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Posted by: Erin Allen
On Dec. 22, 1864, William T. Sherman sent President Abraham Lincoln a telegram that included a pretty monumental “gift,” according to the Civil War general. “I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the City of Savannah with 150 heavy guns & plenty of ammunition & also about 25.000 bales of cotton. W. T. …
Posted in: Abraham Lincoln, Civil War, Collections, History, Manuscripts, Uncategorized
Posted by: Erin Allen
They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, and in the early 20th century, the Kodak Company wanted to make sure you were fully equipped to capture those moments, particularly for the holidays. In this ad from the Eastman Kodak Co., (1907), consumers were encouraged to buy a Kodak camera to capture their own Christmas …
Posted in: Collections, History
Posted by: Erin Allen
Twinkling lights, multicolored ornaments, sparkly tinsel, hanging candy canes – trimming the Christmas tree is a tradition of the holiday season, for those that celebrate. At 7 Hawthorn Street in Dayton, Ohio, the Wright Brothers decorated their tree with popcorn garland, candles, paper angles angels, sparkly ornaments and a star topper. In this picture, ca. 1900, …
Posted in: Collections, History, Manuscripts, Photos
Posted by: Erin Allen
On Dec. 16, 1773, a group of Bostonians dressed as Mohawk Indians boarded ships docked in Boston Harbor and dumped some 340 chests of tea into the water. Today marks the 240th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. “A number of brave & resolute men, determined to do all in their power to save their …
Posted in: Collections, Education, Events, History, Manuscripts, Maps, Today in History, Uncategorized
Posted by: Erin Allen
The file boxes of Charles and Ray Eames yielded all sorts of eclectic items to archivists processing the collection at the Library of Congress – a letter from Georgia O’Keefe in this one, a receipt for a Moroccan robe in that one, printed butterflies in another. Buried in one carton, senior archives technician Tracey Barton …
Posted in: Audiovisual, Collections, Curators, Exhibitions, History, Preservation
Posted by: Erin Allen
This Thursday and Friday, the Library of Congress is hosting a special “Celebration of Mexico” to honor the culture and history of Hispanic Americans and highlight the Library’s collection of Hispanic materials, which is the largest in the world. During the event, the Library will present the world premiere of the oldest-known documentary footage of …
Posted in: Audiovisual, Collections, Curators, Events, History, Preservation, Uncategorized, Video
Posted by: Erin Allen
The Library of Congress blogosphere was a cornucopia of posts on special holidays and more. Here is just a taste. In the Muse: Performing Arts Blog #Britten100: Benjamin Britten & Peter Pears at the Library November 22 marked the hundredth birthday of British composer Benjamin Britten. Inside Adams: Science, Technology & Business Civil War Thanksgiving …
Posted in: Civil War, Collections, Education, History, Law Library, Music, Photos, Poetry, Science, Social Media
Posted by: Erin Allen
Today marks the 80th anniversary of the end of Prohibition. On Dec. 5, 1933, the United States repealed the nationwide prohibition on alcoholic beverages, by ratifying the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. And, while the masses may have raised their glasses, there were certainly those among them not happy with the decision. Temperance activists …
Posted in: Events, History, Newspapers, Today in History
Posted by: Erin Allen
The Library of Congress has the largest collection of Hispanic materials in the world, including rare items of Mexican origin. Next Thursday and Friday, the institution is hosting a special “Celebration of Mexico” to take a look at some of these items and to also honor Hispanic and Mexican heritage. As part of the celebration, several of …
Posted in: Audiovisual, Collections, Events, History, Manuscripts, Uncategorized