Influenza spread by droplets sprayed from nose and throat

Primary Source Spotlight: Influenza

Early influenza sources An address of thanks from the faculty to the Right Honble, Mr. Influenzy for his kind visit to this country 1803 An account of the origin, symptoms, and cure of the influenza or epidemic catarrh 1832 Kartogramma “grippa”, oktiabrʹ 1889-mart 1890 shows occurrence of influenza by province (Russia) Influenza pandemic 1918-1919 Rampaging…

Barker at the grounds at the Vermont state fair

Today in History: County and State Fairs

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…

Visit Mt. Egmont, New Zealand Scenic trip by train

World Spotlight: New Zealand

Places in the News: New Zealand April 2009 September 2010 February 2011 September 2011 July 2013 New Zealand country profile BBC New Zealand timeline BBC New Zealand primary source set World Digital Library New Zealand maps New Zealand image set Books & reports about New Zealand Historical newspaper coverage of New Zealand U.S. veteran oral history collections (service…

Clara Barton

Today in History: Clara Barton & the Red Cross

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…

Forfeited guns

Primary Source Spotlight: Second Amendment & Gun Control

Bill of Rights Political cartoons Solution to Nothing Herb Block March 2, 1954 Sportsmen! Kids! Maniacs! Herb Block November 27, 1963 (source record) You Don’t Even Need to Limit Yourself to a Few People Herb Block December 29, 1964 (source record) Don’t Point That Thing at Me! Herb Block March 10, 1965 (source record) It’s like the gun lobby guys…

Israel

World Spotlight: Israel

Places in the News: Israel January 2006 July 2006 May 2008 May 2011 Lebanon / Israel : February 2005 Lebanon / Israel : August 2006 Syria/Israel: January 2000 Syria/Israel: October 2000 Israel country study Israel country profile BBC Israel timeline BBC Israel primary source set World Digital Library Israel maps The children of Israel Egypt Israel…

Halifax Explosion

Today in History: Halifax Explosion

Today in History–December 6–TPS-Barat features the Halifax explosion, which occurred on this day in 1917. The largest man-made explosion in history, killed nearly 2,000, injured around 9,000, and left approximately 6,000 people homeless. It’s a story of local devastation but also of multinational cooperation. Click the primary sources and other resources below to learn more….

Prince William Sound, Alaska

Today in History: Alaska

Today in History–November 20–the Library of Congress features the Alaska Highway, opened on this date in 1942. Originally known as the Alcan Highway, this 1,500-miles-long roadway connected Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to Fairbanks, Alaska. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more information and primary sources related to the great state of…

Showing them up

Primary Source Spotlight: Enemy Aliens & Internment During the World Wars

World War I Historical newspaper coverage Enemy alien historical newspaper coverage 1917-19 German internment historical newspaper coverage 1917-19 Political cartoons Stripped! N.Y. Evening World c1917 Showing them up – see the Herald’s enemy alien list I April 12, 1917 The Limit New York Herald March 3, 1918 The Breath of the Hun New York Herald March 28, 1918 Images Internment camp, Fort…

World Spotlight: Great Britain & the United Kingdom

World Spotlight: Great Britain & the United Kingdom

Great Britain—England, Scotland, and Wales—was established in 1707. Around a century later, together Great Britain and Ireland formed the United Kingdom though, today, only Northern Ireland remains part of the UK. The Library of Congress uses Great Britain in both descriptive and subject cataloging as the conventional form for the United Kingdom. Learning about Great Britain can…

Primary Source Spotlight: Denali National Park

Primary Source Spotlight: Denali National Park

Originally established as Mt. McKinley National Park in 1917, today Denali National Park encompasses 600 million acres of land from low lying taiga forests to the summit of America’s tallest peak Denali (20, 310 feet). Learn more about this magical place by clicking the links below. Alaska’s High Point from America’s Library Mt. McKinley National Park…