Norton Finds D.C. Seal in Members of Congress Room and Sees Precedent for a D.C. Seal in Library of Congress Main Reading Room

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) yesterday led an inspection of the Library of Congress Main Reading Room in the Thomas Jefferson Building, after being informed that the District of Columbia seal was not included among the state seals on the stained-glass windows in the iconic Main Reading Room. Norton was accompanied by Luis Landau, a D.C. resident and former docent at the Library of Congress, who alerted Norton's office earlier this month that the seals of the states, including the states that were territories at the time the building was constructed, are depicted, except for the District. All the state seals are currently displayed except for Alaska and Hawaii, which were neither states nor territories at the time of the construction of the building, but their seals are expected to be added as part of a restoration project on the stained-glassed windows.

During the tour, Norton also learned that the Members of Congress room, also in the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress, but not open to the public, has a painted depiction of the D.C. seal, along with states, on its ceiling.

"We appreciate that the D.C. seal appears on the Members of Congress Room ceiling with the seals of the states," said Norton. "That precedent reinforces our request to be represented in the Main Reading Room, which is open to the public. We can see no reason why the D.C. seal cannot be added with the planned restoration of the stained-glass. We are insisting that the seal of the District of Columbia, whose residents pay full taxes and have served in all the nation's wars, like the residents of the 50 states, be added along with the Alaska and Hawaii seals during the restoration."

Last week, Norton wrote the Chair and Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on the Library and the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), calling on them to take the necessary action to depict the seal of the District of Columbia on the stained-glass windows in the Main Reading Room. A contract has been awarded for a full restoration design of the stained-glass, which includes designs for the Alaska and Hawaii state seals, but the project will likely be spread over the next several years. Fortunately, the AOC has the authority to expand the contract to include the D.C. seal.

Published: July 3, 2013