John Adams, 2nd President of the United States

Presidential Spotlight: John Adams

From America’s Library: Born: October 30 (October 19, Old Style), 1735, in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts Died: July 4, 1826, in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts John Adams worked as a teacher and lawyer before dedicating himself to a life of patriotism and politics. He was America’s second president. Adams was well known for his extreme political independence,…

Texas

State Spotlight: Texas

Texas stories from America’s Library Texas primary source set with Teacher’s Guide Texas maps Pictorial Americana: selected images of Texas More Texas images Texas historical films Texas sheet music Songs & oral histories related to Texas Texas veterans oral histories Texas personal narratives from the American Folklife Center Texas Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers’ Project Texas stories: Voices From the Days of Slavery Texas books & other texts 1800-1929…

Alabama lullaby

State Spotlight: Alabama

Alabama stories from America’s Library Alabama primary source set with teacher’s guide Alabama resource guide Alabama image set Alabama maps Alabama sheet music Songs & oral histories related to Alabama Alabama veterans oral histories Alabama personal narratives Alabama books & other texts Alabama historical newspapers Alabama related webcasts Alabama related legislation Alabama Guide to Law Online More curated primary collections related to Alabama More U.S. state…

The landing-place near cathedral, Belgrade, Servia

World Spotlight: Serbia

Serbia primary source set World Digital Library Serbia maps Serbian image set Што се боре мисли моје (Serbian song recording) Foreign Affairs oral histories mentioning Serbia Historic U.S. newspaper coverage of Serbia (through 1922) U.S. legislation related to Serbia Guide to Law Online: Serbia Country Study: Former Yugoslavia

Washington's prominent figures listen to Marian Anderson's singing

Today in History: Marian Anderson

Today in History–January 7–the Library of Congress features singer Marian Anderson, who made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on his day in 1955. Barred from attending a Philadelphia music school because of her race, Anderson’s family, friends and church helped fund private voice lessons. Although she toured Europe and the United States extensively, Anderson continued to suffer…

Altgeld, John P., portrait photograph

Today in History: John Peter Altgeld

Today in History–December 30–the Library of Congress features politician John Peter Altgeld, born on this day in 1847. A lawyer, Altgeld served as a city attorney and a county prosecutor before serving on the bench of Cook County’s Superior Court from 1886 to 1891. In 1892 he was elected governor of Illinois. A progressive, Altgeld passed penal and legal…

King of Persia/Shah of Iran

World Spotlight: Iran

Iran country study Iran country profile Iran country profile BBC Iran timeline BBC Places in the News: Iran April 2007 April 2009 December 2010 June 2011 April 2013 Iran primary source set World Digital Library Iran maps Iran image set Persia image set Featured Image: The Book of Kings Books & articles about Iran Films & webcasts related to Iran Persia; Concert polka (sheet…

Walter Johnson, Washington Nationals, baseball card portrait

Today in History: Walter Johnson

Today in History–December 10–the Library of Congress features baseball player Walter Johnson, who died on this day in 1946. Johnson played 21 seasons with the Washington Senators and later became the team’s manager. Nicknamed “The Big Train”, Johnson is considered to have one of the best fastball pitchers ever. His accomplishments include the following: scored more…

Sod house, Custer County, Nebraska

State Spotlight: Nebraska

Nebraska stories from America’s Library Nebraska primary source set with Teacher’s Guide Prairie Settlement: Nebraska Photographs and Family Letters Nebraska images Nebraska maps Nebraska sheet music Nebraska oral history, speech & song recordings Nebraska books & other texts Nebraska historical newspapers U.S. legislation related to Nebraska Nebraska Guide to Law Online Literature Links: My Daniel – Hunting dinosaurs in Nebraska More Nebraska-related posts on PSN More U.S….

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier

Primary Source Spotlight: Illinois Civil War Resources

Illinois Civil War books (1800-1929) Illinois Civil War sheet music Illinois Civil War maps Illinois Civil War image set More Illinois Civil War images Illinois soldier historic newspaper coverage (1860-65) “The Union. V. Illinois and Missouri Compared” Continental monthly: devoted to literature and national policy Volume 3, Issue 3, March 1863 YouTube videos Illinois During the Civil War,…