Listen carefully to this audio recording. You will hear six different sounds. What do you hear? Where do you think this audio recording was made? Why do you think that? What questions do you have about this audio recording? Now listen to the full audio recording, then find out who made this primary source audio recording (be sure…
Today in History–December 7–the Library of Congress features the Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbor, which occurred on this day in 1941. A hurried Navy dispatch sent out the news: AIR RAID ON PEARL HARBOR X THIS IS NOT DRILL. More than 2,300 Americans were killed, 160 aircraft were destroyed, and 12 ships sank. The next day the United States declared…
Today in History–March 19–the Library of Congress features William Jennings Bryan, born on this day in 1860. Famous for his oratorical skills, Bryan served two terms as a U.S. representative then ran for president three times. Although unsuccessful, he did serve as President Woodrow Wilson’s Secretary of State. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then clicking the links below…
Today in History–November 14–the Library of Congress features composer Aaron Copland, born on this day in 1900. Copland created scores that simplified music and expressed the American experience. Learn more about this prolific artist by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more Copland treasures. Primary sources The Aaron Copland…
Today in History–October 21–the Library of Congress features political debates, highlighting the final round of the Kennedy-Nixon presidential debate which was televised on this day in 1960. Learn more about these “Great Debates“, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, and the role of radio in presidential debates and addresses of the 1920s and 1930s by visiting the Today in History section then click the links below…
Today in History–October 18–the Library of Congress features Puerto Rico. On this date in 1898, American troops fighting in the Spanish-American War raised the United States flag in Puerto Rico formalizing U.S. control of this former Spanish colony. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section then click the links below to access more primary sources about this current U.S. commonwealth. Puerto Rico during the…
Today in History–October 7–the Library of Congress features cowboys, or buckaroos, and fall roundup time. On this day in 1979 the Ninety-Six Ranch in Nevada completed its fall roundup and trail drive. Learn more about this roundup in the Today in History section then click the links below to access all sorts of cowboy stories and primary sources. Cowboy primary sources Buckaroos in Paradise Collection…
Today in History–September 30–the Library of Congress features Congressman George Perkins Marsh, who delivered a speech on agricultural conditions in New England on this day in 1847 that recognized the capacity for environmental destruction and advocated for resource management and restoration. Find out more by reviewing the Today in History section and reviewing the resources below. George Perkins Marsh images George P. Marsh address delivered before…
Today in History–September 15–the Library of Congress features William Howard Taft, born on this day in 1857. Taft had a very active political career that included two of our country’s highest posts, President and Supreme Court Chief Justice. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more primary sources about William H. Taft….
Voices from the Dust Bowl: The Charles L. Todd and Robert Sonkin Migrant Worker Collection is an online presentation of a multi-format ethnographic field collection documenting the everyday life of residents of Farm Security Administration (FSA) migrant work camps in central California in 1940 and 1941. Todd and Sonkin, both of the City College of New York, traveled to Arvin, Bakersfield, El Rio, Firebaugh, Porterville,…
Home on the Range (.mp3) Today in History–July 14–the Library of Congress features novelist Owen Wister, born on this day in 1860, whose 1902 novel The Virginian helped create the myth of the American cowboy. Click on the image above to zoom into key scenes from the novel highlighted on this literary map, then visit the Today in History section to learn…