Gifts to the Library, Gifts to the Nation

The full measure of Thomas Jefferson shines forth in the sanctuary of his personal library. This remarkable library has been reconstructed through the generosity of members of the James Madison Council, a group of civic-minded philanthropists dedicated to advancing the mission of the Library of Congress.

In 1999, council members Jerry Jones — the owner, president and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys — and his wife, Gene, kicked off the Library’s bicentennial celebration with a $1 million gift. They were joined in support by several other council members.

At the time of this gift, then-Librarian of Congress James Billington observed that in the meditative space of Jefferson’s library, you feel as though you are communing with the spirit of the man himself. Jerry Jones noted that “all of the people of this country should help make the Library of Congress a truly vital and active treasure house of knowledge.”

Bolstered by the Jones’ gift, the Library embarked on a decades-long mission to rebuild the collection of 6,487 volumes Jefferson sold to Congress in 1815, of which more than 3,000 were lost in the 1851 fire in the U.S. Capitol. In 26 years, the fire-damaged collection has nearly been replicated with exact copies of the missing books. (See here.)

The Library is grateful to the Jones family for their long-standing support of the institution and for cultivating a lasting legacy of generosity. The impact of their involvement carries on through the membership of their daughter, Charlotte Jones, on the Madison Council.

The efforts to spotlight Jefferson’s personal library will continue. Under the leadership of Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, the Library is re-envisioning the visitor experience in the Jefferson Building. A cornerstone of this effort will be a first-ever orientation gallery centered around Jefferson’s library, cementing its place as one of the Library’s foundational and most significant holdings.