Primary Source Spotlight: Great Seal of the United States

Primary Source Spotlight: Great Seal of the United States

Images Great Seal of the United States Reverse of the great seal of the United States Detail of northwest medallion at base (Great Seal of the United States) – District of Columbia War Memorial Great Seal of The United States made with lace Pic of the Week: A Great Seal Inside Adams: Science, Technology & Business…

Today in History: Yosemite

Today in History: Yosemite

Today in History–June 30–the Library of Congress features Yosemite. On this day in 1865 President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Valley Grant Act, giving the valley and nearby Mariposa Big Tree Grove to California “upon the express conditions that the premises shall be held for public use, resort, and recreation.” The area became a top tourist destination but towards the…

Primary Source Spotlight: Labor

Primary Source Spotlight: Labor

Primary source sets The Industrial Revolution in the United States American Federation of Labor & Quarry Workers Anarchist Emma Goldman Anthracite Coal Strike The “Bonus” Army The cause of industrial panics in the United States 1903 by Chicago Federation of Labor and Industrial Union Council Chicago Federation of Labor: historic newspaper coverage Civilian Conservation Corps With…

Presidential Spotlight: James Buchanan

Presidential Spotlight: James Buchanan

James Buchanan inauguration primary source set James Buchanan speeches Inaugural address March 4, 1857 First annual message to Congress December 8, 1857 Second annual message to Congress December 6, 1858 Third annual message to Congress December 19, 1859 Fourth annual message to Congress December 3, 1860 James Buchanan and Harriet Lane Johnston Papers James Buchanan correspondence & court documents The agitation of slavery. Who commenced! And who can…

Today in History: Texas Annexation

Today in History: Texas Annexation

Today in History–June 23–the Library of Congress features the vote for annexation of Texas by the United States on this date in 1845. Texas had tried for statehood back in 1836 after gaining independence from Mexico but the U.S. Congress was unwilling to admit another state that permitted slavery. But by December 29, 1845, Texas became the twenty-eighth state in the…

State Spotlight: New Hampshire

State Spotlight: New Hampshire

New Hampshire primary source set with Teacher’s Guide New Hampshire maps Pictorial Americana: Selected images of New Hampshire More New Hampshire images New Hampshire historical newspapers 1756-1837 Reports and books related to New Hampshire Correspondence and other texts related to New Hampshire New Hampshire oral histories & songs Sheet music related to New Hampshire Videos and films related to New…

Today in History: The New Deal

Today in History: The New Deal

Today in History–June 16–the Library of Congress features the New Deal. On this date in 1933, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) signed the National Industrial Recovery Act, which created the Public Works Administration. FDR’s New Deal domestic agenda provided jobs through a series of public works programs. In fact, millions of Americans found work through programs such as the Works…

World Spotlight: Canada

World Spotlight: Canada

Canada primary sources from the World Digital Library Canada maps Books & other texts about Canada Reports & correspondence related to Canada Canada U.S. historical newspaper coverage Canada images Historic films featuring Canada Canada/Canadian song recordings Canada/Canadian sheet music U.S. legislation related to Canada Guide to Law Online: Canada In Custodia Legis blog posts related to Canada Canada country profile BBC…

Today in History: Princeton University

Today in History: Princeton University

Today in History–June 9–the Library of Congress features Princeton University. On this date in 1902, alumnus Woodrow Wilson was unanimously elected university president after more than a decade as a respected teaching scholar. During his tenure, Wilson instituted a system of core requirements followed by two years of specialized concentration. After Princeton, Wilson served one term as governor of New…

Today in History: Tennessee Secedes

Today in History: Tennessee Secedes

Today in History–June 8–the Library of Congress features Tennessee, which voted in favor of secession by two-to-one on this date in 1861. Tennessee resident and future president Andrew Johnson broke with his party over this issue. Find out more about about this era by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access thousands of Tennessee state primary sources from the Library. Tennessee primary…

Today in History: Fort Necessity & the French and Indian War

Today in History: Fort Necessity & the French and Indian War

Today in History–June 4–the Library of Congress features Fort Necessity near Uniontown, Pennsylvania. On this date in 1754, the young Colonel George Washington and his troops were hard at work constructing the makeshift stronghold to protect themselves from French aggression. Less than a month later, however, Washington and his troops were surrounded and forced to surrender to French troops on…

Today in History: Bell’s Photophone

Today in History: Bell’s Photophone

Today in History–June 3–the Library of Congress features the invention of the photophone on this date in 1880 by Alexander Graham Bell. Although more famously known for the telephone, the photophone transmitted sound on a beam of light. This technology with the precursor to fiber optics which today transmits voice and data communications at the speed of light….