Jeanette Rankin was the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1916. Learn more about this remarkable citizen by clicking the links below. Primary sources Jeanette Rankin image set "'Wonder-Woman' is Miss Jeannette Rankin; Will be First of Sex to Sit in Congress" Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA), November 11, 1916 "I can't vote for war" Jeanette Rankin in Atlanta Journal April 6, 1917 Ms. Jeanette Rankin: The Lady from Montana The New York Times … [Read more...]
Primary Source Spotlight: Tuskegee Airmen
February 26, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Online exhibition items Tuskegee Airmen Breaking Flight Barriers Tuskegee Airmen with Lena Horne The 332nd Fighter Group Tuskegee Airmen image set Tuskegee Airmen in Art Exhibit The Detroit Tribune. (Detroit, Mich.), 01 Sept. 1945 Tuskegee pilots historical newspaper coverage 332nd Fighter Group historical newspaper coverage 332nd Fighter Group veteran oral history collections WWII Reunion: Tuskegee Airmen streaming webcast Patriotism, Courage, Discipline, Skill … [Read more...]
Primary Source Spotlight: Skating
February 9, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Figure skating "International Style" Figure Skating Championship March 20, 1914 from America's Library Ice-dancing, St. Moritz photograph Timeline & select historical newspaper articles More historical newspaper articles related to figure skating Olympic figure skating historical newspaper coverage How to become a skater; containing full instructions for excelling at figure and speed skating 1904 illustrated book A handbook of figure skating arranged for use on the … [Read more...]
Primary Source Spotlight: Gordon Parks
February 7, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Gordon Parks was born on Nov. 30, 1912 and died on March 7, 2006. A highly influential photographer, he contributed to the Farm Security Administration, Life Magazine, and Vogue, and also wrote books and poetry, composed music, and directed movies. Gordon Parks photographs Trumpet Awards honorees Tom Bradley, Gordon Parks, Maya Angelou and others 1994 photograph Gordon Parks mention in The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.), 06 Nov. 1948 Gordon Parks in Today in History Gordon … [Read more...]
World Spotlight: Italy
January 18, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Library blog posts related to Italy European Month of Culture: Spotlight on Italy In the Muse May 13, 2016 Alan Lomax in Italy: a letter to Goffredo Plastino Folklife Today May 21, 2015 Deciphering the Land: An Unknown Estate Survey Book from Late Sixteenth and Early Seventeenth Century Italy Worlds Revealed: Geography & Maps February 19, 2016 The Italian Legislative Procedure In Custodia Legis June 17, 2013 Law, a Curse and Life in an Italian Ghetto In Custodia Legis … [Read more...]
Today in History: Haiti
January 2, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Today in History–January 2–the Library of Congress features Haiti. On this date in 1893 Frederick Douglass, who once served as U.S. minister to this caribbean country, delivered an address at the dedication of the Haitian Pavilion at the World’s Columbian Exposition. Learn more Douglass' speech and the country by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access related primary and secondary sources. Lecture on Haiti, Frederick Douglass, January 2, 1893 Frederick … [Read more...]
Today in History: Hoover Dam
December 21, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Today in History–December 21–the Library of Congress features the Hoover Dam, which got its start when President Calvin Coolidge signed the Boulder Canyon Project Act on this date in 1928. Originally known as the Boulder Dam, this wonder of civil engineering distributes water from the Colorado River for use in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Learn more by reading the Today in History section, then click the links below for related primary sources. The … [Read more...]
World Spotlight: Israel
December 14, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Places in the News: Israel January 2006 July 2006 May 2008 May 2011 Lebanon / Israel : February 2005 Lebanon / Israel : August 2006 Syria/Israel: January 2000 Syria/Israel: October 2000 Israel country study Israel country profile BBC Israel timeline BBC Israel primary source set World Digital Library Israel maps The children of Israel Egypt Israel peace treaty Israel image set Israel sheet music Israel song recordings U.S. veteran oral … [Read more...]
Today in History: Halifax Explosion
December 6, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Today in History–December 6–TPS-Barat features the Halifax explosion, which occurred on this day in 1917. The largest man-made explosion in history, killed nearly 2,000, injured around 9,000, and left approximately 6,000 people homeless. It's a story of local devastation but also of multinational cooperation. Click the primary sources and other resources below to learn more. Halifax explosion image set Report on the explosion 7th December, 1917 Canadian War Museum Report of the Halifax … [Read more...]
Today in History: Sacramento, California
November 25, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Today in History–November 25–the Library of Congress features Sacramento, California, a boom town during the mid-19th-century gold rush. By 1854 the city had become the state capital. Learn more about the city of Sacramento by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more primary sources. Pioneer Life in Sacramento from America's Library Sacramento maps Sacramento images In the Sacramento valley sheet music First-person narratives mentioning … [Read more...]
U.S. declares war on Spain. Check out our 
Ella Fitzgerald born. Check out our 
