Today in History—March 25—the Library of Congress features the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. On this date in 1911, nearly 150 workers, many of whom were young, recent immigrants, lost their lives in this tragic incident. The tragedy did, however, help spur countless workers to organize for greater safety protections. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then follow the links below…
Frances Perkins images Frances Perkins historical newspaper coverage Correspondence and other texts related to Frances Perkins Frances Perkins Columbia University Libraries Oral History Research Office Contemporary legislation related to Frances Perkins Frances Perkins: Architect of the New Deal JSTOR Daily Promoting the General Welfare: Frances Perkins In Custodia Legis Frances Perkins, the Woman Behind FDR…
Labor strategists confer with heads image Jan. 12, 1937 Head of U.A.W. (United Auto Workers) Women’s Auxiliary kitchen set up in a restaurant image Jan.-Feb., 1937 More Flint strike photos Flint factory video Flint sit down 1936-37 historical newspaper coverage Flint strike 1936-37 historical newspaper coverage The Flint, Michigan, Sit-Down Strike resource guide Flint Sit-Down Strike (1936-1937)…
In “Spreading the Word for a Cause” from the Teaching with with the Library of Congress blog, Teaching with Primary Sources intern Haleigh Reutershan provides examples of primary sources that helped spread information and encourage people to unite and support causes in the times before social media. She then offers suggestions for guiding questions and…
Unit & lesson plans Teaching Now: Learning About (Dis)ability in History- An Inquiry for Elementary Students Learning from the Source: (Dis)ability History How Disability Activists Created Change Ancient Rome’s Veterans with Disabilities: Roman Accounts and U.S. Veteran Comparisons Activities Accessibility Aids Child Labor in the Early 1900s Disabled Newsies League of the Physically Handicapped’s Protests…
Look closely at this source and respond to the questions below. Where is your eye drawn to first? Next? After? What do you notice about the source’s design? What, in particular, stands out to you? Why do you think this source was created? How do you know? (Be sure to point to evidence from the…
Anna Klobuchar Clemenc (Clements), also known as “Big Annie” and America’s Joan of Arc, is the central character in The Women of Copper Country, a historical novel by Maria Doria Russell. Set in Upper Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula in 1913, the novel chronicles the work of Anna and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Western Federation of Miners….
Today in History–May 1–the Library of Congress features May Day. Originally a celebration of spring, May Day later became a day to celebrate workers and is still celebrated as such in many countries around the world. It was first celebrated in the United States in 1887, a year after the conflict between labor protestors and…
Look carefully at the photograph above and respond to the following questions. What do you notice first? What else do you see? What details can you point to? What might those details tell you about this woman and what she is doing? What might those details tell you about why this photo was taken, or…
Zoom into this 1888 presidential election document online or in a .pdf document. Look closely at the graphical elements of the complete document and compare and contrast the presentation of information in the Harrison and Cleveland maps. Which is more pleasing visually and why? How does the visual presentation affect the tone of each map? Describe…
Today in History–September 05–the Library of Congress features the first Labor Day, celebrated on this date in 1882. Organized by New York’s Central Labor Union, a representative group made up of from many local unions, the celebration featured a parade, picnic, concert, and speeches. This event inspired others around the country. In 1887 Oregon became the first state to declare Labor…
Leading the procession from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial More A. Philip Randolph images A. Philip Randolph historical newspaper coverage The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters A. Philip Randolph letter to NAACP Secretary Walter White March 18, 1941 The Negro in National Defense 1941 poster Why Should We March? 1941 flyer Executive Order 8802: Prohibition of…