library -- The books. |