Objectionable Content Quotes
Jefferson had what was probably the largest library in America and as usual was in need of money. He offered to sell the library to Congress and this purchase was the beginning of the Library of Congress—now the greatest library of the world. Congress purchased 6,487 volumes for $23,950. There were a few members of the House who objected to the purchase. The first government financed library was also the first attempt at censorship. Voltaire was too liberal for the minority and Callendar was a Jefferson partisan. The “otherwise objectionable” referred to books where religion was questioned and sexual mores discussed—not terribly different from modern reasons for attempted censorship. The minority objections were noted and the overwhelming majority voted to begin the Library of Congress.
The sexism and classism in these few lines is a classic of the censorship literature.
