Library of Congress Annex Doors, (sculpture).

Library of Congress Annex Doors, (sculpture).

Lawrie, Lee Oskar, 1877-1963, sculptor.

Donnelly, John, 1867-1947, carver.

Pierson & Wilson, architectural firm.

Flour City Ornamental Ironworks, founder.

Library of Congress Annex Doors, (sculpture).

Contributors to the Written Word Doors, (sculpture).

Digital Reference:

3 sets of doors. Each set of doors: approx. H. 12 ft.

(Center set of doors, below each figure:) HERMES/ITZAMA/ODIN/QUETZALCOATL/OGMA/SEQUOYAH (Left and right sets of doors, below each figure:) THOTH/TS'ANG CHIEH/NABU/BRAHMA/CADMUS/TAMURATH unsigned

Three sets of double doors installed at the west entrance to the building adorned with six relief figures. Three relief figures appear vertically down the length of each door. The six figures which appear on the center set of doors are figures who have made a contribution to the development of written communication. The figures are: Hermes, the Greek god who served as messenger; Odin, originator of the Viking alphabet and mythical god of war; Ogma, who performed the same alphabetical task for the Irish; Itzama, chief god of the Mayans; Quetzalcoatl, fair-haired god of the Aztecs; and Sequoyah, American Indian. The six figures which appear on the doors to the left and right of the center doors are figures who have contributed to the history of the written word in various cultures. The same six figures appear on both the left and right sets of doors. The figures are: Thoth, Egyptian god and conveyor of speech; Ts'ang Chieh, Chinese patron saint of pictographic letters; Nabu Sumero, Akkadian god; Brahma, supreme god of the east Indian Trinity; Cadmus of Greece, who planted the dragon teeth from which sprang armed men; and Tamurath, a cultural hero of Persian antiquity.

Occupation -- Communication Arts

Mythology -- Classical -- Hermes

Portrait male -- Sequoyah

Ethnic -- Indian -- Cherokee

Mythology -- Nordic -- Odin

Ethnic -- Irish

Mythology -- Other -- Mexican

Mythology -- Egyptian -- Thoth

Mythology -- Classical -- Cadmus

Outdoor Sculpture -- District of Columbia -- Washington

Administered by United States Capitol, Architect of the Capitol, Washington, District of Columbia

Located Library of Congress Annex, 2nd Street & Independence Avenue, S.E., Adams Building, West entrance, Washington, District of Columbia 20540

The image in the Goode publication is of the center set of doors. IAS image files contain overview shots of each door and two detail shots, one of Cadmus and one of Quetzalcoatl. At the east entrance to the Library of Congress Annex, the figures which appear on the west entrance doors are repeated only in reversed positions. (The west entrance center door figures appear on the left and right sets of doors at the east entrance. The west entrance left and right door figures appear on the center set of doors at the east entrance.)

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, pg. 78.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey, 1994.

Michael Richman, SAAM curatorial assistant, 1967-1969.

Goode, James M., "Washington Sculpture: A Cultural History of Outdoor Sculpture in the Nation's Capitol," Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008, no. 1.30.

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, A-29.

Goode, James M., "Washington Sculpture: A Cultural History of Outdoor Sculpture in the Nation's Capitol," Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008, no. 1.30.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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