The Gandhara Buddha Scroll: A Delicate Treasure
The Library’s scroll from Gandhara, an early Buddhist center along the borders of modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan, is one of the Library’s most precious treasures.
The (Cursed?) Original Book of Witchcraft
Reginald Scot’s 1584 book, “The Discoverie of Witchcraft” is one of the most influential books on magic ever published. The Library of Congress has a first edition.
Harry Houdini: (How to Be a) Smooth Criminal
Harry Houdini’s collection at the Library of Congress shows that he worked so extensively with police that he wrote a handbook on how smart criminals worked. It was called, “The Right Way to Do Wrong.”
Kluge Center: Dazzling Finds from the Maya
In September, the John W. Kluge Center welcomed Simon Martin, anthropologist and specialist in Maya hieroglyphic writing, as the second Jay I. Kislak Chair for the Study of the History and Cultures of the Early Americas.
Rare Film: Washington Senators Win the 1924 World Series
The Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros will play Game One of the World Series tonight in Houston. Check out this rare footage, found in a garage, of the Washington Senators winning the 1924 World Series over the New York Giants in a Game Seven that went 12 innings! This film is now part of […]
How “The Postman Always Rings Twice” Got Its “Sort of Crazy” Name
The backstory of how “The Postman Rings Twice,” one of the most famous titles in 20th century American literature, got its curious title.
“Ad Astra” and Former Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith
The new hit film, “Ad Astra,” drew inspiration from the work of former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith.
Free to Use and Reuse: Genealogy
It’s time once again to dip into our Free to Use and Reuse sets of pictures, culled from the Library’s millions of copyright-free photographs, prints, maps and so on. This month, we’re featuring things that relate to ever-popular genealogy searches, as people look to uncover the secrets of their past by identifying their ancestors and the […]
RUNAWAY! How George Washington, Other Slave Owners Used Newspapers to Hunt Escaped Slaves
Fugitive slave ads abounded in American newspapers until the end of the Civil War; the Library of Congress collections offer insight into this ugly segment of U.S. history.
Inquiring Minds: Alan Gephardt, Garfield Expert
Alan Gephardt is a ranger at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site of the U.S. National Park Service in Mentor, Ohio. Here, he writes about what his job entails.