"African American Perspectives" gives a panoramic and eclectic review of African American history and culture and is primarily comprised of two collections in the Rare Book and Special Collections Division: the African American Pamphlet Collection and the Daniel A.P. Murray Collection with a date range of 1822 through 1909. Most were written by African-American authors, though some were written by others on topics of particular importance in African-American history. Among the authors … [Read more...]
Primary Source Spotlight: U.S. Presidential Inaugurations
January 18, 2021 by Leave a Comment
"I Do Solemnly Swear..." U.S. Presidential Inaugurations primary source sets “I Do Solemnly Swear...” Inaugural Materials from the Collections of the Library of Congress online exhibition Inaugurations: Stepping into History presentation An Orderly Transition The Inaugural Address Looking Back and Looking Ahead Select historical newspaper articles The Inaugural--The Past Reign, the Coming Reign The Herald (New York [N.Y.]), March 7, 1837 (Martin Van Buren) William … [Read more...]
World Spotlight: Afghanistan
September 18, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Afghanistan country profile Afghanistan country profile BBC Afghanistan timeline BBC Places in the News: Afghanistan June 2016 October 2015 May 2011 September 2011 December 2011 July 2010 August 2009 January 2008 October 2001 Afghanistan primary source set World Digital Library The Great Game and Afghanistan story map Voices from Afghanistan online exhibition highlighting citizen letters Afghanistan maps The Great Game and Afghanistan story … [Read more...]
Primary Source Spotlight: Margaret Chase Smith
March 26, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Historical newspaper coverage: Representative Margaret Chase Smith Historical newspaper coverage: Senator Margaret Chase Smith Margaret Chase Smith image set Margaret Chase Smith brief bio and image set Margaret Chase Smith Library Margaret Chase Smith biography and bibliography United States House of Representatives Margaret Chase Smith: A Declaration of Conscience background with link to her speech United States Senate The Senator Who Stood Up to Joseph McCarthy When No One … [Read more...]
Primary Source Learning: U.S. Constitution
September 7, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Constitution Annotated analysis & interpretation of the U.S. Constitution Primary source lesson plans & activities American Memory Timeline: Primary Source Excerpts and Discussion Questions Related to the Constitution The Constitution: Counter Revolution or National Salvation? The Constitution: Drafting a More Perfect Union Encouraging Student Understanding of Negotiation and the Value of Notetaking during the 1787 Constitutional Convention Teaching with the Library of … [Read more...]
Guided Primary Source Analysis: Presenting Party Platforms
November 1, 2016 by Leave a Comment
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 your findings using specific details from the maps to support your conclusions. Now compare and contrast the textual information presented on each … [Read more...]
NHD 2017: CMHEC Topic Ideas – Politics, Law, Economy, Arts, Culture
October 13, 2016 by Leave a Comment
These curated resource lists coincide with the order of the topic ideas listed in the Chicago Metro History Fair (formerly CMHEC) NHD 2017 theme-related topic ideas. The links lead to resources from the Primary Source Nexus and the Library of Congress (LOC.gov) unless otherwise noted. Note: U.S. historic newspaper coverage is from 1789-1922 unless otherwise noted. Albert Parsons Inside/Outside Politics Albert Parsons anarchist historic newspaper coverage International Working People's … [Read more...]
Presidential Spotlight: Barack Obama
February 4, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Barack Obama first inauguration primary source set January 20, 2009 Barack Obama second inauguration primary source set January 21, 2013 President-Elect Obama To Take Oath of Office on Lincoln-Inaugural Bible News from the Library of Congress December 23, 2008 The Lincoln Bible used by Barack Obama at his first inauguration The Book Lincoln and Obama Have In Common video Foreign Affairs oral histories mentioning Barack Obama Barak Obama being sworn in as President of the United … [Read more...]
Guided Primary Source Analysis: Spiro Agnew parody
September 24, 2014 by Leave a Comment
What do you think the artist is trying to tell you through this poster? What details support your conclusion? Find out more about Spiro Agnew. Read the following curator notes: Anything Goes: Caricature Since the 1960s: Edward Sorel, Author and Caricaturist. What three reasons are given for the resurgence of caricature in the mid-1960s? What more did you learn about the art of caricature from the notes? The title of the featured poster mentions that it is a parody. Explain why you think or … [Read more...]
Guided Primary Source Analysis: Monopoly Brothers Supported by the Little Consumer
September 9, 2014 by Leave a Comment
What is the setting of this political cartoon? What details in the source support your conclusion? How is the consumer depicted in this cartoon? How do the coal strikers compare to the trusts? What details in the source support your conclusions? Gov. Osborn is literally jumping on the "Taft bandwagon" in the cartoon. What does this detail suggest about this governor? Now read the bibliographic record. What more did you learn about the political situation in 1912 commented on in … [Read more...]
Richard Nixon began historic visit to China. Check out our 