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George Washington Racks Up 220 Years of Late Fees At Library

Posted by samzenpus on from the at-least-he-read dept.

Everyone knows that George Washington couldn't tell a lie. What you probably didn't know is that he couldn't return a library book on time. From the article: "New York City's oldest library says one of its ledgers shows that the president has racked up 220 years' worth of late fees on two books he borrowed, but never returned. One of the books was the 'Law of Nations,' which deals with international relations. The other was a volume of debates from Britain's House of Commons. Both books were due on Nov. 2, 1789."

5 of 146 comments (clear)

  1. The library went to a lot of trouble... by operagost · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The library went to a lot of trouble to prove that their records from the 18th century are probably a bit inaccurate. It could have been as simple as a star-struck librarian forgetting to update the register.

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    Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
  2. Not quite so late, but... by aonyx · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I was related to Mary Coyle Chase (author of Harvey). After she died in 1981 I helped clear out some things from her house. We found a book which had been checked out of the Denver Public Library in 1929. It was really fun returning it. I asked how much the fine was. The person at the circulation desk called the head librarian, and after a good laugh, they said there wouldn't be a fine.

  3. Re:So... by eleuthero · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It makes sense - they did invade and take over DC and parts of Virginia in the War of 1812. ;)

  4. Re:And he decided to pay the late fees... by treeves · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Actually I heard they don't want the fine to be paid, but they do want the books back. I imagine two library books kept past due date by Geo. Washington are worth a lot if they can be found.

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  5. Re:So... by shadowbearer · · Score: 2, Interesting

      It's entirely possible those books burned with the White House in 1814.

      Quote from link:

      All thoughts of accommodation were instantly laid aside; the troops advanced forthwith into the town, and having first put to the sword all who were found in the house from which the shots were fired, and reduced it to ashes, they proceeded, without 'a moment's delay, to burn and destroy everything in the most distant degree connected with government. In this general devastation were included the Senate House, the President's palace,...Of the Senate house, the President's palace, the barracks, the dockyard, etc., nothing could be seen except heaps of smoking ruins."

    SB

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