Top of page

Archive: 2014 (29 Posts)

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

Constitutions of Clarendon

Posted by: Margaret Wood

The Constitutions of Clarendon were issued by Henry II in 1164.  This document became the bone of contention between Henry II and the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was also his former chancellor and friend, Thomas Beckett.  The quarrel between these two men eventually led to Thomas’s murder and then elevation to sainthood, as well as …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

Feudalism, Magna Carta and King John – Pic of the Week

Posted by: Margaret Wood

On Wednesday, I gave a gallery talk for the Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor Exhibition.  I focused the talk around King John and his rapacious habits as a ruler: demanding extraordinary fees from his feudal vassals, seizing hostages, and losing battles.  I also included some information on the Constitutions of Clarendon (more on that in …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

J.R.R. Tolkien – Paperbacks and Copyright

Posted by: Margaret Wood

Almost every year, in the fall, I find myself picking up The Lord of the Rings and re-reading parts of it.  It has long been one of my favorite books.  However, my first introduction to J.R.R. Tolkien’s writing was not so positive.  When I was in the fifth grade, I had picked up The Hobbit …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

Apportionment and the First Presidential Veto

Posted by: Margaret Wood

I love history and recently I have been researching congressional apportionment.  But what you ask, is apportionment?  According to Merriam Webster’s online dictionary, one of the definitions is to “divide and share out according to a plan.”   I can see how this might apply to pizza and pie but what does this have to …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

Budget Resolutions and Authorizing Legislation

Posted by: Margaret Wood

I have previously written about the budget process and appropriations.  Now, I am turning to authorization legislation. In theory, process for funding the government is an orderly one in which each year the President proposes a budget; the U.S. Congress passes appropriations legislation; the enrolled bills are sent to the President for signing; and voila, government agencies …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

The Law Library Reading Room Is Moving

Posted by: Margaret Wood

The plans for the Law Library Reading Room‘s renovation have been finalized, and we are preparing to move operations to the ground floor of the Madison building during construction.  This will be a complicated operation taking about three and a half weeks to shift to our temporary space.  For those of you who have visited …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

Wrap Up From the National Book Festival

Posted by: Margaret Wood

Six of our staff from various divisions — including Public Services, Legislative & External Relations and Global Legal Research — participated in the National Book Festival this year, handing out 2500 of our famous gavel pencils as well as flyers with information about the Law Library of Congress (LLC).  As I have done in previous years, I asked my colleagues …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

An Interview with Ann Hemmens, Legal Reference Librarian

Posted by: Margaret Wood

This week’s interview is with Ann Hemmens, a legal reference librarian with the Public Services Division of the Law Library of Congress. Describe your background. I grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. My parents were transplants from Illinois and I inherited their interest in travel and living in different parts of the country. I’ve …