Today in History–October 4–the Library of Congress features President Rutherford B. Hayes, born on this day in 1822. After a bitterly contested election, Hayes became the nineteenth president of the United States in 1877 thanks to the vote of a special electoral commission. Learn more about Rutherford’s fascinating four years as chief executive by reviewing the Today in History section then click the…
The Teaching with Library of Congress blog provides some great tips for finding articles in the Chronicling America Historic Newspaper Collections and provides some teaching ideas as well. Be sure to check out, too, the following learning activity: Comparing Reports: Battle of Little Bighorn. Below is a list of topic guides by subject, each of which…
Today in History–September 29–the Library of Congress features the official establishment of the U.S. military by Congress on this day in 1789. The act, spurred on by President George Washington, legalized the existing U.S. Army, a small force inherited from the Continental Congress that had been created under the Articles of Confederation. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then…
Today in History–September 28–the Library of Congress features William Christopher Handy, whose song the “Memphis Blues” was published on this date in 1912. Handy introduced the blues into mainstream music and became known as the father of the blues. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access a rich collection of blues music…
Today in History–September 27–the Library of Congress features champion golfer Kathy Whitworth, born on this day in 1939 Whitworth is the winningest golfer in history. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then check out more golf and sports primary source sets. Champion golfer Kathy Whitworth from America’s Library Kathy Whitworth historical newspaper coverage Topics in Chronicling America…
Today in History–September 23–the Library of Congress features Mary Church Terrell, born on this day in 1863. One of the first African American women to graduate from college, Terrell worked as an educator, political activist, and first president of the National Association of Colored Women. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section and clicking the links below. Mary Church Terrell primary source set Mary…
Today in History–September 15–the Library of Congress features William Howard Taft, born on this day in 1857. Taft had a very active political career that included two of our country’s highest posts, President and Supreme Court Chief Justice. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more primary sources about William H. Taft….
Today in History–September 14–the Library of Congress features Harvard University, named in honor of its first benefactor, John Harvard, who died on this day in 1638. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more primary sources related to this venerable institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard images Harvard sheet music Harvard…
Today in History–September 6–the Library of Congress features Jane Addams, born on this day in 1860. Addams went on to found Hull House, which provided welfare assistance to needy families and recreation facilities for poor children, and was awarded a Nobel peace prize in 1931. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more…
Today in History–August 31–the Library of Congress features the awarding of a federal patent for a kinetographic camera—the forerunner to the motion picture film projector—to Thomas A. Edison on this date in 1897. Find out more by reading the Today in History section and accessing the resources below. Edison’s kinetographic films and parlors Kinetograph historical newspaper coverage Inventing Entertainment: the Motion Pictures and Sound…
Today in History–August 10–the Library of Congress features Missouri, which entered the Union this day in 1821, becoming the twenty-fourth state. Commonly known as the Show Me State, you can learn more about the state’s history and culture by visiting the Today in History section, then following the links below to access more primary source treasures. Missouri stories from America’s Library Missouri primary source set…
Today in History–August 8–the Library of Congress features journalist, short-story writer and novelist Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, born on this day in 1896. Rawlings received a Pulitzer prize for her novel The Yearling in 1938. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more women writer resources. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings resources Short-story Writer and Novelist Marjorie…