Primary Source  Spotlight: National Party Conventions

Primary Source Spotlight: National Party Conventions

Democratic National Conventions Democratic National Convention proceedings 1832-1952 available online Democratic National Convention texts James K. Polk to the Committee of the Democratic National Convention accepting the Democratic presidential nomination 12 June 1844 Gideon Welles Papers 1822-1878 Cincinnati Democratic Convention broadside September 1864  Letter of Geo. B. McClellan in acceptance of the nomination Chicago Convention…

Analyzing Primary Sources: Political Parties

Analyzing Primary Sources: Political Parties

In a fantastic series of posts on the Teaching with the Library blog, Educational Resources Specialist Colleen Call Smith details a number of different ways to dig into the Library’s Political Parties primary source set. Political Parties and Primary Sources: Civic ParticipationConsider ways in which oral histories provide a unique source for thinking about civic…

DNC ephemera

Analyzing Primary Sources: Technology & Presidential Nominating Conventions

Political conventions have been part of the presidential nominating process for many years, but where conventions are held, who attends, and what happens at them has changed over time. First, analyze sources related to the Democratic Party’s national conventions in 1928 and in 1960. What similarities do you see? What differences? In particular, look for…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Presenting Party Platforms

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Presenting Party Platforms

Zoom into this 1888 presidential election document online or in a .pdf document. Look closely at the graphical elements of the complete document and compare and contrast the presentation of information in the Harrison and Cleveland maps. Which is more pleasing visually and why? How does the visual presentation affect the tone of each map? Describe…

The call

Today in History: Progressive/Bull Moose Party

Today in History–June 22–the Library of Congress features the birth of the Progressive Party on this day in 1912. Led by Theodore Roosevelt, the Bull Moose Party promised to increase federal regulation and protect the welfare of ordinary citizens. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access related resources. Bull Moose…