Today in History–October 4–the Library of Congress features President Rutherford B. Hayes, born on this day in 1822. After a bitterly contested election, Hayes became the nineteenth president of the United States in 1877 thanks to the vote of a special electoral commission. Learn more about Rutherford’s fascinating four years as chief executive by reviewing the Today in History section then click the…
The Teaching with Library of Congress blog provides some great tips for finding articles in the Chronicling America Historic Newspaper Collections and provides some teaching ideas as well. Be sure to check out, too, the following learning activity: Comparing Reports: Battle of Little Bighorn. Below is a list of topic guides by subject, each of which…
Today in History–October 3–the Library of Congress features Cherokee Chief John Ross, born on this day in 1790. Ross fought hard in Washington to preserve the Cherokee land but was ultimately unsuccessful. Learn more about his efforts by reviewing the Today in History section then click the links below to access more primary resources and stories related to the Cherokee. Chief Little John…
The Teaching with the Library of Congress blog provides several ideas for inspiring close observation and engaging students with primary sources, including having students make personal connections to an item, look for clues to time period and authorship, look for details that provide evidence of their thinking, and ask purposeful questions. Close observation of images is great practice…
Today in History–September 30–the Library of Congress features Congressman George Perkins Marsh, who delivered a speech on agricultural conditions in New England on this day in 1847 that recognized the capacity for environmental destruction and advocated for resource management and restoration. Find out more by reviewing the Today in History section and reviewing the resources below. George Perkins Marsh images George P. Marsh address delivered before…
Today in History–September 29–the Library of Congress features the official establishment of the U.S. military by Congress on this day in 1789. The act, spurred on by President George Washington, legalized the existing U.S. Army, a small force inherited from the Continental Congress that had been created under the Articles of Confederation. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then…
Today in History–September 28–the Library of Congress features William Christopher Handy, whose song the “Memphis Blues” was published on this date in 1912. Handy introduced the blues into mainstream music and became known as the father of the blues. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access a rich collection of blues music…
Today in History–September 27–the Library of Congress features champion golfer Kathy Whitworth, born on this day in 1939 Whitworth is the winningest golfer in history. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then check out more golf and sports primary source sets. Champion golfer Kathy Whitworth from America’s Library Kathy Whitworth historical newspaper coverage Topics in Chronicling America…
Today in History–September 26–the Library of Congress features Johnny Appleseed, born Jonathan Chapman on this day in 1775. Chapman earned his nickname because he planted nurseries and individual apple trees across 100,000 square miles of wilderness and prairie in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section and visiting the links below. Historic newspaper articles…
Today in History–September 23–the Library of Congress features Mary Church Terrell, born on this day in 1863. One of the first African American women to graduate from college, Terrell worked as an educator, political activist, and first president of the National Association of Colored Women. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section and clicking the links below. Mary Church Terrell primary source set Mary…
Today in History–September 22–the Library of Congress features the Emancipation Proclamation. On this day in 1862, just over five months after signing an act abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia, President Abraham Lincoln issued a preliminary version of this historic act, which was officially proclaimed on January 1, 1863. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then…
Today in History–September 21–the Library of Congress features the beginning of publication of the nation’s first daily newspaper, the Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser, on this day in 1784. Prior to 1784 the newspaper’s publisher, John Dunlap, had published a weekly newspaper. Dunlap’s shop had also printed the first broadside copies of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Continuing to serve…