Presidential Spotlight: Millard Fillmore

Presidential Spotlight: Millard Fillmore

Millard Fillmore’s messages to Congress Message to the Senate announcing the death of President Zachary Taylor  July 9, 1850 First Annual Message to Congress Second Annual Message to Congress Third Annual Message to Congress Documents The agitation of slavery. Who commenced! And who can end it!! Buchanan and Fillmore compared from the record. 1856 pamphlet “Read! Read!!” Being a reply…

Primary Source Spotlight: W.E.B. Du Bois

Primary Source Spotlight: W.E.B. Du Bois

From America’s Library: Born: February 23, 1868 Died: August 27, 1963 William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was a noted scholar, editor, and African American activist. Du Bois was a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP — the largest and oldest civil rights organization in America). Throughout his life Du Bois…

Presidential Spotlight: John Quincy Adams

Presidential Spotlight: John Quincy Adams

From America’s Library: Born: July 11, 1767 Died: Feb. 23, 1848 John Quincy Adams was the sixth president of the United States and the first son of a former president who himself became president. (George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush are the only other father-son presidents.) John Quincy Adams was well known for his diplomatic success…

State Spotlight: 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….

Primary Source Spotlight: Illinois Civil War Resources

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,…

Today in History: Keeping Time

Today in History: Keeping Time

Today in History–November 18–the Library of Congress features time. On this day in 1883, precisely at noon, North American railroads switched to Standard Railway Time (SRT). SRT was quickly adopted throughout the United States, resulting in the creation of four national time zones: eastern, central, mountain and Pacific. A year later, at an international conference in…

Today in History: Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Today in History: Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Today in History–November 12–the Library of Congress features women’s rights leader Elizabeth Cady Stanton, born on this date in 1815. The daughter of a judge, Stanton was devoted to her studies but her higher education aspirations were thwarted because of her gender. This experience helped inform her philosophy on individual rights. She later became a…

Today in History: John C. Calhoun

Today in History: John C. Calhoun

Today in History–March 18–the Library of Congress features politician John C. Calhoun, born on this date in 1782. Calhoun served as a congressman, senator, secretary of war, secretary of state, and vice president of the United States but may be best known for his defense of slavery, particularly in relation to the Nullification Proclamation and the Compromise of 1850. Learn…

Today in History: Daniel Webster

Today in History: Daniel Webster

Today in History–March 7–the Library of Congress features Senator Daniel Webster, who delivered his famous “Seventh of March” speech on this date in 1850. The speech advocated for sectional compromise on the issue of slavery and the legislation package now referred to as the Compromise of 1850. Learn more about this politician and the debate about slavery by visiting the Today in History section and clicking…

Today in History: William McKinley

Today in History: William McKinley

Today in History–September 06–the Library of Congress features President William McKinley, shot on this day in 1901 just six months after his second inauguration. President McKinley died eight days later, reportedly while singing his favorite hymn, “Nearer my God to Thee, Nearer to Thee“. Anarchist Leon Czolgosz is found guilty of assassinating the president and is executed less than two…