April 24, 1704, the 1st continuously published newspaper in America – The Boston News-Letter was published in Boston by John Campbell.
Campbell (1653-1728), born in Scotland, emigrated to Boston as a young man where he first opened a book store; a few years later, the founding publisher and editor of the Boston News-Letter.
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April 24, 1800, the Library of Congress was established when President John Adams approved legislation to appropriate $5,000 to purchase “such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress”.
The first books arrived from London in 1801 and were stored in the U.S. Capitol, the library’s first home. The first library catalog, dated April 1802, listed 964 volumes and nine maps.
Twelve years later, the British army invaded the city of Washington and burned the Capitol, including the then 3,000-volume Library of Congress.
