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Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

Parting Shots

Posted by: Matt Raymond

Carol Highsmith sent some images from yesterday’s final day of convention festivities in Denver: In case you missed it, Wednesday is here.

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

'It Gonna Be There With Me'

Posted by: Matt Raymond

As the Gulf Coast holds its collective breath in preparation for Tropical Storm Gustav, it does so with an eerie sense of deja vu: It was exactly three years ago today that Hurricane Katrina made its devastating landfall. The Digital Reference Team at the Library of Congress has updated the Today in History page for …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

Pictures from Denver

Posted by: Matt Raymond

Our “convention correspondent,” Carol M. Highsmith, burned the midnight oil to file her first dispatches from Denver (after 1 a.m. local time!) As promised, we bring you a sampling of the copyright-free images. And as previously mentioned, we will also post some highlights next week from the Twin Cities. President Bill Clinton Fires up the …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

Group Ranks Library’s Web Site No. 8

Posted by: Matt Raymond

The Brookings Institution this week rated 61 federal Web sites based on 18 criteria such as publications, databases, audiovisual material, disability access, personalization, and privacy and security policies.  This blog’s mother ship, LOC.gov, ranked No. 8.  The full PDF report is here.  (Congrats to our friends at USA.gov!) We’re constantly working to enhance our Web …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

More on the Conventions

Posted by: Matt Raymond

Further to the “Surface” technology I mentioned yesterday, you can see it in action for yourself in this ABC News story (about halfway in).  NOTE: Sometimes it will say that the previous link doesn’t exist, which is generally rectified by refreshing your browser. Also on the convention front, I’m pleased to announce that the Library …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

Political Conventions Throughout History

Posted by: Matt Raymond

As Americans settle in to watch the two major party nominating conventions this week and next, have you ever wondered what political conventions were like before the days of the Web, television, or even the telegraph? The Humanities and Social Sciences division at the Library of Congress has provided timely summaries of the Democratic and …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

Who Wants To Be a (Scholarly) Millionaire?

Posted by: Matt Raymond

This week, we announced that the Librarian of Congress will award the fourth John W. Kluge Prize for the study of humanity on Dec. 10. But we also announced that nominations will be accepted for a few more weeks, until July 15. The $1 million Kluge Prize recognizes lifetime achievement in fields not traditionally represented …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

'Daisy Ad' Creator, Whose Collection is at LOC, Dies

Posted by: Matt Raymond

I was saddened today to learn of the death of Tony Schwartz. You might not immediately know the name, but many Americans — especially those who participate in or follow political campaigns — are undoubtedly aware of at least one piece of his work. Schwartz was the creator of a famous and controversial 1964 TV …