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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 …
Posted in: Favorites From the Fifth Floor, Heritage Months, Holidays, and Today in History, Travel
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 …
Posted in: Favorites From the Fifth Floor, Heritage Months, Holidays, and Today in History, Inventions, Military science, Technical Reports and Standards
Posted by: Ellen Terrell
James Jacob Ritty was a saloon keeper in Ohio who was trying to insure employees didn’t pocket the money from customer purchases.
Posted in: Business, Heritage Months, Holidays, and Today in History, Inventions
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 …
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 …
Posted in: Business, Heritage Months, Holidays, and Today in History
Posted by: Jennifer Harbster
Photocopiers have come long way. Most businesses, law firms, and libraries have one or more! There are even stores dedicated to making of copies and copiers in our homes. I wonder what Chester Carlson would think about that?
Posted in: Business, Heritage Months, Holidays, and Today in History, Inventions
Posted by: Jennifer Harbster
Guest blogger today is business reference librarian Ellen Terrell Many Americans may think Labor Day as the end of summer or a day of rest, parades, picnics, or store sales. Labor Day is so much more. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 at the behest of the Central Labor …
Posted in: Business, Census and Statistics, Heritage Months, Holidays, and Today in History, Labor
Posted by: Donna Scanlon
Our guest author today is Ellen Terrell, Business Reference Specialist. According to the U.S. Census in their report Americans with Disabilities: 2005, there are roughly 54 million Americans with a disability. 11 million people age 6 and older need personal assistance with everyday activities and 46% of the people ages 21 to 64 having some …
Posted in: Business, Heritage Months, Holidays, and Today in History, Labor
Posted by: Jennifer Harbster
Most would agree that summer is the peak season for ice cream consumption. Therefore it makes perfect sense that, in the United States, July was proclaimed National Ice Cream Month. It was President Ronald Reagan’s Proclamation 5219 promoted this national observance, designating July 1984 as National Ice Cream Month. Today ice cream manufacturers carry on this tradition …
Posted in: Cookbooks and Food, Heritage Months, Holidays, and Today in History