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….
Today in History–November 25–the Library of Congress features Sacramento, California, a boom town during the mid-19th-century gold rush. By 1854 the city had become the state capital. Learn more about the city of Sacramento by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more primary sources. Pioneer Life in Sacramento from America’s Library…
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…
Today in History–September 20–the Library of Congress features the abolishment of the slave trade in Washington D.C., which was a feature of a legislative package known as the Compromise of 1850. Learn more by reading the Today in History section, then clicking the links below to access related primary & secondary sources. Compromise of 1850:…
Today in History–September 14–the Library of Congress features the Russian Molokan Church, which held services in their new church in San Francisco on this day in 1938. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access related resources. Russian Molokan Church Service photos & audio recordings Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Susoeff and…
Today in History: Alexander Hamilton background information & select primary sources Alexander Hamilton Papers collection Alexander Hamilton primary source set & teacher’s guide Alexander Hamilton image set Alexander Hamilton items in the Creating the United States online exhibition Report of the Committee of Detail with annotations by Alexander Hamilton Report of the Committee of Style…
Today in History–October 3–the Library of Congress features Yugoslavia, or the “Land of the South Slavs”, formed on this date in 1929. The kingdom included the regions of Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia. In the early 1990s, most of the countries had declared their independence; the last to become independent nations…
Today in History–May 19–TPS-Barat features Thomas Edward (T.E.) Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, who died in England on this date in 1935. An archaeological scholar from Oxford, Lawrence enlisted in World War I and was sent to the middle east because of his familiarity with the region. One newspaper proclaimed him to be…
Today in History–April 28–the Library of Congress features Billy the Kid, who killed two guards while making his escape from a New Mexico jail on this date in 1881. But was he a folk villain or hero? Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then follow the primary source trail to uncover more perspectives on this infamous Wild West…
Today in History–December 10–Primary Source Nexus features Alfred Nobel, who died on this date in 1896. December 10 is the day that the Nobel prizes are awarded. Born in Sweden in 1833, Nobel was a technical whiz but also spoke several languages and wrote poetry and play scripts. The inventor of dynamite was also very…
Today in History–November 24–the Library of Congress features Santa Catalina Island, named on this date in 1602 by Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno. Known as Pimu by its native inhabitants, the island had previously been called San Salvador by its Spanish discoverer explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. Find out more about this southern California island by visiting the Today in History section, then…
Today in History–September 05–the Library of Congress features the first Labor Day, celebrated on this date in 1882. Organized by New York’s Central Labor Union, a representative group made up of from many local unions, the celebration featured a parade, picnic, concert, and speeches. This event inspired others around the country. In 1887 Oregon became the first state to declare Labor…