Library of Congress: New Webcasts

WEBCAST: We Write the Songs - ASCAP 2011

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:57:41 GMT

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Foundation staged a night of songwriters performing their own tunes and telling the stories behind their creations.

WEBCAST: Bob Shea

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:56:56 GMT

Author-illustrator Bob Shea appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Kelly Cherry

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:56:22 GMT

Virginia Poet Laureate Kelly Cherry appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Medical Culture in Yuan China

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:55:43 GMT

Challenging the conventional image of Mongols as ruthless destroyers of civilizations in the 13th & 14th century world, specialists in the past few decades have examined the complex roles that Mongols played in global history. Recent historians of middle-period China have uncovered the transformation of Neo-Confucianism from a philosophy/religion for the rebellious to an ideology for political power.

WEBCAST: Navigating Through Digital Information

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:55:02 GMT

Graziella Tonfoni, a scientific and literary author with vast experience using digital resources, discussed her experiences and research ideas.

WEBCAST: Daniel Kirk

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:30:41 GMT

Illustrator Daniel Kirk appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Dorie McCullough Lawson

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:30:03 GMT

Dorie McCullough Lawson appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Mac Barnett

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:29:36 GMT

Mac Barnett appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:29:12 GMT

Author and illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Jane O'Connor

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:28:45 GMT

Jane O'Connor appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Maya Jasanoff

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:16:06 GMT

Maya Jasanoff appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Matthew Reinhart

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:15:34 GMT

Pop-up book author Matthew Reinhart appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Carol Muske-Dukes

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:11:10 GMT

Poet Carol Muske-Dukes appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Wally Amos

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:10:39 GMT

Wally Amos appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Wordless Music Orchestra

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:09:58 GMT

Concert by Wordless Music with Tyondai Braxton; Caleb Burhans, conductor.

WEBCAST: J. Edgar Hoover & the Library of Congress

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:15:24 GMT

"Young J. Edgar: Hoover, the Red Scare and the Assault on Civil Liberties" brings to life the nationwide Palmer raids of 1919-20 and the coming of age of the seminal FBI director, including his four-year career (1913-17) at the Library of Congress.

WEBCAST: Pandolfo & Boysen in Concert

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:14:56 GMT

Paolo Pandolfo (viola da gamba) and Thomas Boysen (theorbo/Baroque guitar) play in a dazzling program of Renaissance improvisations and celebrated works by Sainte-Colombe and Marin Marais.

WEBCAST: Murder & Martyrdom in Spanish Florida

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:13:23 GMT

J. Michael Francis discusses Juanillo's Revolt of 1597, where Guale Indians murdered five Franciscan friars stationed in their territory and razed their missions to the ground.

WEBCAST: Whitman's Future-Founding Poetry

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:12:27 GMT

Sascha Poehlmann uses Whitman's term and argues that his work can serve as a model of future-founding poetry, or poetry that aims to actively mark and perform a beginning as well as that a poets after Whitman have employed, modified, and adapted such a future-founding mode.

WEBCAST: Lauren Myracle

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:43:58 GMT

Lauren Myracle appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Josh Lewis

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:43:24 GMT

Josh Lewis performs at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Julianne Moore (2)

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:42:51 GMT

Actor and author Julianne Moore appears at the 2011 National Book Festival in the Family Storytelling pavilion.

WEBCAST: Okee Dokee Brothers

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:42:21 GMT

The Okee Dokee Brothers perform at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Lisa Yee

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:41:46 GMT

Lisa Yee appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Turkmenistan Folk Ensemble

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:15:24 GMT

The African and Middle Eastern Division sponsored presented a concert featuring the Turkmenistan Folk Ensemble performing traditional Turkmenistan music.

WEBCAST: Cedella Marley

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:14:56 GMT

Cedella Marley performs at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Tom Lichtenheld

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:14:18 GMT

Tom Lichtenheld appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Loren Long

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:13:34 GMT

Illustrator Loren Long appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Chicano Music from California

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:13:00 GMT

In a concert in celebration of Hispanic American Heritage Month, Agustin Lira and Alma & Quetza perform.

