Behind the Scenes at the Library of Congress
[illustration: from the Library of Congress’s rare books collection: The Book of Urizen by William Blake]
GW alumnus Malcolm O’Hagan (class of 1966) has kindly arranged for a small group of GW students to have a behind-the-scenes tour of the Library of Congress, and the chance to admire up close some of its most precious holdings.
The event will be overseen by a curator in the Rare Book Division of the Library, who will give a one-hour presentation on the evolution of the illustrated book, from early times up to Poe. The curator will bring out rare and interesting manuscripts for the students to examine — manuscripts to which the general public does not have access. The presentation will be done in a round table format, and will be combined with a highlights tour of the Library.
Most GW students never set foot in this amazing building. You have the chance not only to have a guided tour, but to see some treasures seldom glimpsed.
The tour has been scheduled for Friday March 27 at 10 AM, and includes lunch afterwards. We’ll rendezvous at the Library of Congress. Unfortunately, only a limited number of students can be included in this “Only at GW” experience. If you would like to be one of those who joins me, Mr. O’Hagan, and the Rare Books curator, please email chair@gwu.edu as soon as possible.
This Library of Congress field trip will be an outing that you will not soon forget!
