Today in History–November 1–the Library of Congress features the opening of the Library of Congress building, now known as the Jefferson building, on this day in 1897. Find out more about this spectacular place by visiting the Today in History section, then read this In Custodia Legis blog post: The Library of Congress and its Librarians. Don’t miss these other PSN…
Today in History–October 31–the Library of Congress features Halloween. On this day many Americans celebrate spookiness and becoming someone else by dressing in costumes. To learn more about the origins of this fun-filled holiday and ideas for finding unique Halloween primary sources, visit the Today in History section then click the links below to access more primary sources related to Halloween, ghosts,…
This morning I saw a tweet mentioning primary sources related to immigration in the Gilded Age and I began to wonder . . . What learning activities related to the Gilded Age could we imagine using Library of Congress primary sources? What other teaching resources and strategies are available on LOC.gov and elsewhere? See the results…
Today in History–October 28–the Library of Congress features temperance and prohibition. On this day in 1919, Congress passed the Volstead Act which allowed for enforcement of the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Lauded by temperance societies and referred to as the Prohibition Amendment, the Eighteenth Amendment prohibited the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors” in the…
Today in History–October 27–the Library of Congress features the Federalist Papers, the first of which was published on this day in 1787. This series of essays, 85 in all, were published in newspapers under the name of Publius but were actually written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Their purpose, in essence, was to argue for the…
Today in History–October 26–the Library of Congress features Mahalia Jackson, born on this day in 1911. The “Queen of Gospel Song” performed at national venues and sang for four presidents in addition to singing “I’ve Been ‘Buked and I Been Scorned” just before Martin Luther King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech during the 1963 march on Washington. If…
Today in History–October 25–the Library of Congress features the discovery of Kiska Island, Alaska on this day in 1752. Learn more about the final voyage of the navigator and explorer Captain-Commander Vitus Jonassen Bering by visiting the Today in History section then click the links below to access more singular primary sources related to Kiska Island and Alaska. Bering, Chirikov, and Gvozdev The Russian Discovery of…
Today in History–October 24–the Library of Congress features the transcontinental telegraph system was completed on this day in 1861, which signaled the rapid demise of the short-lived Pony Express. Learn more about these methods of long-distance communication by visiting the Today in History section then click the links below to access more related primary sources. First Transcontinental Telegraph System Was Completed from America’s Library Telegraph…
Today in History–October 21–the Library of Congress features political debates, highlighting the final round of the Kennedy-Nixon presidential debate which was televised on this day in 1960. Learn more about these “Great Debates“, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, and the role of radio in presidential debates and addresses of the 1920s and 1930s by visiting the Today in History section then click the links below…
Today in History–October 20–the Library of Congress features the Louisiana Purchase Treaty, ratified by the Senate on this day in 1803. For many fascinating facts about this key purchase, visit the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more primary sources about the Louisiana Purchase. The Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition primary source set with teacher’s…
The Teaching with Library of Congress blog provides activity suggestions for using the transcript of World War I veteran oral history to provide students with personal insight into a historical event and help them to value the individuals behind the history of World War I and Armistice Day. Teachers might also choose to have students compare accounts, looking for…
Today in History–October 19–the Library of Congress features the surrender at Yorktown of British General Charles Cornwallis to General George Washington on this day in 1781. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more stories and primary sources about Cornwallis and the American Revolution. General Cornwallis primary source set Surrender of Yorktown primary source set Cornwallis surrender at Yorktown historical…