Primary Source Spotlight: Bayard Rustin

Primary Source Spotlight: Bayard Rustin

Bayard Rustin was an openly gay civil rights activist, social reformer, pacifist, AIDS activist, and author. He was the chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. Bayard Rustin photos Bayard Rustin historical newspaper coverage from 1942 Race, Religion, and Nationalism — Basic Problems of World Peace 1943 Institute of International Relations 1949 The Application…

Copy of Executive Order No. 9981 signed by President Harry. S. Truman

Today in History: Executive Orders 9980 & 9981

Today in History–July 26–the Primary Source Nexus features two presidential edicts signed by President Harry S. Truman on this date in 1948. Executive Orders 9980 and 9981 mandated, respectively, that “All personnel actions taken by Federal appointing officers shall be based solely on merit and fitness. . .” and “equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons…

South Carolina Legislature 1865

Guided Primary Source Analysis: First Post-War Legislature

Use the Library of Congress primary source analysis tool to analyze the image. What do you notice? What do you find surprising? What can you learn from the bibliographic record? Why do you suppose the men in the image were referred to as radical members? What questions do you have? Next, analyze the two sources below…

Beaches. Cliff House in San Francisco

Today in History: Sutro Baths & Cliff House

Today in History–March 14–the Library of Congress features the official opening of the Sutro Baths on this date in 1896. The Sutro Baths was an extravagant public bathhouse just north of Cliff House, another popular San Francisco attraction also owned by a former city mayor, Adolph Sutro. Learn more about these baths by the sea by visiting the Today in History section, then following the…