WEBCAST: Tom Angleberger

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:02:00 GMT

Tom Angleberger appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Michael Buckley

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:00:58 GMT

Michael Buckley appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Mark Pett & Gary Rubinstein

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:00:03 GMT

Mark Pett & Gary Rubinstein perform at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Angela Farris Watkins

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:59:04 GMT

Angela Farris Watkins appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Sam McBratney

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:37:16 GMT

Sam McBratney appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Wesley McNair

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:36:20 GMT

Wesley McNair appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Shelia P. Moses

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:35:33 GMT

Shelia P. Moses appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: William Joyce

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:35:01 GMT

William Joyce appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Tomie dePaola

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:34:23 GMT

Illustrator and writer Tomie dePaola appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Jon J Muth

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:20:08 GMT

Poster artist Jon J Muth appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Joe Hayes

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:19:35 GMT

Storyteller Joe Hayes appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Julianne Moore

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:19:05 GMT

Actor and author Julianne Moore appears at the 2011 National Book Festival in the Children's pavilion.

WEBCAST: Harry Bliss

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:18:41 GMT

Author and illustrator Harry Bliss appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Words Not Swords

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:34:04 GMT

Farzaneh Milani discusses her recently published book, "Words Not Swords: Iranian Women Writers and the Freedom of Movement."

WEBCAST: Collegiate Book Collecting Contest

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:33:37 GMT

The winners of the 2011 National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest received their awards during a ceremony at the Library. The program included a talk, "The Thrill of the Hunt: The Serendipitous Pleasures of Book Collecting" by Michael Dirda.

WEBCAST: The Americas' Idylls

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:33:04 GMT

Ricardo Luna talks on the efforts of thinkers and leaders from North America and Latin America to develop a definition of a single Western culture across the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

WEBCAST: Constitution Day 2011

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:26:40 GMT

In honor of Constitution Day, journalist Dahlia Lithwick discussed the Supreme Court and free speech.

WEBCAST: The Changing Face of Law

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:25:55 GMT

Joseph Raz delivered the second Frederic R. and Molly S. Kellogg Biennial Lecture in Jurisprudence on the subject of "Sovereignty & Legitimacy: On the Changing Face of Law, Questions and Speculations."

WEBCAST: The Quiet People: A Memoir

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:38:10 GMT

Kelle Groom reads from her memoir in progress, which examines contemporary concerns through the lens of her Finnish, Irish, and Wampanoag ancestors in Massachusetts.

WEBCAST: Decline of National Black Politics

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:31:56 GMT

Eric Yellin discusses diminished political power and fewer economic opportunities for African Americans in Washington when Wilsonian Democrats came to power in 1913.

WEBCAST: Louisa May Alcott Birthday Celebration

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:28:58 GMT

Authors Jo Ann Beard and Maud Casey celebrate the birthday of American author Louisa May Alcott by reading selections from her work and discussing her influence on their own writing.

WEBCAST: Walter Dean Myers Inaugurated

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:52:53 GMT

Walter Dean Myers, five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Award and two Newbery Honors, was inaugurated as National Ambassador for Young People's Literature by Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. The previous two ambassadors, Katherine Paterson and Jon Scieszka, were also on hand for the event.

WEBCAST: Fraud & Violence in Missouri's Civil War

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:26:02 GMT

Mark W. Geiger describes how, during the Civil War, planters in the border state of Missouri had bet on the South's victory and that the financial scheme they devised had backfired. The resulting collateral damage to the state's pro-Confederate citizens set off a series of worsening consequences that ultimately cost thousands of people their property and many, their lives.

WEBCAST: Expedition to the Equator

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:25:31 GMT

Ricardo V. Luna holds a conversation with Larrie D. Ferreiro, whose latest book describes an 18th-century scientific expedition to the equator to determine the true shape of the Earth.

WEBCAST: Asian-American Poetry Today

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:25:11 GMT

Filipino-American poet Eileen Tabios reads from her work, followed by a moderated discussion.

WEBCAST: U.S./Philippines Natural Resource Management

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:24:21 GMT

Theresa Ventura shows how science was integral to the emergence of the United States as a world power; the influence of Philippine knowledge on environmental and nutritional knowledge; and the often devastating impact of conservation and land management programs on indigenous communities.

WEBCAST: Electronic Resources Online Catalog

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:22:51 GMT

The Library's Electronic Resources Online Catalog has been accessible since September 2010. Learn more about this valuable research tool that provides expanded access to Library of Congress licensed databases, indexing and abstracting services, and full-text reference resources, including electronic books, serials and staff-recommended free resources.

