Today in History–January 12–the Library of Congress features the missions of Old California. On this date in 1777, Padre Thomas Peña founded Santa Clara de Asís, the eighth of California’s twenty-one missions. The first mission—San Diego de Alcala—was founded in 1769 by Padre Junípero Serra, who also oversaw the founding of the next eight, and the last—San Francisco de Solano—was founded…
Today in History–January 6–the Library of Congress features George Herbert Walker Bush who married Barbara Pierce on this date in 1945 while on leave from active U.S. navy duty in World War II. Bush entered politics after a career in the Texas oil industry. He served in the House of Representatives in the 1960s and in the 1970s his political appointments…
Today in History–December 31–the Library of Congress features presidential assassin Charles Julius Guiteau. On this date in 1881, Guiteau penned a New Year’s letter to his jailer while awaiting trial for the assassination of President James Garfield. On July 2, 1881 Guiteau had shot the newly elected president who died seventy-nine days later of infections from the bullet wound. Guiteau’s trial…
Nez Percé images Indian (Nez Percé) Land Cessions in the U.S. 1784-1894 The Nez Perce War The Galaxy, Volume 24, Issue 6, Dec 1877 “Lawyer of the Nez Perces” Washington Historical Quarterly 1934 Vol. 25, No. 1, p. 37-48 Historic newspaper coverage of the Nez Percé Oral history mentioning Nez Percé Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection Reports & other texts of the…
Today in History–December 25–the Library of Congress features Christmas. Although the exact origins of this holiday are uncertain, the Christian church in Rome observed the Feast of the Nativity on this date in the year 336. Today, Christmas celebrations include both religious and secular traditions. Discover more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below…
Inventor primary source sets More inventor primary sources Invention primary source sets More invention primary sources Primary source collections Exhibitions & special presentations Library blog posts
George Westinghouse & his companies George Westinghouse; his life and achievements 1918 The Inventor of the Air-Brake: George Westinghouse 1921 from Conquests of Invention Inside an American Factory: Films of the Westinghouse Works, 1904 George Westinghouse image set George Westinghouse historical newspaper coverage American Dynamo: The Life of George Westinghouse Inside Adams July 1, 2021 Meet…
Today in History–December 17–the Library of Congress features Hanukkah. On this date in 1979 President Jimmy Carter participated in the first National Menorah Lighting. Also known as the Feast or Festival of Lights, Hanukkah reflects the story of a one-day supply of oil at the temple miraculously burning for eight days. Find out more by…
Topics in Chronicling America – Nikola Tesla timeline & select newspaper articles More Nikola Tesla historical newspaper coverage Featured Source: Tesla’s 1922 Future Tech Predictions guided primary source analysis activity Messages to and from Outer Space Finding Our Place in the Cosmos: From Galileo to Sagan and Beyond Poems of Personality “Tesla” Another Tesla portrait Tesla Memorial Society…
Today in History–December 2–the Library of Congress features the Touro Synagogue, dedicated on this date in 1763. Named for the first officiating rabbi, Isaac Touro, the first synagogue in the U.S. was built in Newport, Rhode Island. Learn more about the Touro Synagogue and Newport’s Jewish community by visiting the Today in History section as well as the links below. First…
Today in History–December 1–the Library of Congress features the New York City Ballet premier of Agon, a collaboration between Igor Stravinsky and George Balanchine, on this date in 1957. Both Russian émigrés and colleagues from the Paris Ballet Russes, Stravinsky was a top composer of ballet music and Balanchine a leading ballet choreographer. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section…
Today in History–November 24–the Library of Congress features the killing of John F. Kennedy’s accused assassin on this date in 1963. Just two days after the president was killed, Dallas, Texas nightclub owner Jack Ruby shot and killed the accused, Lee Harvey Oswald, while police were transferring him from one jail to another. Journalists who were on the…