Grand national inauguration ball

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…

Texas coming in

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…

The State of New Hampshire. Compiled chiefly from actual surveys.

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…

New Deal needlework designed and executed by Eleanor B. Roosevelt

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…

O 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…

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WITH WOODROW WILSON

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…

Lookout Mountain, Tennessee: and the Chattanooga Rail Road

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…

Grape shot found near Fort Necessity

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…

Drawing by Alexander Graham Bell and Charles Sumner Tainter, April 1880

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….

The White House Wedding

Today in History: Grover Cleveland

Today in History–June 2–the Library of Congress features President Grover Cleveland, who married Frances Folsom in a White House ceremony on this date in 1886. A lawyer, Cleveland began his political career as mayor of Buffalo, New York, becoming governor of the state the following year and President of the United States just a few years later in 1885. He…

Resolutions from the proceedings of the Woman's Rights Convention

Today in History: Woman’s Rights Conventions

Today in History–May 28–the Library of Congress features the Woman’s Rights Convention, held in Akron, Ohio on this date and May 29 in 1851. Convention topics included common law, education and labor, including wage inequities. Find out more about the early efforts of women’s rights advocates by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access primary sources related to the…

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

Today in History: Golden Gate Bridge

Today in History–May 27–the Library of Congress features the Golden Gate Bridge, opened on this date in 1937. The orange suspension bridge was the longest at the time, spanning 4,200 feet and connecting San Francisco to the south with Marin County, California to the north. Lead engineer Joseph Baermann Strauss stressed safety during the bridge building, instituting the wearing…