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Posted by: Jim Martin
On this day in 1790, the United States government issued a patent to Samuel Hopkins for an improvement in the means of making potash and pearl ash. Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the Constitution of the United States of America provides the Congress the power to pass laws to protect intellectual property. However, …
Posted in: Law Library
Posted by: Jim Martin
On this day in 1832, John C. Calhoun submitted his resignation as the seventh Vice President of the United States. First elected to the House of Representatives in 1810, he would spend almost all of the remainder of his life serving in either the executive or legislative branches. He had a towering intellect, an overweening ambition, and a strong sense …
Posted in: Education, Law Library
Posted by: Jim Martin
The Pic of the Week shows a French translation of the American Bill of Rights from 1790.
Posted in: Law Library, Pic of the Week
Posted by: Jim Martin
This Saturday is Armed Forces Day in the United States, a day set aside to recognize the men and women who serve in the active and reserve components of the armed forces of the United States. The day has been observed since 1950. This blog post is devoted to a few of the men who …
Posted in: Law Library
Posted by: Jim Martin
Two hundred and fifty years ago on Monday, February 27, 1773, the building of an Anglican church was completed in Alexandria, Virginia. This particular church has historical importance because of its association with George Washington, local planter, commanding general of the Continental Army, president of the Constitutional Convention, and first President of the United States. …
Posted in: Law Library, Pic of the Week
Posted by: Jim Martin
On this day in 1945, the most destructive war in human history came to an end when representatives of the Japanese government signed the instrument of surrender on board the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Overseeing the event was General of the Army and Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers Douglas MacArthur. Representatives of …
Posted in: Law Library
Posted by: Jim Martin
Article I, Section 5, Clause 3 of the Constitution requires that both chambers of Congress keep journals of their proceedings and that the journals be periodically published. Unlike the debates of the early congresses, which were not compiled and published until some years later, the journals have always been published after the end of each …
Posted in: Law Library
Posted by: Jim Martin
Today, January 29, marks the 101st anniversary of the certification by Acting Secretary of State Frank Polk of the ratification by three-quarters of the states of the proposed 18th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, which prohibited in the United States ”the manufacture, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors.” The adoption of …
Posted in: Law Library
Posted by: Jim Martin
The following is a guest post by Elizabeth Osborne, legal reference librarian. Elizabeth wrote last year on the occasion of the retirement of Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy. Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens died on Tuesday at the age of 99. When he retired in 2010, he had served for over 34 years and …
Posted in: Guest Post, In the News, Law Library