Today in History: Jelly Roll Morton

Today in History: Jelly Roll Morton

Today in History–July 10–the Library of Congress features jazz pianist Jelly Roll Morton, who died on this day in 1941. Born Ferdinand Joseph La Menthe in New Orleans, Louisiana, Morton billed himself as “Jelly Roll” while playing minstrel and vaudeville shows. In addition to jazz, Morton also played ragtime, blues and spirituals. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then follow the links below to…

Presidential Spotlight: James Buchanan

Presidential Spotlight: James Buchanan

James Buchanan inauguration primary source set James Buchanan speeches Inaugural address March 4, 1857 First annual message to Congress December 8, 1857 Second annual message to Congress December 6, 1858 Third annual message to Congress December 19, 1859 Fourth annual message to Congress December 3, 1860 James Buchanan and Harriet Lane Johnston Papers James Buchanan correspondence & court documents The agitation of slavery. Who commenced! And who can…

State Spotlight: New Hampshire

State Spotlight: New Hampshire

New Hampshire primary source set with Teacher’s Guide New Hampshire maps Pictorial Americana: Selected images of New Hampshire More New Hampshire images New Hampshire historical newspapers 1756-1837 Reports and books related to New Hampshire Correspondence and other texts related to New Hampshire New Hampshire oral histories & songs Sheet music related to New Hampshire Videos and films related to New…

World Spotlight: Canada

World Spotlight: Canada

Canada primary sources from the World Digital Library Canada maps Books & other texts about Canada Reports & correspondence related to Canada Canada U.S. historical newspaper coverage Canada images Historic films featuring Canada Canada/Canadian song recordings Canada/Canadian sheet music U.S. legislation related to Canada Guide to Law Online: Canada In Custodia Legis blog posts related to Canada Canada country profile BBC…

Today in History: Tennessee Secedes

Today in History: Tennessee Secedes

Today in History–June 8–the Library of Congress features Tennessee, which voted in favor of secession by two-to-one on this date in 1861. Tennessee resident and future president Andrew Johnson broke with his party over this issue. Find out more about about this era by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access thousands of Tennessee state primary sources from the Library. Tennessee primary…

Today in History: Montana

Today in History: Montana

Today in History–May 26–the Library of Congress features Montana, which first became a territory on this date in 1864 approximately four years after gold was discovered. Twenty-five years later, in 1889, Montana became the forty-first state. Numerous Native American tribes called Montana home and many still do. Learn more about big sky country by visiting the Today in History section, then follow the…

Today in History: General James Longstreet

Today in History: General James Longstreet

Today in History–May 6–the Library of Congress features General James Longstreet. On this day in 1864, this officer of the Confederate Army was seriously wounded by his own troops during the second day of fighting at the Battle of the Wilderness near Fredericksburg, Virginia. A career military man who was educated at West Point, was second-in-command to General Robert E. Lee. The Confederate leader…

Presidential Spotlight: Warren G. Harding

Presidential Spotlight: Warren G. Harding

Ask students to deduce which man in the picture above is President Warren G. Harding, using specific details from the image to support their answer. Presidential Election of 1920 resource guide Warren G. Harding 1921 presidential inauguration primary source set Warren G. Harding images President Harding and Calvin Coolidge film Warren G. Harding-Carrie Fulton Phillips correspondence…

State Spotlight: Ohio

State Spotlight: Ohio

Ohio stories from America’s Library Ohio primary source set with Teacher’s Guide Ohio maps Ohio images from American Memory More Ohio images Ohio films Ohio books & articles Ohio reports, correspondence & other texts Ohio historical newspaper collection Ohio sheet music Ohio songs & oral histories (audio recordings) Ohio legislation Ohio Guide to Law Online First American West: The Ohio…