WEBCAST: The Amman Message

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:22:11 GMT

Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick discusses the similarities between Muslim and Christian quests for common understanding among adherents of each religion.

Vietnam Veterans Collections Initiative Kick-off

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:03:34 GMT

Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET/PBS), Senator Chuck Hagel and his brother, Professor Tom Hagel, donate hours of original interview and related materials to the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. This event kicked-off the Veterans History Project's Vietnam Veterans Collections Initiative.

Vaclav Havel, 1936-2011

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:17:46 GMT

In honor of the late Czech leader, we present this webcast of his speech on human rights, "The Emperor Has No Clothes," given while he was a fellow at the Library's Kluge Center in 2005.

WEBCAST: Transitioning to a Digital Future

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:26:32 GMT

This symposium brought together senior managers from the National Archives, Smithsonian Institution, National Park Service, the Library of Congress, the Council on Library and Information Resources, and various foundations to provide their perspectives on the preservation needs, priorities, and challenges in managing the core collections of the federal government in the 21st century, as well as on opportunities for collaborative solutions and possibilities for funding.

WEBCAST: Dvorak in the New World

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:25:33 GMT

For the first time in more than a century, Antonin Dvorak's original manuscript for Symphony No. 9, "From the New World," returned to the U.S. for a special one-day display at the Library of Congress. Michael Beckerman speaks on the role of African-American sources in the composer's conception of an American music. Eva Velicka joins him for a discussion on manuscripts as storytellers.

WEBCAST: Music Conversation: Allen Toussaint

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:23:45 GMT

Prior to a concert by Allen Toussaint and Henry Butler at the Library of Congress, Toussaint sat for an interview with Larry Appelbaum about his hit records, life in the recording studios, the New Orleans piano tradition, Professor Longhair, the challenges of songwriting and producing and the impact of Hurricane Katrina.

WEBCAST: The Fandom of the Opera

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:35:19 GMT

A lecture by Mark Schubin on how a 400-year-old art form helped create modern media technology.

WEBCAST: Africa: Re-Sourcing History

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:34:26 GMT

David Birmingham presents a lecture on "Africa: Re-Sourcing History."

Civil War Photographs

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:13:04 GMT

Close to 700 ambrotype and tintype photographs highlight both Union and Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War. The Liljenquist Family sought out high quality images to represent the impact of the war, especially the young enlisted men.

Politics of Nixon & Obama

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:12:33 GMT

Klaus Larres discusses how the 1970s, like today, were characterized by controversial military engagements, deep political divisions and severe financial disruptions. Larres describes the Nixon/Kissinger approach to overcoming U.S. "decline" in an increasingly multilateral world and analyzes whether this approach is still relevant for the current administration.

Contemporary Poetry from China

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:12:12 GMT

An examination of contemporary poetry from China, with a reading and discussion by two Chinese poets, Xi Chuan and Zhou Zan. The poets are featured in an anthology titled "Push Open the Window: Contemporary Poetry from China," which former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass said "will give glimpses -- human glimpses -- at what is going on" in China today.

WEBCAST: Ellen Sabin

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:11:31 GMT

Ellen Sabin appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Prohibition in Washington D.C.

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:27:36 GMT

Prohibition ended in Washington, D.C. on March 1, 1934. The Washington Post reported that "Somehow, after 17 years without it, Washingtonians seemed to hold their liquor quite well." One reason might be that the nation's capital had been far from a model dry city, hosting up to 3,000 speakeasies since Prohibition began in 1917. As documented in a new book by Garrett Peck, even Congress had its own bootleggers, especially "The Man in the Green Hat."

WEBCAST: Happy Birthday, John Berryman

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:27:00 GMT

The Library of Congress celebrates the birthday of American poet John Berryman, who would have been 97 this year, with a reading of his work by award-winning poets Mary Jo Bang and Michael Collier. Also, a short presentation by the Library's Rare Book and Special Collections Division on its Berryman holdings.

WEBCAST: Daniel Boucher & Friends

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:26:28 GMT

Fiddler Daniel Boucher is accompanied by his father Jules Boucher on accordion, harmonica, and limberjack; guitarist Ray Pelletier; and fiddler/stepdancer Glen Bombardier of the Beaudoin family.

WEBCAST: Philip Levine Inaugural Reading

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:25:57 GMT

Philip Levine, whose poetry has honored the working man for almost half a century, gives his inaugural reading as the 18th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced the Laureate's appointment on Aug. 10.

