Today in History: Charles Darwin & Teaching Evolution

Today in History: Charles Darwin & Teaching Evolution

Today in History–May 5–the Library of Congress features the controversy surrounding teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. On this date in 1925 John Scopes was arrested for teaching evolution in a Tennessee public high school. Originally conceived as both a test case and a publicity stunt, Scopes went to trial and was found guilty. Later, the Tennessee Supreme Court acquitted…

Today in History: Manhattan Island

Today in History: Manhattan Island

Today in History–May 4–the Library of Congress features Manhattan Island. On this date in 1626, Dutch colonist Peter Minuit arrived on the wooded island at the behest of the Dutch West India Company. Minuit later “purchased” the island from resident Algonquin Indians for the equivalent of $24.  The town of New Amsterdam, located at the southern end of the island,…

Primary Source Spotlight: Patricia Smith

Primary Source Spotlight: Patricia Smith

Patricia Smith The Poet & the Poem audio podcast This is My Story: Getting to Know Patricia Smith From the Catbird Seat blog February 9, 2015 Patricia Smith’s “Words That Force Us to Look” From the Catbird Seat April 22, 2013 Patricia Smith Bookfest bio Patricia Smith: 2009 National Book Festival video Necessary Utterance: Poetry as Cultural Force…

Today in History: Billy Bitzer & the Biograph Company

Today in History: Billy Bitzer & the Biograph Company

Today in History–April 28–the Library of Congress features Billy Bitzer, who filmed the short comedy Stealing a Dinner for the American Mutoscope & Biograph Company on this date in 1899. Bitzer was a great pioneer of early film and shot thousands of movies, including the infamous The Birth of a Nation. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then follow the…

Today in History: World Transportation Commission

Today in History: World Transportation Commission

Today in History–April 27–the Library of Congress features the World Transportation Commission (WTC). On this date in 1895, Harper’s Weekly carried a story on theWTC’s visit to Ceylon, now called Sri Lanka. The WTC was organized by a railroad publicist to find out more about international railroads and other foreign transportation systems. Find out more by visiting…

Primary Source Spotlight: Robert Frost

Primary Source Spotlight: Robert Frost

Robert Frost poems & poetry books “A Hillside Thaw” c 1930 “A Mood Apart” 1945 “The Runaway” c 1930 “My November Guest“ North of Boston 1914 A Boy’s Will 1915 Mountain Interval 1921 Robert Frost Reads Poem at JFK’s Inauguration January 20, 1961 from America’s Library Frost Inaugural poetry “Dedication” Robert Frost’s Presidential Inaugural Poem typescript with Frost’s…

World Spotlight: Wales

World Spotlight: Wales

The Story of the Nations: Wales 1902 More books, articles and other texts about Wales Charles D. Cleveland to Abraham Lincoln, Thursday, February 05, 1863 (Sends sermon from Wales) Wales image set Sheet music related to Wales U.S. veteran oral histories (service in Wales) Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection interviews mentioning Wales U.S. historical newspaper coverage of Wales through…

Primary Source Spotlight: Vachel Lindsay

Primary Source Spotlight: Vachel Lindsay

Books by Vachel Lindsay Adventures while preaching the gospel of beauty  c. 1914 A handy guide for beggars, especially those of the poetic fraternity 1916 The golden book of Springfield 1920 “General William Booth enters into Heaven” lyrics by Vachel Lindsay (video of song performance) Vachel Lindsay historic newspaper coverage through 1922 Vachel Lindsay images Illinois…

Primary Source Spotlight: Edna St. Vincent Millay

Primary Source Spotlight: Edna St. Vincent Millay

Edna St. Vincent Millay Birthday From the Catbird Seat blog March 5, 2013 Literary Birthday Celebration: Edna St. Vincent Millay webcast Publicity, Celebrity, Fashion: Photographing Edna St. Vincent Millay streaming webcast The Voice of Her Generation Library of Congress Information Bulletin January 1999 – Vol 58, No. 1 Edna St. Vincent Millay image set “There are no islands any…