World Spotlight: France

World Spotlight: France

Creating French Culture: Treasures from the Bibliothèque nationale de France online exhibition France primary source set World Digital Library France maps France image set French image set Films related to France France mentions in the Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection French American life histories French/France song recordings France/French sheet music U.S. historical newspaper coverage: France U.S. historical newspapers published in French Correspondence & other texts related…

World Spotlight: Spain

World Spotlight: Spain

Spain country study Parallel Histories: Spain, the United States, and the American Frontier bilingual digital library site Spain primary source set World Digital Library Spain maps Spain image set Spanish image set Historical films Spain mentions in the Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection American life histories mentioning Spain Spanish American song recordings Spanish sheet music Spanish American newspaper front pages 1905-06 Historical…

Today in History: Samuel H. Gottscho and William H. Schleisner

Today in History: Samuel H. Gottscho and William H. Schleisner

  Today in History–June 21–the Library of Congress features Samuel H. Gottscho and William H. Schleisner. On this date in 1934, Samuel Herman Gottscho snapped a photograph of the north facade of the Nebraska state capitol in Lincoln. A photography enthusiast, Gottscho was a traveling salesman for 23 year before becoming a professional photographer in 1925 at the age…

Today in History: War of 1812

Today in History: War of 1812

Today in History–June 18–the Library of Congress features the War of 1812. On this date in 1812 President James Madison signed a declaration of war against Great Britain. Reasons for the war included frustration with Britain’s maritime practices and their support of Native American resistance to western expansion as well as a desire to conquer Canada. The war lingered on…

World Spotlight: India

World Spotlight: India

India country profile: . . . extensive urbanization and trade appear to have begun in the Indus River Valley around 3000 B.C. with the Harappan civilization. From this period until the termination of British colonial rule in 1947, numerous empires ruled various portions of South Asia, often assimilating a rich array of peoples and each adding…

Primary Source Spotlight: Lewis Carroll

Primary Source Spotlight: Lewis Carroll

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson was a lecturer in mathematics at the University of Oxford and amateur photographer but he is better known by his pen name, Lewis Carroll (1832-1898). Charles Lutwidge Dodgson: A Chronology of His Life The Lewis Carroll Scrapbook 1855-1898 Lewis Carroll Lewis Carroll Biography Bio The life and letters of Lewis Carroll (Rev. C.L. Dodgson) 1899…

Today in History: Indian Citizenship Act

Today in History: Indian Citizenship Act

Today in History–June 2–the Library of Congress features the Indian Citizenship Act, enacted on this date in 1924. The act finally granted official U.S. citizenship to to all Native Americans born in the U.S. But because voting rights were governed by state law, some Native American citizens were barred from voting in political elections until 1957. Find out more by visiting…

Today in History: Wild Bill Hickok

Today in History: Wild Bill Hickok

Today in History–May 27–the Library of Congress features James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok, born on this date in 1837 in Illinois. Hickok was involved in the Kansas free state movement and was a scout and spy for the Union during the Civil War. Later he held a number of positions in law enforcement. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links…

Today in History: Bill “Bojangles” Robinson & Tap Dancing

Today in History: Bill “Bojangles” Robinson & Tap Dancing

Today in History–May 25–the Library of Congress features Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, born on this date in 1878. Orphaned in early childhood, Robinson started dancing at a young age and went on to become a legendary jazz tap dancer. Learn more about this mesmerizing entertainer by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below for primary sources related to…

Today in History: Mary McLeod Bethune

Today in History: Mary McLeod Bethune

Today in History–May 18–the Library of Congress features educator and political leader Mary McLeod Bethune, who died on this date in 1955. After attending schools in South Carolina, North Carolina and Chicago, Illinois, Bethune taught for 10 years. In 1904 she opened the Daytona Educational and Industrial School for Negro Girls in Florida, which later merged with the all-male Cookman…

Primary Source Spotlight: Albert Einstein

Primary Source Spotlight: Albert Einstein

Library of Congress blog posts Einstein at 100: Mapping the Universe Worlds Revealed: Geography & Maps December 2, 2015 Einstein’s Folklore December 18, 2013 Folklife Today Celebrate Einstein’s Birthday with Pi March 14, 2011 Inside Adams Albert Einstein background & primary sources Nobel Media “Albert Einstein lived here” April 19, 1955 political cartoon by Herb Block (scroll down page to read curator’s…