WEBCAST: Frontera Sin Frontera

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:05:58 GMT

A panel of experts discusses the poetry traditions of the United States and Mexico and the literary exchanges between the two countries, shedding light on the historical, political and cultural heritages of both nations.

WEBCAST: 1911 Chinese Revolution (afternoon)

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:07:08 GMT

(Afternoon Session.) 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of the 1911 Chinese Revolution, which ended the Qing Dynasty and imperial rule in China. Scholars from around the world gathered at this conference with the intention of deepening the understanding of this momentous event and providing insights into its implications for China on the world stage.

WEBCAST: 1911 Chinese Revolution (morning)

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:06:41 GMT

(Morning Session.) 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of the 1911 Chinese Revolution, which ended the Qing Dynasty and imperial rule in China. Scholars from around the world gathered at this conference with the intention of deepening the understanding of this momentous event and providing insights into its implications for China on the world stage.

WEBCAST: Senegalese Celebration of Motherhood

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:05:28 GMT

Francoise Pfaff introduced the documentary film and show excerpts from "Mere-Bi" a film on Senegal's pioneer journalist, Annette Mbaye d'Erneville, directed by her son and noted filmmaker Ousmane William Mbaye.

WEBCAST: African Poet and Writer Ali Mazrui

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:53:04 GMT

Ali Mazrui discussed the state of contemporary African culture and post-independence literary production.

WEBCAST: Mexican Revolution Website

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:54:37 GMT

Librarian of Congress James Billington and Mexico's Ambassador to the U.S., Arturo Sarukhan begin the unveiling ceremony of the Hispanic Division's Mexican Revolution Website, with 2011 marking the centennial of the beginning of the Mexican Revolution.

WEBCAST: Kiu Haghighi with Tooraj Moshref-Zadeh

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:53:38 GMT

Persian hammered dulcimer (santour) virtuoso Kiu Haghighi is accompanied by Tooraj Moshref-Zadeh on the tombak, a Persian drum.

WEBCAST: When Washington Bailed Out Mom and Pop

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:52:28 GMT

Marc Levinson discusses his book, "The Great A&P and the Struggle for Small Business in America."

WEBCAST: History and the Mystery

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:56:50 GMT

What do Sir Walter Raleigh, Harry Houdini, Sherlock Holmes, Edgar Allan Poe, Thomas Jefferson and a current-day vintner from Virginia have in common? They are characters who show up in historical mysteries and are the topic of discussion among a panel of authors. Writers Louis Bayard, Ellen Crosby and Daniel Stashower share their insights on writing mysteries.

WEBCAST: French Book Trade in Enlightenment Europe

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:56:08 GMT

The French Book Trade in Enlightenment Europe project uses database technology to map the trade of the Societe Typographique de Neuchatel (STN), a celebrated European publishing house that operated between 1769 and 1794.

WEBCAST: African Wisdom in Image and Proverb

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:55:32 GMT

Betty Press discussed and signed her new book, "I Am Because We Are: African Wisdom for Life."

WEBCAST: Leon Fleisher

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:51:32 GMT

Pianist Leon Fleisher appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Odessa, Genius & Death in a City of Dreams

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:50:36 GMT

Odessa was the Russian Empire's gateway to the Middle East when Catherine the Great created this port city on the Black Sea as a model of enlightenment. Georgetown University professor Charles King recreates this world in his historical account.

WEBCAST: Bookfest Breakfast 2011

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:50:05 GMT

Several authors speak at the kick-off breakfast for the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: ISSN -- Super Number

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:49:22 GMT

Learn about the work of the U.S. ISSN Center and the various ways the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) contributes to identification, access, and data linking at LC and in the worldwide digital environment.

