Former Librarian of Congress James Billington, who played an instrumental role in modernizing the institution, has died at the age of 89.
“Our hearts are heavy as we learn of the passing of Dr. James Billington, the 13th Librarian of Congress,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said Wednesday in a statement. “Dr. Billington has left an indelible legacy on the institution he led passionately for 28 years.”
Remembering
13th Librarian of Congress James H. Billington
Dr. Billington led the Library for nearly 30 years, leaving an indelible legacy.https://t.co/2WvY8s0YKW pic.twitter.com/tMINBWe3Ej
— Library of Congress (@librarycongress) November 21, 2018
Billington’s family, including wife Marjorie, confirmed he died Tuesday due to complications from pneumonia, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.
Billington served as librarian of Congress from 1987 to 2015 after he was appointed by former President Ronald Reagan. He had previously been a history professor at Harvard and Princeton universities.
Billington’s achievements include doubling the size of the library’s traditional analog collections, acquiring the only copy of the 1507 Waldseemuller world map, obtaining Marquis de Lafayette’s papers, and reconstructing former President Thomas Jefferson’s original library.
His tenure, however, was not without controversy. When he retired, effective Jan. 1, 2016, his leadership had been investigated a number of times by government watchdogs over complaints regarding several managerial and technological failures.
