The Picture This blog from the Library of Congress shines a spotlight on landscape photographs. Micah Messenheimer, Curator of Photography, and a photographer himself, writes: When many people think of landscape photographs they think of wide-open spaces, empty of people. Yet, landscape photographs, by their nature, tell stories deeply tied to human interactions with the land. This is implied even in the origins of the word “landscape,” which at its root means the shape or condition of the … [Read more...]
Primary Source Spotlight: Charles Curtis
February 1, 2021 by Leave a Comment
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...]
Finding Resources: Library of Congress Flickr Commons
July 23, 2020 by Leave a Comment
The Library of Congress collaborated with Flickr in 2007 to launch the Commons with the mission of providing another outlet for copyright free images from its collections and the goal of enjoining the Flickr community to contribute information about the sources: “Please help make the photographs you enjoy more discoverable by adding tags and leaving comments. Your contributions and knowledge make these photos even richer.” Starting out with 3,100 images, the Library photostream has more than … [Read more...]
Primary Source Spotlight: Polio
May 28, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Historical newspaper coverage of polio A Special Report on Polio 1955 film U.S. legislation related to polio from 1985 Picture Books and Primary Sources: The Polio Pioneer: Dr. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine Primary source set to accompany the picture book, The Polio Pioneer Polio and Parallels to the Covid-19 Pandemic Emerging America What is Polio? CDC When Polio Was Defeated by a Vaccine…and a Seven-Year-Old Girl Now See Hear! blog post October 28, 2014 Whatever … [Read more...]
Learning from the Source: Pairing Pictures & Poems to Tell Stories
April 15, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Students learn the power of pairing pictures with poems to tell stories about historical and contemporary issues. Display the paired primary sources (Image 1 | Image 2), showing only the images (i.e., cover up the text) and inform students that the poem accompanying these illustrations has been removed. Ask them to predict what the poem is about using details from the images to support their conclusions. Display the bibliographic records for the sources and ask students what new … [Read more...]
Primary Source Spotlight: Supreme Court
September 12, 2018 by Leave a Comment
United States Reports official reports of decisions for the United States Supreme Court by Volume by Authoring Justice by Major Case Topic Supreme Court Nominations: Confirmed Supreme Court Nominations: Not Confirmed or Withdrawn U.S. legislation related to the Supreme Court 1973 and later The Supreme Court and the Constitution 1912 More books about the Supreme Court Supreme Court historical newspaper coverage Supreme Court image set Researching the U.S. … [Read more...]
Today in History: County and State Fairs
August 22, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Today in History–August 22–the Library of Congress features county and state fairs, many of which are held around this date. County and state fairs feature entertainment as well as showcase the agricultural industry and rural lifestyles. Learn more by reviewing the Today in History section, then click the links below to access primary sources & more. County and State Fairs from America's Library County fair images A rube couple at a county fair 1904 film County fair audio … [Read more...]
Today in History: Clara Barton & the Red Cross
May 21, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Today in History–May 21–TPS-Barat features Clarissa "Clara" Barton, who founded the Red Cross on this date in 1881. A former teacher, Barton was working in the U.S. patent office at the start of the Civil War. Despite having little nursing training, Barton administered aid to soldiers at several battlefields. After the war she established the Missing Soldier Office in Washington, D.C., led the effort to establish a national cemetery at Andersonville Prison, and, in 1881, founded the American Red … [Read more...]
Collection Spotlight: Women Photojournalists
March 19, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Below you will find links to biographies, images, and more resources related to women photojournalists from the Library of Congress. Documenting World War I: Women Photographers on the Front Lines Teaching with the Library of Congress Late 1800s and early 1900s Jessie Tarbox Beals (1870-1942) bio Ladies Behind the Lens Library of Congress Blog November 29, 2016 Birches at the Sprague Smith Studio (source record | curator note) More Jessie Tarbox Beals photographs … [Read more...]
Primary Source Spotlight: Gordon Parks
February 7, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Gordon Parks was born on Nov. 30, 1912 and died on March 7, 2006. A highly influential photographer, he contributed to the Farm Security Administration, Life Magazine, and Vogue, and also wrote books and poetry, composed music, and directed movies. Gordon Parks photographs History & Heritage, Joy & Humanity select photographs by Gordon Parks Trumpet Awards honorees Tom Bradley, Gordon Parks, Maya Angelou and others 1994 photograph Gordon Parks historical newspaper … [Read more...]
Louisiana Purchase Treaty ratified by the U.S. Senate. Check out our 