This week I had the opportunity to visit the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. The massive library consists of three buildings: the Jefferson Building, the Adams Building, and the Madison Building. I took the Metro to the Capital South stop on the Blue Line. It was only about 2 blocks up from there. Parking, and even driving, looked completely impossible – the local streets seemed closed off, with police at every intersection. That looked like a permanent state of affairs to me, but I could be wrong.
I wanted to visit the stunning Jefferson Building, and then get a research card and look at a manuscript in the Madison Building. I had a backup plan if there was more time – a list of books I had found in the online card catalog, saved, emailed to myself, and printed. Books from the stacks at the Library of Congress must be requested; one cannot roam the stacks. The old Genealogy Room is now gone; users should request the materials from the Main Reading Room. This isn’t my favorite way of doing things, so I thought I would prefer to go for a manuscript.
The Jefferson Building
The Jefferson Building with its famous Main Reading Room is incredibly beautiful. I don’t know when I’ve been so overwhelmed by a building. It was inspiring, and deserved a longer visit. I hung by some of the tours, listening in. I’ll have to take one of those someday.
I walked through the Jefferson Building, visited the gift shop on my way out and purchased a sale book of old Massachusetts maps for $12, and then walked across the street to the more modern Madison Building.
The Reader’s Registration
I visited the Reader’s Registration office in the Madison Building (LM-140) to request my registration card. I had previously registered online for the card through the link on this page which was not really necessary but I hoped it would speed things up on site. The card was cute. It will be good for two years. Then, I went up to the sixth floor (yellow/red sections of the huge building) and found, with some difficulty, the cafeteria. I had lunch, and it was quite peaceful in there until right about 12, when it got very busy.

Some details of the Main Reading Room. I could have gained access once I had my research card, but didn’t have enough time.
The manuscript
I went to the Manuscripts Room on the first floor of the Madison Building. There were lockers, and very little could be brought in, but my tablet was ok, and they had wifi, which was helpful. I also brought my camera in to take pictures of the documents. I stored my other gear in the locker they gave me.
I had previously dropped them an email to inquire if the manuscript set I wanted had to be pre-ordered for remote retrieval. They said that it should be available without advance planning.
The manuscript I had selected from the online catalog was:
Rhode Island General Assembly records, 1653-1747
Creator Rhode Island. General Assembly.
Extent 24 items ; 6 containers ; 2 linear feet
Summary Minutes, acts, and proceedings of Rhode Island’s colonial legislature sitting in various towns.
Finding Aid: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms009023
LC Online Catalog record: http://lccn.loc.gov/mm83085753
Since the files had not been microfilmed, they let me use the originals. I was mystified about the origins and provenance of the old, handwritten sets of Rhode Island General Assembly records. The earliest records were in three bound and restored volumes; the later three were archival folders with loose papers or loosely sewn booklets. As I read through them I realized where they came from. Early in Rhode Island history, there was no state capital exactly; the state government often met at Newport but also floated from place to place regularly. As the minutes of government business were written, it would be ordered that extra copies be made and filed with the main towns – usually at least Providence, Portsmouth, Newport and Warwick. Many of the pages I saw in this archive were marked “Portsmouth.”

A sample page of the manuscript of Rhode Island General Assembly records. The writing is fairly uniform within each section, and VERY small, to save paper, I presume.
I focused on finding three items relating to my 8x-great grandfather John McAndrews / Andrews:
- His freeman status, 1671
- His part in the Pettaquamscutt Purchase, mentioned in the General Assembly 1671
- A General Assembly act to lessen a criminal sentence he received, in 1679.
Sadly, I tried hard but didn’t find the 1671 records, and I think this is because the version I was reading was incomplete. I did find the 1679 record. What astonished me was that I have seen mentions of this item several times, and seen it in a compiled genealogy at the Rhode Island Historical Society. I NEVER knew what the crime was, but I do now:
[Volume 2, unpaginated: At a Genl Assembly held for the Collony at Newport the 29th of October 1679] Voted Upon the petition of John Mackandrews, alias Andrews to this Genl Assembly that they would be pleased to remit the sentence of the Genl Court of Tryalls against him, the Reasons contained in the said petition, Being the Great infirmity of his Body the Great infirmity of his Body [<–good sign that this was a copy] and the smallness of his Estate which said Reasons being to us made apparent, and alsoe there being no Evidence against him but the womans accusation and his incapassety to maintain his family, Upon the consideration thereof this Assembly doe remitt, and take off the Corporal punishment due to him the said John Mackandrew by the law of this Collony, and alsoe five pounds of the pecunery [muled?] or fine due by the law aforesaid: And alsoe this Assembly doe hereby further order that the Recorder shall grant forth Execution for the Remainder of the fine due by the law, until the Genl Assembly give order for it : Hoping that this our Clemency and good will, will not in any Wise encourage him nor any others to offend against law in the like manner.
