Today in History: Spanish Civil War

Today in History: Spanish Civil War

Today in History–July 17–the Library of Congress features the Spanish Civil War, which began on this date in 1936. Often considered a precursor to World War II, the military contest between left-wing forces and fascists attracted international involvement on both sides. The war lasted nearly three years and ended when  Nationalist troops led by Francisco Franco overcame Republic forces and…

Today in History: Bastille Day & the French Revolution

Today in History: Bastille Day & the French Revolution

Today in History–July 14–TPS-Barat Primary Source Nexus features Bastille Day, which commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille in Paris, France on July 14, 1789. This action marked the beginning of the French Revolution. Find out more about these events by investigating a variety of primary and secondary sources linked to…

Today in History: James McNeill Whistler

Today in History: James McNeill Whistler

Today in History–July 10–TPS-Barat features  James McNeill Whistler, born on this date in 1834. This American artist spent time in St. Petersburg, Russia during his childhood and later in England and France, where he studied. Learn more about Whistler through these primary and secondary sources. James McNeill Whistler images & art Whistler’s Butterfly Picture This blog June 20,…

Today in History: Salvation Army

Today in History: Salvation Army

Today in History–July 5–the Library of Congress features the Salvation Army, founded on this day in London in 1865 as the Christian Mission.  Methodist minister William Booth and his wife Catherine founded the organization to fight poverty and religious indifference with military efficiency. The organization was renamed the Salvation Army in 1878 and expanded to the United…

Primary Source Spotlight: John Philip Sousa

Primary Source Spotlight: John Philip Sousa

John Philip Sousa biography John Philip Sousa timeline John Philip Sousa and the Culture of Reassurance article The Sousa March: A Personal View article The March King: John Philip Sousa collection items Sousa’s Birthday NLS Music Notes blog November 13, 2014 Sousa and the Talking Machine May 19, 2020 Stars and Stripes Forever … Literally Library of Congress blog…

World Spotlight: France

World Spotlight: France

Creating French Culture: Treasures from the Bibliothèque nationale de France online exhibition France primary source set World Digital Library France maps France image set French image set Films related to France France mentions in the Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection French American life histories French/France song recordings France/French sheet music U.S. historical newspaper coverage: France U.S. historical newspapers published in French Correspondence & other texts related…

World Spotlight: Spain

World Spotlight: Spain

Spain country study Parallel Histories: Spain, the United States, and the American Frontier bilingual digital library site Spain primary source set World Digital Library Spain maps Spain image set Spanish image set Historical films Spain mentions in the Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection American life histories mentioning Spain Spanish American song recordings Spanish sheet music Spanish American newspaper front pages 1905-06 Historical…

Today in History: Samuel H. Gottscho and William H. Schleisner

Today in History: Samuel H. Gottscho and William H. Schleisner

  Today in History–June 21–the Library of Congress features Samuel H. Gottscho and William H. Schleisner. On this date in 1934, Samuel Herman Gottscho snapped a photograph of the north facade of the Nebraska state capitol in Lincoln. A photography enthusiast, Gottscho was a traveling salesman for 23 year before becoming a professional photographer in 1925 at the age…

Today in History: War of 1812

Today in History: War of 1812

Today in History–June 18–the Library of Congress features the War of 1812. On this date in 1812 President James Madison signed a declaration of war against Great Britain. Reasons for the war included frustration with Britain’s maritime practices and their support of Native American resistance to western expansion as well as a desire to conquer Canada. The war lingered on…

World Spotlight: India

World Spotlight: India

India country profile: . . . extensive urbanization and trade appear to have begun in the Indus River Valley around 3000 B.C. with the Harappan civilization. From this period until the termination of British colonial rule in 1947, numerous empires ruled various portions of South Asia, often assimilating a rich array of peoples and each adding…

Primary Source Spotlight: Lewis Carroll

Primary Source Spotlight: Lewis Carroll

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson was a lecturer in mathematics at the University of Oxford and amateur photographer but he is better known by his pen name, Lewis Carroll (1832-1898). Charles Lutwidge Dodgson: A Chronology of His Life The Lewis Carroll Scrapbook 1855-1898 Lewis Carroll Lewis Carroll Biography Bio The life and letters of Lewis Carroll (Rev. C.L. Dodgson) 1899…

Today in History: Indian Citizenship Act

Today in History: Indian Citizenship Act

Today in History–June 2–the Library of Congress features the Indian Citizenship Act, enacted on this date in 1924. The act finally granted official U.S. citizenship to to all Native Americans born in the U.S. But because voting rights were governed by state law, some Native American citizens were barred from voting in political elections until 1957. Find out more by visiting…