WEBCAST: Sarah Vowell

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:42:18 GMT

Sarah Vowell appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Siddhartha Mukherjee

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:41:50 GMT

Medical author Siddhartha Mukherjee appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Terrance Hayes

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:41:23 GMT

Poet Terrance Hayes appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Yusef Komunyakaa

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:40:47 GMT

Poet Yusef Komunyakaa appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Uma Krishnaswami

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:02:44 GMT

Uma Krishnaswami appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Susan Cooper

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:01:34 GMT

Susan Cooper appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Kadir Nelson

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:01:06 GMT

Kadir Nelson appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Kimiko Hahn

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:00:17 GMT

Poet Kimiko Hahn appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Poetry Out Loud

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:59:53 GMT

Poetry Out Loud brings the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word and theater into the English class. Award-winning students will perform poems during the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Katherine Paterson

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:32:09 GMT

Author and National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Katherine Paterson appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Gordon Korman

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:31:15 GMT

Gordon Korman appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Sara Paretsky

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:30:56 GMT

Mystery writer Sara Paretsky appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Sarah Dessen

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:30:33 GMT

Sarah Dessen appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Terry McMillan

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:30:01 GMT

Best-selling author Terry McMillan appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Kristie Miller

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:27:08 GMT

Historian Kristie Miller appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Neal Stephenson

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:26:23 GMT

Neal Stephenson appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Douglas Waller

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:25:53 GMT

Journalist and author Douglas Waller appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Eric Foner

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:25:24 GMT

Historian Eric Foner appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Industrial Democracy & Civil Rights 1930s

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:24:57 GMT

Toure F. Reed examines the influence of labor activism on the civil rights agendas of the NAACP and National Urban League and challenges presumptions about the ideological orientations of these important civil rights organizations.

WEBCAST: 2011 Junior Fellows Display

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:48:55 GMT

The Library's Junior Fellows program is profiled and the findings of the 2011 class of fellows are featured.

WEBCAST: Minas de Oro, Honduras

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:46:49 GMT

Author Marcial Cerrato Sandoval gives a Spanish-language book talk on his newest work, "The Story of the Town of Minas de Oro in Honduras."

WEBCAST: Dignity of the Human Person

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:45:48 GMT

What is "human dignity"? How important is it? What is its origin? Six distinguished scholars, in an informal conversation, probe the meaning of human dignity from a variety of historical, philosophical, religious, medical and social perspectives.

WEBCAST: Mary Gordon

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:21:17 GMT

Mary Gordon appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Louis Bayard

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:20:48 GMT

Louis Bayard appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Jim Lehrer

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:20:21 GMT

Television journalist Jim Lehrer appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Philadelphia's Free Quakers

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:19:40 GMT

A staff fellow in the Kluge Center describes a group of Independence-minded Quakers in revolutionary Philadelphia.

WEBCAST: Margaret George

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:25:51 GMT

Margaret George appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Marc Kaufman

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:25:13 GMT

Science writer Marc Kaufman appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Linda Pastan

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:24:19 GMT

Poet Linda Pastan appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Jessica Harris

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:57:16 GMT

Culinary historian Jessica B. Harris appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Michael Cunningham

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:56:41 GMT

Michael Cunningham appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: James Swanson

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:56:08 GMT

James L. Swanson appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Gregory Maguire

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:32:52 GMT

Author Gregory Maguire appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Patricia McKissack

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:32:23 GMT

Patricia McKissack appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: John Milliken Thompson

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:31:49 GMT

John Milliken Thompson appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Jack Gantos

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:31:15 GMT

Jack Gantos appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Justin Martin

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:14:17 GMT

Biographer Justin Martin appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Candice Millard

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:13:43 GMT

Author Candice Millard appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Eugene Robinson

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:13:11 GMT

Journalist and author Eugene Robinson appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Claudia Emerson

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:46:47 GMT

Poet Claudia Emerson appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Bob Edwards

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:46:12 GMT

Radio host Bob Edwards appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Carla L. Peterson

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:45:28 GMT

Carla L. Peterson appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Machu Picchu -- A Centennial Celebration

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:20:40 GMT

This conference on Machu Picchu celebrates the centennial of its exposure to the outside world. Built in the mid-15th century at the height of the Inca Empire, Machu Picchu in Peru is an architectural and historic marvel that was hidden for centuries. Located on a ridge in the high Andes at 7,970 feet above sea level, it is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and UNESCO declared it as a World Heritage site in 1983.

WEBCAST: Web Archiving at the British Library

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:19:36 GMT

Helen Hockx-Yu discussed the key processes of web archiving and provided an overview of the British Library's web archiving activities. She discussed how the current selective archiving practices are changing to meet the requirements of archiving the UK web at scale, enabled by forthcoming non-print Legal Deposit legislation.

