Library of Congress archives
The official profile of the world's largest library: old illustrations, photographs and albums from its collections.
What it is
The official Pinterest profile of the Library of Congress, which describes itself as the largest library in the world, with millions of books, photographs, maps and manuscripts. On Pinterest it runs 66 boards and around 1,800 pins. It isn't a random feed so much as a set of small exhibitions: many boards focus on a single book, album or collection from the Library's holdings.
Why we picked it
The Library's digital collections are vast, and finding something beautiful there without a precise search is hard. On Pinterest, the staff have done the digging. Academia Italica Illustrations shows anatomy and drawing lessons from a rare "publick school of drawing" book printed in London in 1666. Roses by Redouté collects plates from Pierre-Joseph Redouté's Les Roses (1817–1824), painted from the Empress Josephine's rose garden. There are Audubon's birds, William Blake's illustrations, A Child's Garden of Verses and Poe's The Raven.
The other half of the profile is America in pictures: African American portraits from 1820 to 1920, the Emily Howland photo album, The Brownies' Book magazine of 1920–1921, historic newspapers, vintage travel posters and Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture. There are bookplates, classic children's books and coloring books drawn from the collections, too. Pins link to the Library's online catalogue, where you can see the full source.
Where to start
- Roses by Redouté — a landmark of botanical illustration and a great reference for watercolour and prints.
- Academia Italica Illustrations — 17th-century drawing and anatomy lessons for artists.
- Bookplates (aka Ex Libris) — for graphic designers and lettering fans.
- Vintage Travel Posters — ready-made material for a retro moodboard.
- Teaching with the Library of Congress — resources for teachers building lessons around primary sources.
Who it's for
History and literature teachers, illustrators, designers who need images from old books, and anyone who loves rare editions and early photographs. Much of this material comes from the public domain, but check the rights for each item in the catalogue before reusing it.
Quick answers
Do I need a Pinterest account? No, the boards are viewable without logging in, though Pinterest may prompt you to sign up.
Can I reuse these images? The Library lists rights information on each item's catalogue page — check there, not on Pinterest.
Is the profile updated often? Not very — it's more a set of finished collections than a news feed, but the boards hold up well.
