Copyright Notices | January 2005

Copyright Lore
¤ Frank Evina

In 1954, the Copyright Office Reference The message from Fisher also in- Churchill Memoirs and World War II;
Division undertook the monumental cluded a letter from Reference Division prints, photographs, and reproductions
task of compiling a complete bibliog- Chief Richard MacCarteney outlining of works of art; and even three musical
raphy of all the works of Sir Winston the basis upon which the bibliography compositions.
Churchill that were registered in the was developed. MacCarteney explained, A copy of the Churchill bibliography
Copyright Office from 1898 to 1953. “The bibliography was not the result together with a framed, autographed
On June 25, 1954, a few hours after of any special request…. It grew out letter of appreciation for the gift were
Churchill’s arrival in Washington and of a realization of the tremendous ef- prominently displayed 11 years later in
in the presence of President Dwight fect Sir Winston Churchill’s utterances a special Library exhibit, In Memoriam:
Eisenhower at the White House, a have had upon world history and thus Sir Winston Churchill, 1874–1965, which
handsomely bound, gold-lettered our obligation to develop as nearly was mounted in 1965 after his death on
copy of the 35-page bibliography was complete a copyright record of them Jan. 24, 1965.
presented to Sir Winston by Acting as possible. Later it seemed felicitous to In anticipation of increased public
Librarian of Congress Verner Clapp, have bound a unique copy for presen- interest in the works of Churchill after
Register of Copyrights Arthur Fisher, tation to the great man.” his death, the Reference Division pre-
and Reference Division Chief Richard MacCarteney’s letter was prepared pared an update of the bibliography. In
MacCarteney, under whose direction at Fisher’s request after Churchill asked 1966, a copy was forwarded to his fam-
the bibliography was prepared. The Fisher about the basis upon which the ily “as a token of respect for a master of
dedication page, personally signed by bibliography was prepared. During the our language….” ‡
each of the presenters, reads as follows: presentation at the White House cer-
“To The Rt. Hon. Sir Winston Churchill, emony, Fisher promised Churchill that below: The cover of the Churchill
K.G. in his character as Voluminous he would send him an explanation. bibliography and the presenters’ signatures
Author on the occasion of his visit to The bibliography identified 556
the White House, June 25, 1954, this list registrations, including American and
of his writings recorded in the Copy- English book
right Office of the United States.” publications and
In accepting the volume, the prime contributions to
minister remarked that he still has a English periodi-
“modest” work to add to his bibliogra- cals; contributions
phy—a history of the English-speaking to magazines in the
peoples in some 800,000 words! In a United States; sepa-
follow-up letter to the prime minister, rately copyrighted
Register Arthur Fisher recalled this installments and
statement and said, “We look forward syndications of the
eagerly to receiving this and many
other of your literary and artistic works
for protection under the copyright laws
of this country and registration in this
Office.”