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Posted by: Erin Allen
According to the 1860 census, the population of the United States that year was 31,429,891. Of that number, 3,952, 838 were reported as enslaved. The 1860 census was the last time the federal government took a count of the Southern slave population. In 1861, the United States Coast Survey issued two maps of slavery based …
Posted in: Abraham Lincoln, Civil War, Collections, Exhibitions, History, Maps
Posted by: Erin Allen
“That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive …
Posted in: Abraham Lincoln, Civil War, Collections, Exhibitions, History, Manuscripts
Posted by: Erin Allen
Fatalities during the Civil War were not limited to the battlefield, as both first families discovered. Both the Lincolns and the Davises lost young sons within a couple of years from each other. The Davises lost 5-year-old Joseph in 1864 when he fell to his death from their porch in Richmond, Va. According to one …
Posted in: Abraham Lincoln, Civil War, Collections, Exhibitions, History, Manuscripts, Uncategorized
Posted by: Erin Allen
The Library of Congress, with collections that are universal and comprise all media, has a long history of acknowledging the importance of books. Its “Books That Shaped America” exhibition is currently on view through Sept. 29 in the Southwest Gallery of the Thomas Jefferson Building. The exhibition is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. …
Posted in: Abraham Lincoln, Books, Civil War, Collections, Exhibitions, History
Posted by: Jennifer Gavin
On Monday (June 25) at the Library of Congress – in a conference anybody can attend, free of charge – the contributions of a congressman you’ve probably never heard of, but really should know about, will be explored. Justin Morrill of Vermont may never be as well-known as his executive-branch supporter in these endeavors, Abraham …
Posted in: Abraham Lincoln, Capitol Hill, Civil War, Education, Events, History, Libraries, Manuscripts, Science, Uncategorized
Posted by: Erin Allen
For the third consecutive year, special items from the Library of Congress’ Jewish American collections have been put on display at the White House. In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, President Barack Obama hosted a reception at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. on Wednesday evening. “Generations of Jewish Americans have brought to bear some of our …
Posted in: Abraham Lincoln, Collections, Events, Exhibitions, History, Jewish American History, Manuscripts
Posted by: Jennifer Gavin
This is the seventh in a series of guest posts by Abigail Van Gelder, who with her husband, Josh, is journeying across the country on the Library’s “Gateway to Knowledge” traveling exhibition: We knew that Oberlin, OH was going to be a special event. Oberlin College is the alma mater of Emily Rapoport—who, with her …
Posted in: Abraham Lincoln, Blogging, Collections, Education, Exhibitions, History, Manuscripts, Maps, Music, Photos, Poetry, Uncategorized
Posted by: Jennifer Gavin
In a world where we can keep tabs on our own backyards from our desks at work, via satellite, it’s difficult to imagine the impact one man armed with notebooks and pencils could have in 1861 as the Civil War began to rend our young nation. Generals on both sides of that conflict desperately needed good topographical information …
Posted in: Abraham Lincoln, Collections, Exhibitions, History, Maps
Posted by: Matt Raymond
Are you or any of your DC friends looking to make last-minute plans tonight? How about attending the public opening of “With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition” from 5 to 9 p.m. this evening? Details here, online exhibition here. Normal visitor hours resume tomorrow (Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) …
Posted in: Abraham Lincoln, Events, Exhibitions, History, LC Web site