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Archive for the African American History Category (32 posts)

As Seen in the Appeal – St. Paul’s African American Business Community

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The Western Appeal and the Appeal were noted African-American weekly newspapers published in St. Paul that covered news but also provided a way for African American businesses to advertise in the St. Paul area. The publication was celebrating their quarto-centennial (25th) anniversary and along with this souvenir edition, the paper held a celebration at the Junior Pioneer Hall that featured a number of speeches and musical performances.

A “Reliable Source” for the Assurance of Adequate Accommodations

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In June 2017 the Washington Post featured a story about The Negro Motorist Green Book published from the mid 1930’s until the late 1960‘s and used by African American travelers in the United States. I had heard about them and figured we had them, which we do (New York Public Library has digitized a number […]

A Pioneering Science Educator

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Today’s post was written by Denise Dempsey a Science Reference Librarian who has previously written about the women featured in the motion picture “Hidden Figures” and the post “A Family of Pharmacists”. Among the photographs in the Picture This blog post, Portraits of Nineteenth Century African American Women Activists Newly Available Online, is one of […]

A Family of Pharmacists

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This post was authored by Denise Dempsey, Science Reference & Research Specialist, in the Science, Technology, and Business Division of the Library of Congress. She is also author of the blog post “Hidden Figures No More: African American Women in Space Exploration.” One of the items in the Picture This blog post, Portraits of Nineteenth […]

Hidden Figures No More: African American Women in Space Exploration

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Today’s post was written by Denise Dempsey a Science Reference Librarian. The recent release of the new film Hidden Figures, based on the book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly, presents a great opportunity to learn more about the contributions of African American women to the Space Race and to space exploration. The […]

Unexpected Guidance: Traveler’s Guides as a Source of Business Information

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This post was written by Business Reference librarian Angel Vu. The Library of Congress has many resources you can use for economic and business history research. Directories tend to be a popular resource for researchers attempting to track down an old business. Travel guides, while more selective in the businesses they may list, are another […]

James Johnston speaking about Yarrow Mamout on April 6

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Curious about a portrait of “Old Yarrow” by James Alexander Simpson that hangs in the Peabody Room of Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown public library, James J. Johnston a journalist and attorney decided he wanted to know more and eventually ended up writing a book From Slave Ship to Harvard. The portrait “Old Yarrow” was of Yarrow […]

Tiny but Mighty: Mann’s 1904 Afro-American Business Directory

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Business Reference is often asked for information about older or defunct businesses and finding any information can be challenging. But it is even harder to research businesses that were owned and operated by African Americans. While some business directory publishers may have denoted those businesses in some way, that wasn’t always the case. Recently I […]

George Washington Carver and Nature Study

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Today’s post is guest authored by Michelle Cadoree Bradley, a science reference specialist in the Science, Technology, and Business Division of the Library of Congress. She is also the author of the blog post, “Stumbled Upon in the Stacks, or the Chimp in my Office.” …a very large part of the child’s education must be […]

Du Bois in Paris – Exposition Universelle, 1900

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There were a number of medals awarded, including two Grand Prix – one for the collection as a whole, and another to Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute. Gold Medals were award to the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, Howard University, T. J. Calloway as the compiler, W. E. B. Du Bois. Silver Medals were awarded to Fisk University, Agricultural and Mechanical College, Berea College, Atlanta University, and Booker T. Washington. Bronze Medals were awarded to Roger Williams, Central Tennessee College, Atlanta University, and Pine Bluff Normal and Industrial School. Lastly, two Honorable Mentions were given to Haines Normal and Industrial Institute and Claflin University.