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Category: Heritage Months, Holidays, and Today in History

cover says Travelers Official Railway Guide

Planes, Trains but not Automobiles

Posted by: Ellen Terrell

In the 1987 movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Steve Martin’s character is desperately trying to get home for Thanksgiving. While working at the Library of Congress, I have answered many questions which might have interested Steve Martin’s character, from how people traveled, to how much a trip cost, to how long a certain trip was …

Silver stylized owl with radiant circles around its head, surrounded by a gold frame

World War II ‘Scientific Manpower’

Posted by: Jennifer Harbster

K-rations, better night vision binoculars, and synthetic rubber are just a few examples of innovations resulted from scientific research during World War II.  The story of science during World War II is one of partnerships and prolific research. On June 28, 1941, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8807which established the Office of Scientific Research and …

Silver stylized owl with radiant circles around its head, surrounded by a gold frame

In Good Company: John Adams and The ‘Fonz’

Posted by: Jennifer Harbster

Everyone around here is talking about Jon Stewart’s Rally to Restore Sanity and Halloween celebrations, but there is another bit of exciting news that warrants some attention this weekend. Drum roll, please…. The ‘Inside Adams’ blog celebrates its first birthday.  We launched this blog on October 30 to coincide with the birthday of our founding father and namesake …

Silver stylized owl with radiant circles around its head, surrounded by a gold frame

“…Should I meet with gold or spices in great quantity…”

Posted by: Ellen Terrell

The Columbus Day holiday is a good opportunity to post on the topic of trade.  After all, wasn’t finding another trade route to the Orient one of the main purposes of the expedition in 1492?  Since the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the land route had become difficult and dangerous.  The Portuguese were working on …