Plaque of Abraham Lincoln

Presidential Spotlight: Abraham Lincoln

From America’s Library: Born: February 12, 1809 in Hardin County, KentuckyDied: April 15, 1865, assassinated at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Known for leading the country through the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. His eloquence is evident in many speeches including his most famous one, the Gettysburg Address. His second…

John Quincy Adams

Presidential Spotlight: John Quincy Adams

From America’s Library: Born: July 11, 1767 Died: Feb. 23, 1848 John Quincy Adams was the sixth president of the United States and the first son of a former president who himself became president. (George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush are the only other father-son presidents.) John Quincy Adams was well known for his diplomatic success…

John Adams, 2nd President of the United States

Presidential Spotlight: John Adams

From America’s Library: Born: October 30 (October 19, Old Style), 1735, in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts Died: July 4, 1826, in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts John Adams worked as a teacher and lawyer before dedicating himself to a life of patriotism and politics. He was America’s second president. Adams was well known for his extreme political independence,…

Texas

State Spotlight: Texas

Texas stories from America’s Library Texas primary source set with Teacher’s Guide Texas maps Pictorial Americana: selected images of Texas More Texas images Texas historical films Texas sheet music Songs & oral histories related to Texas Texas veterans oral histories Texas personal narratives from the American Folklife Center Texas Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers’ Project Texas stories: Voices From the Days of Slavery Texas books & other texts 1800-1929…

Nixon sends GIs into Cambodia

World Spotlight: Cambodia

Cambodia primary source set World Digital Library Cambodia maps Foreign Affairs oral histories mentioning Cambodia Historic U.S. newspaper coverage of Cambodia (through 1922) “A Cambodian Ceremony” Scribners Monthly, an illustrated magazine for the people Volume 9, Issue 1, November 1874 “The Cambodian House” Manufacturer and Builder Volume 19, Issue 5, May 1887 Journey to Freedom: The Boat People Retrospective 2009 webcast U.S. legislation related to Cambodia…

Alabama lullaby

State Spotlight: Alabama

Alabama stories from America’s Library Alabama primary source set with teacher’s guide Alabama resource guide Alabama image set Alabama maps Alabama sheet music Songs & oral histories related to Alabama Alabama veterans oral histories Alabama personal narratives Alabama books & other texts Alabama historical newspapers Alabama related webcasts Alabama related legislation Alabama Guide to Law Online More curated primary collections related to Alabama More U.S. state…

Jackson and the nullifiers

Today in History: Nullification Crisis

Today in History–January 13–the Library of Congress features the Nullification Crisis. On this date in 1833, President Andrew Jackson wrote his new president Vice President Martin Van Buren affirming his commitment to preventing South Carolina’s defiance of federal authority by nullifying national tariff laws. The Nullification Crisis began in November, 1832 when South Carolina nullified a federal tariff. On December 10, 1832…

The landing-place near cathedral, Belgrade, Servia

World Spotlight: Serbia

Serbia primary source set World Digital Library Serbia maps Serbian image set Што се боре мисли моје (Serbian song recording) Foreign Affairs oral histories mentioning Serbia Historic U.S. newspaper coverage of Serbia (through 1922) U.S. legislation related to Serbia Guide to Law Online: Serbia Country Study: Former Yugoslavia

Washington's prominent figures listen to Marian Anderson's singing

Today in History: Marian Anderson

Today in History–January 7–the Library of Congress features singer Marian Anderson, who made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on his day in 1955. Barred from attending a Philadelphia music school because of her race, Anderson’s family, friends and church helped fund private voice lessons. Although she toured Europe and the United States extensively, Anderson continued to suffer…

Altgeld, John P., portrait photograph

Today in History: John Peter Altgeld

Today in History–December 30–the Library of Congress features politician John Peter Altgeld, born on this day in 1847. A lawyer, Altgeld served as a city attorney and a county prosecutor before serving on the bench of Cook County’s Superior Court from 1886 to 1891. In 1892 he was elected governor of Illinois. A progressive, Altgeld passed penal and legal…