Group of 3 Navajo enlisted men at sea

Primary Source Spotlight: Indigenous Code Talkers

Code Talkers Recognition Act of 2008. Pub. L. 110–420, Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4774 , recognizing Native American code talkersRecognized the contributions of code talkers from thirteen other Native American nations: Assiniboine, Chippewa and Oneida, Choctaw, Comanche, Cree, Crow, Hopi, Kiowa, Menominee, Mississauga, Muscogee, Sac and Fox, and Sioux Choctaw Code Talkers Recognition Act…

Copy of Executive Order No. 9981 signed by President Harry. S. Truman

Today in History: Executive Orders 9980 & 9981

Today in History–July 26–the Primary Source Nexus features two presidential edicts signed by President Harry S. Truman on this date in 1948. Executive Orders 9980 and 9981 mandated, respectively, that “All personnel actions taken by Federal appointing officers shall be based solely on merit and fitness. . .” and “equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons…

Buffalo soldiers of the 25th Infantry, some wearing buffalo robes, Ft. Keogh, Montana

Primary Source Spotlight: Buffalo Soldiers

On June 28, 1866, the U.S. Congress passed An Act to Increase and Fix the Military Peace Establishment of the United States, which established four segregated African American infantry regiments and two cavalry regiments: the Ninth Cavalry, the Tenth Cavalry, the Thirty-eighth Infantry, the Thirty-ninth Infantry, the Fortieth Infantry, and the Forty-first Infantry. According to…

Primary Source Spotlight: Harlem Hellfighters

Primary Source Spotlight: Harlem Hellfighters

The Harlem Hellfighters was a German nickname for the African-American 369th Infantry Regiment, which ended up lauded for its valor. The regiment was also famous for its musicians, led by Lieutenant James Reese Europe. Discover more with this collection of secondary and primary sources. Secondary sources Harlem Hell Fighters: African-American Troops in World War I Headlines and…

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…

Washington chapter, Oct. 1917

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Washington Chapter 1917

Use the Library of Congress primary source analysis tool to analyze this image. What did you discover? What is the Washington Chapter and what are they doing? What more can you learn from the bibliographic record? Review some related historical newspaper articles to find out more. What did you learn? In what ways did your…

Armistice Day Tribute

Today in History: Veterans Day

Today in History–November 11–the Library of Congress features Veterans Day, first celebrated as Armistice Day on this date in 1919. Designated by President Woodrow Wilson on the date the Allied powers signed a ceasefire agreement with Germany, Armistice Day was designated Veterans Day in 1954 to honor veterans of all U.S. wars. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section…

Image from The Stars and Stripes (Paris, France), September 27, 1918, Vol. 1 No. 34

Today in History: Saint-Mihiel Offensive

Today in History–September 12–the Library of Congress features the Saint-Mihiel offensive, launched in France on this day in 1918. The offensive liberated a strategic area that Germany had held for four years. Just two months later, World War I ended with the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to…

Colonel Roosevelt and his Rough Riders at the top of the hill which they captured, Battle of San Juan

Today in History: The Rough Riders

Today in History–July 1–the Library of Congress features the rough riders. On this day in 1898 these voluntary cavalrymen, led by Theodore Roosevelt, helped to secure a U.S. victory in the Battle of Santiago, the decisive battle of the short-lived Spanish-American War. The rough riders stormed Kettle Hill, then joined in the capture of the San Juan Hill complex in…

Sailor and girl at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Washington, D.C.

Today in History: Arlington National Cemetery

Today in History–May 13–the Library of Congress features Arlington National Cemetery. On this day in 1864  a Confederate prisoner of war was buried on the grounds of Arlington House in Virginia, on the Potomac River opposite Washington, D.C. Today, the cemetery is the final resting place for soldiers from every war in which the United States has participated,…