Today in History: Charles Darwin & Teaching Evolution

Today in History: Charles Darwin & Teaching Evolution

Today in History–May 5–the Library of Congress features the controversy surrounding teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. On this date in 1925 John Scopes was arrested for teaching evolution in a Tennessee public high school. Originally conceived as both a test case and a publicity stunt, Scopes went to trial and was found guilty. Later, the Tennessee Supreme Court acquitted…

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…

Herbert Hoover

Presidential Spotlight: Herbert Hoover

Herbert Hoover brief bio Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover: American Famine relief Campaign song of Herbert Hoover 1829 presidential opponent Herbert Hoover 1930 judicial nomination of John Parker Herbert Hoover inauguration primary source set Herbert Hoover: Executive Order 5398 – Establishing the Veterans’ Administration The American Presidency Project Herbert Hoover mentions in the Foreign Affairs Oral…

Pres. L.B. Johnson signs the 1968 Civil Rights Bill

Presidential Spotlight: Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon B. Johnson oath of office Nov. 22, 1963 image and audio file Lyndon B. Johnson inauguration primary source set Jan. 20, 1965 Vice President Johnson Was Assigned the Task of Unifying the U.S. Satellite Programs Jun. 24, 1961 from America’s Library Retreat from Armageddon? Khrushchev, Kennedy, Johnson and the Elusive Quest for Peace webcast Judgment Days: Lyndon Baines…

Today in History: Charles Julius Guiteau

Today in History: Charles Julius Guiteau

Today in History–December 31–the Library of Congress features presidential assassin Charles Julius Guiteau. On this date in 1881, Guiteau penned a New Year’s letter to his jailer while awaiting trial for the assassination of President James Garfield.  On July 2, 1881 Guiteau had shot the newly elected president who died seventy-nine days later of infections from the bullet wound. Guiteau’s trial…

The slaves' dream

Primary Source Spotlight: Slavery (U.S.)

Library slavery collections Slave narratives Frederick Douglass primary source set Frances Ann Kemble primary source set Books Correspondence & early texts Other texts Legislation Slavery newspapers Slavery maps Slave song recordings Slavery sheet music Slavery image set Slavery political cartoons PSN curated primary source collections related to slavery Library blog posts related to slavery Primary Source…

Presidential Spotlight: Dwight D. Eisenhower

Presidential Spotlight: Dwight D. Eisenhower

From America’s Library: Dwight D. Eisenhower Born: October 14, 1890 Died: March 28, 1969 Dwight David Eisenhower was an inspiring military leader, best-selling author, head of Columbia University, and president of the United States. As the top American general and later Allied Supreme Commander in the European theater, he directed Allied forces in World War…

Benjamin Harrison

Presidential Spotlight: Benjamin Harrison

Term: 23rd President of the United States (1889–1893) Born: August 20, 1833, North Bend, Ohio Nickname: “Kid Gloves Harrison,” “Little Ben” Education: Miami University (Ohio), graduated 1852 Religion: Presbyterian Marriage: October 20, 1853, to Caroline Lavinia Scott (1832–1892) April 6, 1896, to Mary Scott Lord Dimmick (1858–1948) Children: Russell Benjamin (1854–1936), Mary Scott (1858–1930), Elizabeth…

Presidential Spotlight: Chester A. Arthur

Presidential Spotlight: Chester A. Arthur

Today in History (September 20): Chester A. Arthur Chester Alan Arthur Papers The death of President Garfield–Judge Brady administering the Presidential oath to Vice-President Arthur Chester A. Arthur images & political cartoons Chester Arthur Papers webcast Chester A. Arthur books & other texts Topics in Chronicling America – Presidential Administrations: Chester A. Arthur (1881-1886) More historical newspaper…

Texas coming in

Today in History: Texas Annexation

Today in History–June 23–the Library of Congress features the vote for annexation of Texas by the United States on this date in 1845. Texas had tried for statehood back in 1836 after gaining independence from Mexico but the U.S. Congress was unwilling to admit another state that permitted slavery. But by December 29, 1845, Texas became the twenty-eighth state in the…

The White House Wedding

Today in History: Grover Cleveland

Today in History–June 2–the Library of Congress features President Grover Cleveland, who married Frances Folsom in a White House ceremony on this date in 1886. A lawyer, Cleveland began his political career as mayor of Buffalo, New York, becoming governor of the state the following year and President of the United States just a few years later in 1885. He…