Today in History: World Transportation Commission

Today in History: World Transportation Commission

Today in History–April 27–the Library of Congress features the World Transportation Commission (WTC). On this date in 1895, Harper’s Weekly carried a story on theWTC’s visit to Ceylon, now called Sri Lanka. The WTC was organized by a railroad publicist to find out more about international railroads and other foreign transportation systems. Find out more by visiting…

Learning from the Source: The Negro Speaks of Rivers

Learning from the Source: The Negro Speaks of Rivers

Lesson objective In this primary source lesson students will gain a better understanding of the meaning and tone of “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” by completing a scaffolded close reading of the poem using multiple source types (written text, spoken word, music, photos, illustrations and maps) while developing personal, lasting connections to literature by creating their own related…

Primary Source Spotlight: Robert Frost

Primary Source Spotlight: Robert Frost

Robert Frost poems & poetry books “A Hillside Thaw” c 1930 “A Mood Apart” 1945 “The Runaway” c 1930 “My November Guest“ North of Boston 1914 A Boy’s Will 1915 Mountain Interval 1921 Robert Frost Reads Poem at JFK’s Inauguration January 20, 1961 from America’s Library Frost Inaugural poetry “Dedication” Robert Frost’s Presidential Inaugural Poem typescript with Frost’s…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Dedication by Robert Frost

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Dedication by Robert Frost

Above is the first page of Robert Frost’s poem “Dedication” with his handwritten edits. First read the final version of this poem. How does this poem make you feel? Why do you think Frost might have written this poem? Who do you think was the audience for the poem? Include specific examples from the poem in…

World Spotlight: Wales

World Spotlight: Wales

The Story of the Nations: Wales 1902 More books, articles and other texts about Wales Charles D. Cleveland to Abraham Lincoln, Thursday, February 05, 1863 (Sends sermon from Wales) Wales image set Sheet music related to Wales U.S. veteran oral histories (service in Wales) Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection interviews mentioning Wales U.S. historical newspaper coverage of Wales through…

Primary Source Spotlight: Vachel Lindsay

Primary Source Spotlight: Vachel Lindsay

Books by Vachel Lindsay Adventures while preaching the gospel of beauty  c. 1914 A handy guide for beggars, especially those of the poetic fraternity 1916 The golden book of Springfield 1920 “General William Booth enters into Heaven” lyrics by Vachel Lindsay (video of song performance) Vachel Lindsay historic newspaper coverage through 1922 Vachel Lindsay images Illinois…

Integrating Tech: Poetry 180

Integrating Tech: Poetry 180

Poetry 180 is a project of two-time U.S. Poet Laureate (2002-2003) Billy Collins. The Poetry Foundation describes Mr. Collins, “Dubbed ‘the most popular poet in America’ by Bruce Weber in the New York Times, Billy Collins is famous for conversational, witty poems that welcome readers with humor but often slip into quirky, tender or profound observation…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Official Program Woman Suffrage Procession

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Official Program Woman Suffrage Procession

Review the Official Program Woman Suffrage Procession and read the program forward (page 3). What goals for the procession does the forward set? How do the accomplishments of the highlighted women on pages 3 and 4 seem to support those goals? Closely read the first 11 paragraphs of page 4: Why Women Want to Vote. What is…

Primary Source Spotlight: Edna St. Vincent Millay

Primary Source Spotlight: Edna St. Vincent Millay

Edna St. Vincent Millay Birthday From the Catbird Seat blog March 5, 2013 Literary Birthday Celebration: Edna St. Vincent Millay webcast Publicity, Celebrity, Fashion: Photographing Edna St. Vincent Millay streaming webcast The Voice of Her Generation Library of Congress Information Bulletin January 1999 – Vol 58, No. 1 Edna St. Vincent Millay image set “There are no islands any…