Primary Source Spotlight: Liberty Bell
Liberty bell image set Liberty bell sheet music Liberty bell song recordings Liberty bell books & other texts Historic American newspapers: Liberty bell
Today in History: Captain John Smith
Today in History–September 10–the Library of Congress features Captain John Smith, who assumed the presidency of the Jamestown governing council on this date in 1608. Smith helped the colony to survive and thrive during its early years by fortifying the settlement, exploring and documenting the Chesapeake region, and establishing relations with area Native Americans. Learn more about this explorer, writer, and cartographer by visiting…
Today in History: American Federation of Labor & Quarry Workers
Today in History–September 08–the Library of Congress features the Quarry Workers’ International Union of North America, which was granted a charter by the American Federation of Labor (AFL) on this date in 1903. While granite had been mined around the area of Barre, Vermont for years, new waves of immigrants with a strong tradition of unionism arrived in the late 19th…
Today in History: Los Angeles, California
Today in History–September 04–the Library of Congress features El Pueblo de la Reyna de Los Angeles (The Town of the Queen of the Angels) founded on this day in 1781. Located between the San Gabriel Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Los Angeles remained independent until it was taken in a bloodless effort by U.S. forces during the Mexican…
Today in History: Louis H. Sullivan
Today in History–September 3–the Library of Congress features architect Louis H. Sullivan, born on this day in 1856 in Boston, Massachusetts. Sullivan moved to Chicago early in his career in 1873. After the great Chicago fire of 1871 there was much work to do and Sullivan became a pioneer in the design of skyscrapers known for his core philosophy that…
Today in History: Fall of Atlanta
Today in History–September 1–the Library of Congress features the fall of Atlanta. On this date in 1864, Confederate General John B. Hood evacuated and left the city in Union hands. The capture of this crucial Confederate supply center by William T. Sherman helped ensure the re-election of President Abraham Lincoln two months later. Find out more about the events preceding and following the…
![The San Francisco call. (San Francisco [Calif.]), 23 May 1905](https://primarysourcenexus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/nevada.jpg)
State Spotlight: Nevada
Nevada stories from America’s Library Nevada primary source set with teacher’s guide Nevada resource guide Nevada maps Nevada images Nevada sheet music Nevada songs & oral histories Nevada films and webcasts Nevada books & other texts Correspondence related to Nevada Nevada historical newspapers Nevada: U.S. legislation Nevada Guide to Law Online Primary Election Laws: Nevada In Custodia Legis blog February 22, 2016 Nevada map QFT lesson plan…
World Spotlight: Russia & the Former Soviet Union
These primary source collections relate to Russia as well as the former Soviet Union. Online exhibitions Revelations from the Russian Archives Russian Photographs, 1992-2002: Reflections World Digital Library sources Russia primary source set Soviet Union primary source set Meeting of Frontiers, Russia & America in Alaska bilingual, multimedia English-Russian digital library Images Prokudin-Gorskii Collection color photos from the…
State Spotlight: Iowa
Iowa stories from America’s Library Iowa primary source set with Teacher’s Guide Iowa-focused primary source sets address national and international history as well as Iowa-specific history Iowa’s People & Places primary & secondary sources Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Iowa maps Iowa images Iowa sheet music Iowa songs & oral histories Iowa books & other texts Iowa historical newspapers Iowa broadsides & printed ephemera Lao Natasinh…
Presidential Spotlight: Benjamin Harrison
Term: 23rd President of the United States (1889–1893) Born: August 20, 1833, North Bend, Ohio Nickname: “Kid Gloves Harrison,” “Little Ben” Education: Miami University (Ohio), graduated 1852 Religion: Presbyterian Marriage: October 20, 1853, to Caroline Lavinia Scott (1832–1892) April 6, 1896, to Mary Scott Lord Dimmick (1858–1948) Children: Russell Benjamin (1854–1936), Mary Scott (1858–1930), Elizabeth…
State Spotlight: Georgia, USA
Georgia stories from America’s Library Georgia primary source set with teacher’s guide Georgia resource guide Georgia maps Georgia: select images More Georgia images Georgia sheet music Georgia songs & oral histories Georgia WPA life histories Georgia books & other texts Georgia historical newspapers Federal legislation related to Georgia Georgia Guide to Law Online Teaching resources Teaching the Civil Rights Movement with the Georgia Historical…
Today in History: Alcatraz Island
Today in History–August 11–the Library of Congress features Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. On this date in 1934 a group of federal prisoners arrived at the newly opened Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, designed as a high-security, escape-proof fortress. Before that, the island had been used to house military prisoners. Alcatraz is an English version of the Spanish name—Isla de los Alcatraces (Isle of the…