Today in History: Celebrating Mothers

Family in Northern Sikkim relaxes by fireside
Today in History–May 9–the Library of Congress celebrates mothers. On this day in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day, serving “as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.” Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more primary sources showcasing the women who brought us into the world. And a special shout-out to my wonderful mother: I love you Mom!

The First Mother’s Day from America’s Library

Mother’s Day images

Mothers and children images

It is mother’s day in the U.S.A sheet music

More mother sheet music

Minha mai = My mother audio recording

More mother songs & oral histories

I Ask My Mother to Sing Poetry 180 poem by Li-Young Lee

Mother’s day; its history, origin, celebration, spirit, and significance as related in prose and verse 1915

Mothers’ day May 14, 1922. A proclamation By the Governor. [Lansing, 1922]

Mothers’ day. May 13, 1923. A proclamation. By the Governor. [Lansing 1923]

Texts about mothers

Letters to Mother

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Leonard Bernstein illustrated letter to his mother

Topics in Chronicling America – select Mother’s Day newspaper articles (1909-1922)

More Mother’s Day historical newspaper coverage

H.RES.1113 – Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother’s Day (2008)

Library of Congress blog posts about mothers and Mother’s Day