No complete or well researched work has been done on John Andrews and I would like to solve the mystery of his arrival in Rhode Island, possibly from Scotland, his whereabouts before his arrival in North Kingstown, and of his marriage(s) and children.
Records of the Colony of Rhode Island
Most of what I looked at should be contained in the printed books “The Records of the Colony of Rhode Island” but apparently I had missed some of the John Andrews items previously. I enjoyed perusing the 6 volumes/boxes, I was excited to find my item as it was originally written (or at least copied), and I am newly dedicated to using the Records of the Colony of Rhode Island. Any time I see a reference to an act by the government, I am going to check out the record myself and not rely on someone else’s summary.
I will have to save the list of books to be pulled from the stacks for another trip. But I enjoyed my visit to the library and I would love to go back.
The post you are reading is located at: http://atomic-temporary-25588508.wpcomstaging.com/2014/09/25/library-of-congress/
I haven’t been in the LOC since I was a girl. I lived outside DC and every field trip involved going to DC, especially the Smithsonian. Your photos remind me how beautiful the LOC is and how in awe I was the first time I went there.
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Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award. I really enjoy your blog and find it both helpful and interesting. Our shared interest in genealogy drew me to the blog, and I’ve learned a great deal from your research techniques and insights.
To accept this award, there are some rules you have to follow:
1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to that blog.
2. Share seven things about yourself.
3. Nominate 15 bloggers you admire (or as many as you can think of!).
4. Contact your bloggers to let them know that you’ve tagged them for the One Lovely Blog Award
Congratulations! I have posted my nominations at http://brotmanblog.wordpress.com/2014/09/27/one-lovely-blog-award-a-nice-start-to-the-new-year/
Amy
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That was incredibly kind of you, Amy, and while I tend not to post much blogging-oriented stuff I really want to thank you here, and let people see the link to your blog, which I definitely enjoy. Thank you so much for sharing this. – Diane
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Thanks!
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Hi Diane,
This is marvelous! I’d love to make a visit to the Library of Congress, just to experience it. Actually, I have a friend who works there – actually he is the son of a friend who just died at age 90. I think if I made a visit, he would take an hour or so to give me a tour. Still, I’d like to take advantage of the trip to do some research, as you did. I’ll have to determine what I might find there than would be of use to me. Obviously you had done a lot of work in preparation for your visit; I’d want to do that also.
That you add marvelous photos makes such a huge difference, and great benefit, to those who read your postings!!
All the best,
Myron
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[…] “A Visit to the Library of Congress” – One Rhode Island […]
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Hi, I loved your story and will be listing it on my Recommended Reads tomorrow on http://www.emptybranchesonthefamilytree.com. Linda
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Thank you for sharing the beautiful photos of the building. What fun to find those (almost) original records. And yes, as I remember from my two visits to D.C., you don’t want to drive in the center of the city!
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The Jefferson Building is probably my favorite building so far in Washington DC – both for looks and history. If you get the chance to take one of the tours, I highly recommend it. It’s quite informative (even though the top area looking down on the reading room is blocked off my plexiglass and they forbid picture taking … grr).
I can’t wait to find something at the LOC so I can follow your detailed directions!
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I just love reading about your ancestor searches. I have absolutely no one in my tree from Rhode Island or the general New England area but it fascinates me when I can see these wonderful old records. My people didn’t arrive here until after the Civil War and they all went directly to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Most came from Sweden, one had Scottish heritage and another from Cornwall. Sweden has old handwritten records dating back into the 1600s. Their churches were the official record keepers and although I don’t read Swedish I manage to find people in those old records. Sure helps to understand some of the ways they used the alphabet – I noticed the double “s” words in your handwritten items – can sure get tripped up by thinking there’s an “f” mixed in. LOL. I look forward to your next entry.
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Thanks to all the nice commenters today. John I did wonder if you had spent much time there, and apparently, yes. A fascinating place. Thank you all for visiting and leaving your thoughts here.
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Diane: This certainly brings back memories! When I was in law school at American U. (1978 – 81), we lived on Capitol Hill just a few blocks behind the LOC. I did almost all my studying in the LOC rather than the AU law school library and as a result I knew the LOC like the back of my hand. I spent soundless hours in the old genealogy room in the main (Jefferson) building, which was also the law library at the time — but I also frequently used a study table in one of the alcoves under the main rotunda where I could look down on the main reading room. The Madison building did not even exist at that time. Now my office at the Washington Navy Yard is just minutes from the LOC, but I have not been there in years.
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You have the most interesting information about your Rhode Island ancestors. Most of my research efforts have been directed to Southern roots but I learn from your efforts. Thanks.
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Yesterday I toured the Nathanael Greene homestead in Coventry RI and it was very interesting and informative. It’s funny you mentioned the anchor because it was explained to me that in the Forge in the back of their home they made anchors and sold them to the boats in Newport. There was even a small anchor still on the desk of Nathanael Greene.
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I’ve never been there, but your post makes me want to visit the next time I get to DC!
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