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Primary Source Spotlight: Novels in Verse

Novels in verse tell stories using both poetry while also employing traditional narrative structures and styles. Use the links below to learn more about this form of storytelling and to dive into the Library’s collections. No Extra Words: The Emotional Punch of Novels in Verse Bookmarked blog includes videos of conversations with authors Lancelot ou…

Today in History: Bastille Day & the French Revolution

Today in History: Bastille Day & the French Revolution

Today in History–July 14–TPS-Barat Primary Source Nexus features Bastille Day, which commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille in Paris, France on July 14, 1789. This action marked the beginning of the French Revolution. Find out more about these events by investigating a variety of primary and secondary sources linked to…

World Spotlight: France

World Spotlight: France

Creating French Culture: Treasures from the Bibliothèque nationale de France online exhibition France primary source set World Digital Library France maps France image set French image set Films related to France France mentions in the Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection French American life histories French/France song recordings France/French sheet music U.S. historical newspaper coverage: France U.S. historical newspapers published in French Correspondence & other texts related…

A series of statistical charts illustrating the condition of the descendants of former African slaves now in residence in the United States of America

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Condition of the Descendants of Former African Slaves

Why is the information provided in both English and French? The pie graph gives statistics for which group of people? Use the information provided in this text as well as the bibliographic record to determine one or more purposes of this text. What other observations, reflections or questions does this source inspire? Let us know!…

Grape shot found near Fort Necessity

Today in History: Fort Necessity & the French and Indian War

Today in History–June 4–the Library of Congress features Fort Necessity near Uniontown, Pennsylvania. On this date in 1754, the young Colonel George Washington and his troops were hard at work constructing the makeshift stronghold to protect themselves from French aggression. Less than a month later, however, Washington and his troops were surrounded and forced to surrender to French troops on…

Historical map American Expeditionary Force

Guided Primary Source Analysis: American Expeditionary Force map

The Americans who participated in the liberation of France were shocked by the devastation and the suffering of French civilians who had lost their homes, their livelihood, and their lives during the war. The compassion of the soldiers of the American Expeditionary Forces for the French people generated many popular songs such as “The Tale…

Today in History: Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre

Today in History: Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre

Today in History–November 18–the Library of Congress features French photography pioneer Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre, born on this day in 1789. The daguerreotype was a convenient and effective process which rapidly gained in the United States. Learn more about Daguerre and the daguerreotype by visiting the Today in History section and following the links below. America’s First Look into the Camera: Daguerreotype Portraits and Views,…