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Posted by: Margaret Wood
The following post is cross posted on the From the Catbird Seat: Poetry & Literature blog. Magna Carta is coming to the Library of Congress in November 2014! This document is regarded as being one of the foundations of representative government and at the same time marked a defeat of the king by his barons. But long before 1215, …
Posted in: In the News, Law Library
Posted by: Margaret Wood
At 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 9, it will once again be time to reset our clocks an hour ahead for daylight saving time (DST). Under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. 109-58, daylight saving time was extended by several weeks. Previously, DST ran from the first Sunday in April to the last …
Posted in: Congress, In the News, Law Library
Posted by: Margaret Wood
James (Jim) Martin, Andrew Weber and I were talking about Christmas movies several weeks ago. Jim describes himself as a cynic, who “developed a taste for what I call ‘alternative Christmas,’ films such as The Lion in Winter and Desk Set.” Jim defines alternative Christmas films as “films that take place during the holiday period, but …
Posted in: Education, In the News, Law Library
Posted by: Margaret Wood
For my cousins, growing up in New England, American history began with the Pilgrims and settlement at Jamestown. But for me, growing up in New Mexico, history began with the 16th century Spanish Conquest and the drive up into New Mexico territory followed, a century later, by the Pueblo Revolt. The history of the United States …
Posted in: In the News
Posted by: Margaret Wood
A few years ago, the Law Library was asked to research and create web pages on commemorative observances. The project included identification of the laws which were passed and presidential proclamations which were issued to establish and annually observe these commemorations. The relevant pages can be found on the Law Library’s website under “Legal Topics.” Over the past two …
Posted in: In the News, Law Library
Posted by: Margaret Wood
March is Women’s History Month. This year, March has also seen the Centennial of the 1913 Suffrage March, and International Women’s Day. Women’s History Month was established in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 to establish Women’s History Week. Both this law and the subsequent Presidential Proclamation 4903 speak to the important role women played …
Posted in: Congress, Education, In the News
Posted by: Margaret Wood
As a graduate of Oberlin College, I have always been proud that when Oberlin was established in 1833, it was the first co-educational college in the country, admitting both men and women. However, it did not initially admit men and women on the same terms: women were not admitted to the baccalaureate program until 1837. …
Posted in: In the News, Law Library
Posted by: Margaret Wood
Congress is once again in a lame duck session. The Senate’s Virtual Reference Desk Glossary website defines a lame duck session as: When Congress (or either chamber) reconvenes in an even-numbered year following the November general elections to consider various items of business. Some lawmakers who return for this session will not be in the next …
Posted in: In the News, Law Library, THOMAS
Posted by: Margaret Wood
This is a guest post by Pamela Barnes Craig, Instruction/Reference Librarian at the Law Library of Congress. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Pub. L. 92-318, 86 Stat. 235, 373 turned 40 years old on June 23, 2012. Its birthday passed much like it became law—quietly and unassumingly. Its impact, however, has been …
Posted in: Guest Post, In the News, Law Library