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Posted by: Heather Thomas
Without a flicker of emotion, Russian aristocrat, Prince Felix Yussupov, declared on the witness stand that he killed Russia’s “Mad Monk,” Rasputin. Yussupov described in detail how he helped poison, shoot, beat, and drown him, as part of a larger conspiracy to murder the mystical “holy man,” who had gained powerful influence over the Imperial …
Posted in: Biography, Crime, Digitized Newspapers, Newspapers
Posted by: Heather Thomas
The infamous trials throughout the early 20th century provide great theater for the masses. A look at these trials gives a snapshot of the issues of class, wealth, status, and race that pervade the time period.
Posted in: Crime, Digitized Newspapers, Newspapers
Posted by: Heather Thomas
Maria Mitchell (1818-1889) is an astronomer, educator, librarian, activist, and the first nationally recognized woman scientist in the United States. She discovers a new comet, which bears her name, and calculates its orbit, and adds several new nebulae to sky maps. She also teaches at a prominent women’s college and fights to advance the cause of …
Posted in: Biography, Digitized Newspapers, Newspapers, Women's History
Posted by: Amber Paranick
This post originally appeared on the Library of Congress Blog. This is a guest post by Ryan Reft, a historian in the Manuscript Division. Over the past 20 years, one would be hard pressed to identify an industry that has undergone as many wrenching changes as newspaper publishing. Allen Neuharth, chairman of the Gannett Co. from …
Posted in: Newspapers
Posted by: Malea Walker
This guest post by 2020 Junior Fellow Sophia Southard provides a history of African American newspapers with examples from our rich collections. Read more about how these black-owned businesses have provided voices for their communities from 1827 until today.
Posted in: African American History, Newspapers
Posted by: Heather Thomas
There are some cases that capture the public's imagination and cause a media frenzy. There's the political trials, which cover treason, spying, dissidents, and radicals. Celebrity trials that involve high-profile people, whether victims or defendants. And the "whodunit" trials that are surrounded in mystery. Whatever the case, 19th century America has its share of legendary trials that captivate the public interest and newspapers deliver all the sensational details.
Posted in: African American History, Crime, Digitized Newspapers, Newspapers, U.S. Presidents
Posted by: Amber Paranick
This year’s celebration of Pride Month wrapped up this week and we wanted to highlight an important figure in the history of blues music whose story has often been overlooked. Gertrude “Ma” Rainey was hailed as the “Mother of the Blues” and was a bisexual Black singer who has and continues to inspire generations of musicians. …
Posted in: African American History, Biography, LGBTQ+, Newspapers, Women's History
Posted by: Arlene Balkansky
In honor of Juneteenth, we highlight our Headlines and Heroes blogs focusing on African American history and culture, ranging from a look at fugitive slave ads to our acquisition of a rare comic book series, Negro Romance.
Posted in: African American History, Comic Books, Digitized Newspapers, Newspapers, Women's History, World War I
Posted by: Heather Thomas
President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) is a man of many "firsts." Bold and progressive-minded, he's always on the cutting edge and embraces technological innovations.
Posted in: Biography, Digitized Newspapers, Newspapers, U.S. Presidents