Sunnyside--on the Hudson

State Spotlight: New York

New York state primary source set with teacher’s guide New York state resource guide New York state maps Greater New York Illustrated (1899) Pictorial Americana: Selected images of New York state New York state images New York state books & articles New York historical newspapers New York state reports, printed ephemera, correspondence & other texts New York…

City Hall New York City

City Spotlight: New York City

New York City maps Featured Image: Outside watch shop Greater New York Illustrated: Over one hundred and fifty photographic views of the foremost city of the western hemisphere (1898) More New York City images New York City historical newspapers More New York City historical newspapers Chronicling America New York City Race Riot: timeline, background, select newspaper articles Triangle…

Erin is calling

Today in History: St. Patrick’s Day

Today in History–March 17–the Library of Congress features St. Patrick’s Day. This Irish and Irish-American holiday commemorates the death of the patron saint of Ireland who, as legend has it, died on this date circa 492. The holiday has been celebrated in the United States since the 18th century. Across the country today, many people celebrate with parades and…

Alexander Graham Bell's design sketch of the telephone

Today in History: Alexander Graham Bell

Today in History–March 10–the Library of Congress features Alexander Graham Bell, who made the first successful telephone call to his assistant Thomas Watson on this date in 1876. An audiologist, speech therapist and teacher of the deaf, Bell’s knowledge of the nature of sound likely encourage his experimentation. Another Bell invention was a metal detector, that was created to help…

Millard Fillmore, American candidate for president of the United States

Presidential Spotlight: Millard Fillmore

Millard Fillmore’s messages to Congress Message to the Senate announcing the death of President Zachary Taylor  July 9, 1850 First Annual Message to Congress Second Annual Message to Congress Third Annual Message to Congress Documents The agitation of slavery. Who commenced! And who can end it!! Buchanan and Fillmore compared from the record. 1856 pamphlet “Read! Read!!” Being a reply…

How to play ice hockey

Primary Source Spotlight: Hockey

Hockey image set (ice and field hockey) How to play hockey guides & other books (ice and field hockey) Topics in Chronicling America – Pacific Coast Hockey Association (1912-1919) Historical newspaper coverage of ice hockey Hockey match on the ice (1898 film) King of Winter Sports Inside Adams: Science, Technology & Business blog post A Whirlwind History of Diversity…

George Washington Carver, half-length portrait

Primary Source Spotlight: George Washington Carver & Tuskegee Institute

From America’s Library: Born: About 1864 (exact date is unknown) Died: January 5, 1943 George Washington Carver was born a slave in Diamond Grove, Missouri, around 1864. He is one of the nation’s most famous agricultural scientists. He is best known for his research on peanuts and his commitment to helping poor Southern African American farmers. Carver…

Moses of her people - San Francisco Call

Primary Source Spotlight: Harriet Tubman

From America’s Library Born: c. 1820, Dorchester County, Maryland Died: March 10, 1913, Auburn, New York Harriet Tubman was a runaway slave from Maryland who became known as the “Moses of her people.” Over the course of 10 years, and at great personal risk, she led hundreds of slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad, a secret…

Plaque of Abraham Lincoln

Presidential Spotlight: Abraham Lincoln

From America’s Library: Born: February 12, 1809 in Hardin County, KentuckyDied: April 15, 1865, assassinated at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Known for leading the country through the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. His eloquence is evident in many speeches including his most famous one, the Gettysburg Address. His second…

John Quincy Adams

Presidential Spotlight: John Quincy Adams

From America’s Library: Born: July 11, 1767 Died: Feb. 23, 1848 John Quincy Adams was the sixth president of the United States and the first son of a former president who himself became president. (George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush are the only other father-son presidents.) John Quincy Adams was well known for his diplomatic success…