Clement Lincoln Bouvé
Encyclopedia
Clement Lincoln Bouvé was the third Register of Copyrights
in the United States Copyright Office
. He was the first lawyer
to serve as Register, and his administration of the Office was marked by attention to the formalities of United States copyright law
, including the creation of a legal staff, the establishment of an Examining Section, and the formation of a Revisory Board.
Bouvé was born May 27, 1878 in Hingham, Massachusetts
and educated at Harvard College
and the Harvard Law School
. Prior to becoming Register, he worked as Assistant United States District Attorney
for Manila
, the Panamanian Commission
, and as an agent of the United States before the General and Special Claims Commission during boundary discussions with Mexico
. He served in the Field Artillery in France
during World War I
and in the Army of Occupation in Germany
, and retired from the United States Army
with the rank of Lieutenant colonel
. In 1912, Bouvé authored "A Treatise on the Laws Governing the Exclusion and Expulsion of Aliens in the United States," considered to be one of the first authoritative legal works on the subject.
Bouvé was appointed as Register of Copyrights on August 1, 1936. He presided over the Office during its move in 1939 from the south side of the ground floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building
to the newly built John Adams Building
. He created the Copyright Card Catalog, 1938–1945, the first Copyright Office catalog combining all registration entries, and wrote a 72-page document titled "Letter to the Librarian of Congress concerning Certain Aspects of the Copyright Act of March 4, 1909, in their Relation to the Public Interest and Existing Problems of Copyright Office Administration, with Proposed Amendments."
Bouvé was in ill health when he retired on December 31, 1943. He died weeks later, on January 14, 1944 and was buried in Arlington Cemetery.
Register of Copyrights
The Register of Copyrights is the director of the United States Copyright Office within the Library of Congress, as provided by . The Office has been headed by a Register since 1897...
in the United States Copyright Office
United States Copyright Office
The United States Copyright Office, a part of the Library of Congress, is the official U.S. government body that maintains records of copyright registration in the United States. It is used by copyright title searchers who are attempting to clear a chain of title for copyrighted works.The head of...
. He was the first lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
to serve as Register, and his administration of the Office was marked by attention to the formalities of United States copyright law
United States copyright law
The copyright law of the United States governs the legally enforceable rights of creative and artistic works under the laws of the United States.Copyright law in the United States is part of federal law, and is authorized by the U.S. Constitution...
, including the creation of a legal staff, the establishment of an Examining Section, and the formation of a Revisory Board.
Bouvé was born May 27, 1878 in Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...
and educated at Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
and the Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. Prior to becoming Register, he worked as Assistant United States District Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, the Panamanian Commission
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, and as an agent of the United States before the General and Special Claims Commission during boundary discussions with Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He served in the Field Artillery in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and in the Army of Occupation in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and retired from the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
with the rank of Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
. In 1912, Bouvé authored "A Treatise on the Laws Governing the Exclusion and Expulsion of Aliens in the United States," considered to be one of the first authoritative legal works on the subject.
Bouvé was appointed as Register of Copyrights on August 1, 1936. He presided over the Office during its move in 1939 from the south side of the ground floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building
Thomas Jefferson Building
The oldest of the three United States Library of Congress buildings, the Thomas Jefferson Building was built between 1890 and 1897. It is known for its classicizing facade and elaborately decorated interior. John L. Smithmeyer and Paul J...
to the newly built John Adams Building
John Adams Building
The John Adams Building is one of three library buildings of the Library of Congress in the United States. The building was originally built simply as an annex to the Library's Main Building . It opened its doors to the public on January 3, 1939...
. He created the Copyright Card Catalog, 1938–1945, the first Copyright Office catalog combining all registration entries, and wrote a 72-page document titled "Letter to the Librarian of Congress concerning Certain Aspects of the Copyright Act of March 4, 1909, in their Relation to the Public Interest and Existing Problems of Copyright Office Administration, with Proposed Amendments."
Bouvé was in ill health when he retired on December 31, 1943. He died weeks later, on January 14, 1944 and was buried in Arlington Cemetery.