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LOT #42171 |
Starting Bid: $1,000
Grover Cleveland Autograph Letter Signed...
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Description
Grover Cleveland "anxious to have the most perfect building possible" in the Library of Congress
Grover Cleveland Autograph Letter Signed ("Grover
Cleveland"). Two pages of a bifolium on "Executive
Mansion" stationery, 5 x 8 inches; Washington; January 13,
1886.A significant presidential letter written to Senator Daniel W. Voorhees of Indiana, one of the principal Senate advocates for a new Library of Congress building, as Congress actively considered authorizing its construction, today known as the Jefferson Building. Cleveland emphasizes the importance of thoughtful design and long term utility while forwarding a proposed architectural plan, capturing the Executive's engagement at a pivotal moment in the Library's history. In full:
"Dear Senator,
A gentleman very much interested in the proper care and accommodation of the Congressional Library has submitted to me the enclosed plan of a building for that purpose. It seems to me that it is well worthy of attention when those important things are under consideration to wit: light, air and the possible necessity of future exterior enlargement.
When we build we all I am sure are anxious to have the most perfect building possible.
Yours truly,
Grover Cleveland."
The history of the Library of Congress leading to this moment reflects decades of growth, vulnerability, and ambition. Established in 1800 and initially housed in modest quarters within the Capitol, the Library endured repeated relocations and, most notably, the devastating fire of 1851, which destroyed a majority of its holdings. Though subsequently rebuilt in a fireproof iron room completed in 1853, the expanding scope of the nation's collections soon rendered these accommodations insufficient.
By the 1870s, Librarian of Congress Ainsworth Rand Spofford, alongside key congressional allies including Senator Daniel W. Voorhees of Indiana and Senator Justin S. Morrill of Vermont, began advocating for a separate, purpose built structure. By 1886, plans and proposals were actively under review, with legislators and administrators debating architectural priorities and national symbolism. Cleveland's letter, written just as the Senate prepared to take up the measure, demonstrates his personal interest in ensuring that the building would meet the highest standards of design, particularly with regard to light, ventilation, and future expansion.
The Senate took up the bill the day after this letter was received, and on April 15, 1886, Congress approved "An act authorizing the construction of a building for the accommodation of the Congressional Library." When completed and opened to the public on November 1, 1897, the resulting Jefferson Building stood as a monumental achievement, its gilded dome and richly ornamented interior reflecting the nation's cultural aspirations, and its scale and fireproof construction setting a new standard for library design worldwide.
An evocative and historically important letter linking President Cleveland directly to the creation of one of America's most celebrated cultural institutions.
Condition: Very good; expected folds, light toning, and adhesive tape residue along bottom edge.
Auction Info
2026 June 19 The John H. Freund Americana Collection Signature® Auction #6331 (go to Auction Home page)
Proxy Bidding Ends
June
19th
Friday
10:50 am CT
Auction Dates
June
19th
Friday
Proxy Bidding Time Remaining
18 Days
22h 46m 4s
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Signature® Floor Session (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 42001-42298) - 11:00 AM Central Time, Friday, June 19, 2026.
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Heritage Auctions - Dallas
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Dallas, TX 75261
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