Existing comment:
The Most Perfect Home for Music
Undaunted by the lack of a performing venue at the Library of Congress, Coolidge proposed not only to build an auditorium, but also to set up a trust fund for performances and commissions. Engel and Librarian of Congress Herbert Putnam (1861–1955) enthusiastically endorsed the idea. It took an act of Congress to accept her unprecedented gift. Engel proposed that the auditorium be built in a courtyard that adjoined the Music Division. His practical, yet brilliant, idea avoided purchasing additional land, utilized existing walls, and reduced the cost of heating, ventilation, and lighting systems. Engel dedicated the savings to the creation of "the most perfect and beautiful room for music" that "the most competent minds can evolve." |