Primary Source Spotlight: South African Apartheid

A total view of South Africa lecture – novelist Alan Paton speaks on apartheid 1977 audio recording System of apartheid in South Africa Law Library report February 1991 South African Apartheid image set Historical U.S. newspaper coverage related to South African Apartheid from 1948 on South African Apartheid mentions in the Foreign Affairs Oral History…

Primary Source Learning: Inaugural Poems & Poets

Primary Source Learning: Inaugural Poems & Poets

Poetry has a long history of addressing and illuminating public issues and events but a disjointed and relatively short history of inclusion in presidential inauguration ceremonies. These moments, however, provide additional nuance to the state of the country during these important transitional moments in our nation. Use the links below to read and listen to…

Learning from the Source: Comparing & Contrasting Presidential Articles of Impeachment

Learning from the Source: Comparing & Contrasting Presidential Articles of Impeachment

What can we learn by comparing and contrasting the official articles of impeachment against the three U.S. presidents impeached by the House of Representatives? Johnson Impeachment – March 2, 1868 House of Representatives Articles of Impeachment for Andrew Johnson Supplement to the Congressional Globe U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774 – 1875 Congressional Globe, Senate,…

Timely Connections: Teaching About Presidential Impeachment

Timely Connections: Teaching About Presidential Impeachment

In the article, Teaching Impeachment in Politically Risky Times, Education Week discusses the issues teachers face in the current context and the importance of seizing this teachable moment. “For the nation’s government and civics teachers, it all comes down to this: The wheels of a rarely used, constitutionally prescribed process—impeachment—have been set in motion. And…

Primary Source Spotlight: Shirley Chisholm

Primary Source Spotlight: Shirley Chisholm

U.S. legislation Sponsored or Cosponsored by Representative Shirley Chisholm 1969-1983 U.S. legislation related to Representative Shirley Chisholm 1984 to present Shirley Chisholm image set Audio & video recordings related to Shirley Chisholm American Archive of Public Broadcasting Shirley Chisholm speech at Howard University April 21, 1969 American RadioWorks Aaron Dixon civil rights oral history transcript discussing Shirley…

Presidential Spotlight: Bill Clinton

Presidential Spotlight: Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton first inauguration primary source set January 20, 1993 Bill Clinton second inauguration primary source set January 20, 1997 Bob Hope and President Bill Clinton at National Medal of Arts presentations on the South Lawn of the White House October 5, 1995 Bill Clinton image set President Clinton mentions in the Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection Bill Clinton…

Presidential Spotlight: Ronald Reagan

Presidential Spotlight: Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan first inauguration primary source set January 20, 1981 Ronald Reagan second inauguration primary source set January 21, 1985 Ronald Reagan mentions in the Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection Governor Ronald Reagan 1966 photograph Ronald Reagan image set Ronbo satirical photomontage Herblock painting McCarthy, Nixon, Reagan, and Clinton Herb Block on Ronald Reagan political cartoons More Ronald…

Presidential Spotlight: Jimmy Carter

Presidential Spotlight: Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter inauguration primary source set January 20, 1977 President Jimmy Carter Signed the Panama Canal Treaty September 7, 1977 from America’s Library Jimmy Carter image set Carl Sagan Briefing notes for President Carter and Vice President Walter Mondale Political cartoonist Herb Block on President Jimmy Carter “Gee! A medal from Gen. Goldwater” July 2, 1976…

Presidential Spotlight: Gerald R. Ford

Presidential Spotlight: Gerald R. Ford

Legislation Sponsored or Cosponsored by Gerald R. Ford 93rd Congress (1973-1974) Gerald R. Ford oath of office August 9, 1974 Gerald Ford image set Political cartoonist Herb Block on Gerald Ford “Remember–don’t vote for anyone who would interfere with the way we’ve been handling things” October 30, 1974 (curator’s note: scroll to find) “It Helps Maintain a Better…

Today in History: George H.W. Bush

Today in History: George H.W. Bush

Today in History–January 6–the Library of Congress features George Herbert Walker Bush who married Barbara Pierce on this date in 1945 while on leave from active U.S. navy duty in World War II. Bush entered politics after a career in the Texas oil industry. He served in the House of Representatives in the 1960s and in the 1970s his political appointments…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Republics of the Soviet Union

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Republics of the Soviet Union

How many Soviet republics are shown on this map? Which three were not recognized by the U.S. government? Use the Library’s online zoom feature to compare and contrast this 1991 U.S. CIA map of the Soviet Republics to a 2009 U.S. CIA map of Russian administrative divisions. What major differences do you notice? How are republics referred to…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Cornell-Liberty Safety Car

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Cornell-Liberty Safety Car

Look closely at the drawing and use a magnifying glass to decipher the notes. What did you learn? What safety features are recommended? Use the two articles linked to below to create a Brief History of Motor Vehicle Safety in the United States; you may choose to write an article or develop a timeline, infographic,…