Closer view of building front - Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
Closer view of building front - Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
Photo: Maureen Budetti Creative Commons 2019Closer view of building front - Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
Closer view of building front - Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
Description
The U.S. Government Publishing Office (USGPO) is a four building complex, which was called the Government Printing Office until the name was changed to the Government Publishing Office in 2014. The USGPO warehouse, also known as Building #4 of the complex, was constructed in 1936-38 by the Charles H. Tomkins Co. under a $1,042,930 contract with the Procurement Division of the U.S. Treasury.
The Treasury had long been responsible for all government (non-military) buildings and a new Procurement Division was created in 1933 by the incoming Franklin Roosevelt Administration to coordinate all such activities. The design of the building was done under the Supervising Architect of the Procurement Division, Louis A. Simon. It is a stripped-down version of the Neoclassical style used for federal buildings in the center of Washington DC.
A 1936 newspaper article described the planned construction:
“The warehouse is to be of substantial construction to support the heavy machinery and supplies used by the G.P.O., but has been designed with a view to harmonizing with the general architecture in the neighborhood, which includes the City Post Office and the Union Station… A tunnel and a bridge are included in the job. The tunnel will be dug under North Capitol Street to connect the new warehouse with the G.P.O. The bridge will be built over First street northeast to carry the railroad spur from the railroad yards above First street into the new warehouse siding” (Evening Star, 9-6-1936).
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Front of Government Printing Office Warehouse
Front of Government Printing Office Warehouse
Photo: Maureen Budetti Creative Commons 2019Front of Government Printing Office Warehouse
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Front door and details of building - Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
Front door and details of building - Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
Photo: Maureen Budetti Creative Commons 2019Front door and details of building - Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
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Engraving above front door - Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
Engraving above front door - Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
Photo: Maureen Budetti Creative Commons 2019Engraving above front door - Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
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More building details on the Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
More building details on the Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
Photo: Maureen Budetti Creative Commons 2019More building details on the Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
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Engraved date on the Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
Engraved date on the Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
Photo: Maureen Budetti Creative Commons 2019Engraved date on the Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
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Side of the Government Publishing Office - Washington DC, along G Place NE
Side of the Government Publishing Office - Washington DC, along G Place NE
Photo: Maureen Budetti Creative Commons 2019Side of the Government Publishing Office - Washington DC, along G Place NE
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One of several Treasury-commissioned sculptures on the Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
One of several Treasury-commissioned sculptures on the Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
Photo: Maureen Budetti Creative Commons 2019One of several Treasury-commissioned sculptures on the Government Publishing Office - Washington DC
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Photo, courtesy of the U.S. Government Publishing Office
Government Printing Office Warehouse, ca. 1938
Photo, courtesy of the U.S. Government Publishing Office
Government Printing Office Warehouse, ca. 1938
Public Domain Government Printing Office Warehouse, ca. 1938
Photo, courtesy of the U.S. Government Publishing Office
Source notes
Picturing the Big Shop: Photos of the U.S. Government Publishing Office, U.S. Government Publishing Office, 2017, pp. 9, 28, and 128 (accessed December 12, 2019).
“Contract Awarded,” Evening Star (Washington, DC), October 3, 1936, p. A-11.
“New G.P.O. Warehouse,” Evening Star (Washington, DC), April 9, 1936, p. A-8.
“G.P.O. Bids Are Opened,” Evening Star (Washington, DC), September 6, 1936, p. A-6.
“GPO Is Now The Government Publishing Office,” News Release, U.S. Government Publishing Office, December 17, 2014 (accessed December 12, 2019).
Project originally submitted by Brent McKee and Maureen Budetti on January 2, 2020.
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