Today in History–April 7–the Library of Congress features jazz singer Billie Holiday, born on this date in 1915 in Baltimore, Maryland. Although she had no formal music training, Holiday arranged and composed music in addition to singing. Her 1939 rendition of Lewis Allan’s “Strange Fruit,” a song about lynching, was described in the liner notes to Immortal Sessions of…
Chicago Cubs image set Search for more Chicago Cubs images in Mapping an American Pastime Wrigley Field historic image set World Series of 1908 historic newspaper coverage Cubs Capture Place in Finals of Grand Grapple for Title, The Washington Times (Washington, D.C.), October 9, 1908, Last Edition, Page 10, Image 10, Cols. 1-5. Cubs Look…
Today in History–March 31–the Library of Congress features the U.S. Virgin Islands. On this date in 1917, the United States took formal possession of the Danish West Indies, renaming them the Virgin Islands. The U.S. purchased the islands from Denmark for $25 million because of their strategic location near the Panama Canal. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section,…
Massachusetts primary source set with Teacher’s Guide Massachusetts maps Pictorial Americana: Selected images of Massachusetts More Massachusetts images The Mohawk Trail Region primary source set Photographs of the sea floor of western Massachusetts Bay July 1999 Films and event recordings related to Massachusetts Massachusetts oral histories Massachusetts song recordings Massachusetts sheet music Song sheets related to Massachusetts Massachusetts books &…
New York state primary source set with teacher’s guide New York state resource guide New York state maps Greater New York Illustrated (1899) Pictorial Americana: Selected images of New York state New York state images New York state books & articles New York historical newspapers New York state reports, printed ephemera, correspondence & other texts New York…
Today in History–March 17–the Library of Congress features St. Patrick’s Day. This Irish and Irish-American holiday commemorates the death of the patron saint of Ireland who, as legend has it, died on this date circa 492. The holiday has been celebrated in the United States since the 18th century. Across the country today, many people celebrate with parades and…
Today in History–March 14–the Library of Congress features the official opening of the Sutro Baths on this date in 1896. The Sutro Baths was an extravagant public bathhouse just north of Cliff House, another popular San Francisco attraction also owned by a former city mayor, Adolph Sutro. Learn more about these baths by the sea by visiting the Today in History section, then following the…
Today in History–March 10–the Library of Congress features Alexander Graham Bell, who made the first successful telephone call to his assistant Thomas Watson on this date in 1876. An audiologist, speech therapist and teacher of the deaf, Bell’s knowledge of the nature of sound likely encourage his experimentation. Another Bell invention was a metal detector, that was created to help…
Today in History–March 4–the Library of Congress features the first inauguration of President Abraham Lincoln, conducted on this date in 1861. Times were tense and Lincoln delivered his inaugural address under the guard of riflemen. In the speech he called for compromise and appealed for the preservation of the Union. Learn more about President Lincoln’s first day in office by…
Today in History–March 3–the Library of Congress features the largest recorded slave auction in U.S. history, held on this date in 1859. Referred to as “The Weeping Time”, the two-day auction of 436 men, women, and children formerly held by Pierce M. Butler was held pay off Butler’s financial losses from the crash of 1857-58 as well as…
Today in History–February 27–the Library of Congress features Mathew Brady who photographed presidential hopeful Abraham Lincoln before a speech on this day in 1860. At successful studio photographer, Brady set out to document the people, places and events of the Civil War. The historical impact of the endeavor is priceless but at the time, left him penniless. Find out…
Today in History–February 26–the Library of Congress features Acadia National Park in Maine. On this day in 1919, Congress approved an Act to Establish the Lafayette National Park at Mt. Desert Island. Ten years later this coastal Maine park expanded and was renamed Acadia National Park. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section then discovering the primary source linked to below. Acadia National Park…