Flemish milk women, Antwerp, Belgium

World Spotlight: Belgium

Belgium primary sources from the World Digital Library Belgium maps Books & other texts about Belgium Belgium historic newspaper coverage Belgique historic newspaper coverage (en français) Belgium royalty historic newspaper coverage Belgium images set Belgian image set TR receiving Belgian envoys at Sagamore Hill 1917 film King Albert of Belgium visits TR’s grave 1919 film Belgium/Belgian sheet music La Brabançonne / National air of…

We'll have a jubilee in my old Kentucky Home

State Spotlight: Kentucky

Kentucky primary source set with teacher’s guide Kentucky resource guide Kentucky images Kentucky maps Kentucky books and other texts Correspondence & printed ephemera related to Kentucky Kentucky oral histories Kentucky historical newspapers Kentucky sheet music Kentucky songs (streaming audio) Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers video Celebrating Kentucky Poets video The mountaineer’s honor: In the hills of Kentucky short film U.S. legislation…

Cornell University defil ̌march

Today in History: Cornell University

Today in History–October 7–the Library of Congress features Cornell University, which welcomed its first students on this day in 1868.  Funded as a result of the Morrill Act of 1862, Cornell wasted little time in racking up a number of firsts: first university degree in veterinary medicine, first doctorates in electrical  and industrial engineering, first four-year schools of hotel administration and labor…

Thomas A. Edison's system of electric illumination

Today in History: Electricity

Today in History–September 30–the Library of Congress features electricity. On this day in 1882, the first hydroelectric central station in the world began operation on the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin.  This and other hydroelectric plants provided inexpensive electricity, spurring industrial growth in many regions of the country around the turn of the 20th century. Find out…

The government of Spain donated this statue of Juan Ponce de Leon in downtown Miami, Florida

Today in History: Juan Ponce de León

Today in History–September 27–the Library of Congress features Juan Ponce de León, who was granted permission to settle Bimini Island and Florida on this day in 1514.  Seven years later, in 1521, Ponce de León sailed from Puerto Rico to Florida with two ships, two hundred men, fifty horses, as well as other domestic animals and agricultural tools….

George Washington to Continental Congress, December 23, 1777

Today in History: Valley Forge

Today in History–September 26–the Library of Congress features Valley Forge. On this day in 1777, the Continental Congress was forced to flee when British troops marched into the city of Philadelphia. The Continental Army under General George Washington spent the winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania while British troops held Philadelphia. Find out more about this difficult season…

The Morning Tulsa daily world., January 07, 1922, FINAL EDITION, Page 13, Image 13

Today in History: Japan

Today in History–July 29–the Library of Congress features the country of Japan. On this date in 1858, the United States and Japan signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce (the Harris Treaty), which helped establish diplomatic ties between the two countries. Find out more about early U.S.-Japanese relations and Townsend Harris, the man who negotiated the treaty, by…

Atlas mexicano

World Spotlight: Mexico

Mexico country profile Mexico country study The Mexican Revolution and the United States 1910-1920 online exhibition Mexican primary sources from the World Digital Library Mexico maps Mexico images Mexico video recordings Mexico songs Mexico sheet music Mexican literary recordings Mexico books & documents Select newspaper articles: Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) More U.S. historical newspaper coverage of Mexico…

Colonel Roosevelt and his Rough Riders at the top of the hill which they captured, Battle of San Juan

Today in History: The Rough Riders

Today in History–July 1–the Library of Congress features the rough riders. On this day in 1898 these voluntary cavalrymen, led by Theodore Roosevelt, helped to secure a U.S. victory in the Battle of Santiago, the decisive battle of the short-lived Spanish-American War. The rough riders stormed Kettle Hill, then joined in the capture of the San Juan Hill complex in…

Carnival Domincia

Today in History: Dominican Republic

Today in History–June 26–the Library of Congress features the Dominican Republic. On this day in 1924, U.S. troops pulled out after 8 years of occupying the Caribbean nation. Learn more about the island nation’s road to independence by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more resources related to the Dominican Republic. Country Study: Dominican Republic Dominican Republic country…