Presidential Papers and Obscure Writings

by Tyler Williams, Social Science and History Department

The stacks at Enoch Pratt Free Library/State Library Resource Center are packed with resources for researchers, dating back decades or even centuries into the collection’s history.

President’s Day was originally enacted by Congress in 1879 to celebrate the birthday of George Washington. Officially referred to in federal calendars as “Washington’s Birthday”, “President’s Day” became the common usage during the 1980s and is referred to as such in many state calendars, due to the holiday’s proximity to both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays (February 22 1732 and February 12 1809, respectively).  In light of President’s Day, the Social Science and History Department would like to shine a spotlight on some of our valuable primary resources.

George Washington

First, there is the Writings of George Washington  by George Washington. This set comprises the complete writings, speeches, correspondence, and other personal papers of the first president of the United States- from his early years as a land speculator in colonial Virginia and an officer during the French and Indian War through his leadership of the early American army and presidency and thereafter- in 39 volumes. These volumes would be valuable to any students or academics hoping to gain insight into George Washington’s state of mind at critical points in his career, how his career in turn shaped the American Presidency, or simply to humanize a figure often treated as a semi-divine figure in American civil discourse. All 39 of these volumes can be requested from the Social Science and History department at Central Library. Washington’s collected writings can be found in two sets- one published by the Government Publishing Office in 1976, and one slightly condensed edition published by the University of Virginia in the 1990s.

Washington Irving

Named for the first president, Washington Irving was one of the early great American writers. The author of classics such as “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, in his final years Irving compiled a biography of his namesake. Completed shortly before Irving’s death in 1859, Life of George Washington was compiled using Washington’s personal archives at Mount Vernon and extensively covers the life of the first US president in five volumes.

Abraham Lincoln

The Social Science and History Department also holds several copies and editions of the seven-volume Writings of Abraham Lincoln. Stretching from his earliest letters and orations in 1832 through the tragic end of his presidency in 1865, Writings of Abraham Lincoln provides valuable insight into the evolution of Abraham Lincoln’s oratorical talents, views on slavery, and conduct of the Civil War. The Writings of Lincoln is held in several editions–the Constitutional Edition, for example, includes an introduction by President Theodore Roosevelt. This work would be valuable as a primary source in a student’s National History Day project or as a resource for professional researchers.

It’s a Nice Day for a White Wedding

It is peak wedding season!  Every wonder how brides dressed throughout history?

Digital Maryland is home to the Historical Society of Baltimore’s historic wedding collection.  From dresses, to marriage licenses, and wedding bands, take a trip back to see what weddings used to be.  Here’s a few items from the collection.

Here’s the happy couple who tied the knot on January 14, 1920.

Elizabeth Zimmerer wed Michael Kahl at St. Joseph’s in Fullerton, MD.

 

Intricate details including an ornately painted boat with a  couple inside and flowered garlands mark this marriage license issued in 1883.

 

They’re not glass slippers. These bridal shoes date back to 1899.  They include a fabric decorative bow and pearl detail.

 

If you need more ideas for your big day, you can see more of the Historical Society of Baltimore’s wedding collection at Digital Maryland.

The Catonsville Nine: 50 Years Later

View the digital files of the Catonsville Nine trials on Digital Maryland

Courtesy: Herman Heyn

On May 17, 1968, nine men and women entered the Selective Service Offices in Catonsville, Maryland.  They removed several hundred draft records, and burned them with homemade napalm in protest against the war in Vietnam. The nine were arrested and, in a highly publicized trial, sentenced to jail.

This act of civil disobedience intensified protest against the draft.  It prompted debate in households in Maryland and across the nation.  It stirred angry reaction on the part of many Americans. The act also propelled the nine Catholic participants – especially priest brothers Daniel and Philip Berrigan – into the national spotlight.

Courtesy: Digital Maryland

The Catonsville action reflected not only the nature of the Vietnam antiwar movement in 1968, but also the larger context of social forces that were reshaping American culture in the 1960s.

Fifty years later, you can view historical documents linked to the Catonsville Nine on Digital Maryland, including photos, videos, and court records.

On Saturday, May 19 at 2pm the Edmondson Avenue Branch will hold a movie screening and discussion of “The Trial of the Catonsville Nine.”

Digital content contributed by Cornell University Library, Friends of the Catonsville Branch of the Baltimore County Public Library, Herman Heyn, Dean Pappas, Lynne Sachs and University of Baltimore Library.