Politician Charles Curtis of Kansas was, as he liked to tell audiences, "one-eighth Kaw Indian and a one-hundred per cent Republican". He was a member of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, serving as Senate majority leader from 1924 until his inauguration as the 31st vice president in 1929. Representative Curtis historical newspaper coverage through 1907 Curtis Act: H.R. 8581 An Act for the protection of the people of Indian Territory June 23, 1898 Curtis Act … [Read more...]
Primary Source Spotlight: U.S. Presidential Inaugurations
"I Do Solemnly Swear..." U.S. Presidential Inaugurations primary source sets “I Do Solemnly Swear...” Inaugural Materials from the Collections of the Library of Congress online exhibition Inaugurations: Stepping into History presentation An Orderly Transition The Inaugural Address Looking Back and Looking Ahead Select historical newspaper articles The Inaugural--The Past Reign, the Coming Reign The Herald (New York [N.Y.]), March 7, 1837 (Martin Van Buren) William … [Read more...]
Primary Source Learning: U.S. Electoral College
Background & context The Electoral College – What Is It and How Does It Function? In Custodia Legis November 6, 2012 Electoral College Fast Facts US House of Representatives History, Art & Archives The Electoral College National Archives The Electoral College National Conference of State Legislators Research Guide: The Law of the Electoral College Contemporary articles Congress and the Case of the Faithless Elector History November 17, 2020, US House of … [Read more...]
Today in History: Belva Lockwood
Today in History—November 30—the In Custodia Legis blog features lawyer Belva Lockwood, the became the first woman to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court on this day in 1880. In that case—Kaiser v. Stickney—she represented a local property owner in a debt dispute. Although Lockwood lost this case, she returned to the Supreme Court in 1906, at the age of 76, representing the Eastern and Emigrant Cherokees in the United States v. Cherokee Nation. This time her arguments prevailed and the Court … [Read more...]
Primary Source Spotlight: 1876 Contested Presidential Election
From America's Library On the night of the 1876 presidential election, Republican candidate Rutherford B. Hayes went to bed early. He assumed that he had lost the election to his opponent, Democrat Samuel J. Tilden. Tilden did win the popular vote that night, but the Republicans challenged the validity of the electoral votes from three states. (Under the Electoral College, each state chooses electors to vote for the president.) A candidate must win the electoral vote to become … [Read more...]
World Spotlight: Afghanistan
Afghanistan country profile Afghanistan country profile BBC Afghanistan timeline BBC Places in the News: Afghanistan June 2016 October 2015 May 2011 September 2011 December 2011 July 2010 August 2009 January 2008 October 2001 Afghanistan primary source set World Digital Library The Great Game and Afghanistan story map Voices from Afghanistan online exhibition highlighting citizen letters Afghanistan maps The Great Game and Afghanistan story … [Read more...]
Today in History: March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
Today in History–August 28–the Library of Congress features the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, held on this day in 1963. Around a quarter million people participated in this non-violent demonstration for civil rights seeking, among other things, equal access to public accommodations, decent housing, adequate and integrated education, the right to vote, and job training. The six primary organizers and organizations for the March were: James Farmer, National Director of the Congress of … [Read more...]
World Spotlight: Lebanon
Lebanon country study Lebanon country profile BBC Lebanon timeline BBC Places in the News: Lebanon May 2007 June 2006 February 2005 Lebanon primary source set World Digital Library Lebanon maps Lebanon image set Books & articles about Lebanon Films & webcasts related to Lebanon U.S. veteran oral histories (service in Lebanon) Oral histories mentioning Lebanon from the Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection of the Association for Diplomatic … [Read more...]
Primary Source Spotlight: Bicycles
Free to Use and Reuse: Bicycles More Bicycle-related images Bicycling maps Bicycling films Bicycle sheet music Uncle Josh on a bicycle song recording "Shall Women Ride the Bicycle?" Elizabeth Cady Stanton [Mrs. Larson's [bicycle] Story] oral history "A brilliant idea: a comedy sketch" 1897 satirical commentary on gender identity and the liberation felt and practiced by women of the 19th century Bicycle printed ephemera Why not cycle abroad yourself? What a bicycle … [Read more...]