WEBCAST: Adam Goodheart

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:00:12 GMT

Historian, journalist and critic Adam Goodheart Author appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Gary Schmidt

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:59:46 GMT

Author Gary Schmidt appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Joel Achenbach

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:58:56 GMT

Author Joel Achenbach appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: James H. Billington

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:58:32 GMT

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington reads at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Isabel Wilkerson

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:57:55 GMT

Author and journalist Isabel Wilkerson appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Hoda Kotb

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:57:32 GMT

Hoda Kotb appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: The New Anbar Awakening

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:00:54 GMT

Former Library of Congress staffer Michael Albin discussed his deployment to Iraq.

WEBCAST: Liberty or Death -- Slaves' Suicides

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Kluge Fellow Richard Bell describes the deep differences within the northern abolitionist movement as to who had the power to bring slavery to its knees: white evangelicals who might be moved to action by displays of wretched slave suffering, or black slaves with the courage to fight and die for their freedom.

WEBCAST: David McCullough

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:25:26 GMT

Historian and author David McCullough appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Garrison Keillor

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:24:59 GMT

Author and radio performer Garrison Keillor appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Cassandra Clare

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:24:20 GMT

Author Cassandra Clare appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Sylvia Nasar

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:23:11 GMT

Author Sylvia Nasar appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Toni Morrison

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:22:38 GMT

Nobel Prize winning author Toni Morrison appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: Russell Banks

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:21:58 GMT

Author Russell Banks appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

WEBCAST: William Faulkner & the Ledgers of History

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:56:20 GMT

Two years ago, an important literary discovery was revealed -- the existence of a wealthy plantation owner's mid-1800s diary that had been read by William Faulkner and served as the great author's source for names, incidents and details in his prize-winning novels. Sally Wolff uncovered the connection between the diary and Faulkner when she was working on a book about the people who knew Faulkner.

WEBCAST: Father Chief Justice

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:54:57 GMT

In honor of former Supreme Court Chief Justices Edward Douglass White (1845-1921) and Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935), the Law Library presented excerpts from "Father Chief Justice," a play by Louisiana State University law professor Paul R. Baier about the court???s ninth chief justice.

WEBCAST: African Presence in Latin America

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:54:17 GMT

Ambassador Francisco Campbell Hooker of the Republic of Nicaragua discusses the African presence in Latin America.

WEBCAST: Wickersham Award -- Justice John Paul Stevens

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:53:46 GMT

The Friends of the Law Library of Congress presented the 2011 Wickersham Award for exceptional public service and dedication to the legal profession to former Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens.

WEBCAST: Decolonization -- A History of Failure?

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:21:46 GMT

Decolonization is widely considered one of the foundational processes of the modern world--an old imperial order was swept away, and a new world of nations emerged to replace it. But is the modern era really a world of nations or largely the detritus of broken-down empires? Is a world of nations an attainable or even desirable situation? Lecture by John Darwin.

WEBCAST: Decoration Day in the Mountains

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:20:28 GMT

Folklorists Alan Jabbour and Karen Singer Jabbour have worked together to document grassroots culture in the American South. Since 2004 they have documented Decoration Day from North Carolina west to the Ozarks.

WEBCAST: Political Implications of Human Genomics

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:19:30 GMT

Jennifer Hochschild discusses the rapid growth of genomic science, how political views and public policy have not caught up, and its likely effect on our identities and on the criminal-justice system.

WEBCAST: Capital Pool Checkers Club

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:18:44 GMT

Ethnographic photographer Peggy Fleming spent three years photographing and interviewing the members of Washington's Capital Pool Checkers Club. Her resulting study, "Crown Me!" (2010), documents more than an interesting recreational club.

WEBCAST: Re-Imagining the U.S. Civil War (afternoon)

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:21:11 GMT

Cartographers during the U.S. Civil War invented new techniques and mapped the country--both Union and Confederate territories--more accurately than ever before in the nation's history. The afternoon session of this day-long conference included presentations on "Mapping the New Coasts of War,""Shedding a Little Light: Early Photographic Techniques Used to Reproduce Maps" and a reenactment and demonstration of the surveying and cartographic methods of the period, using original equipment.

WEBCAST: Re-Imagining the U.S. Civil War (morning)

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:19:30 GMT

Cartographers during the U.S. Civil War invented new techniques and mapped the country--both Union and Confederate territories--more accurately than ever before in the nation's history. The morning session of this day-long conference included presentations on "Hidden Patterns of the Civil War," "Mapping the Strength of the Rebellion" and "We Were Profoundly Ignorant of Our Country: The Struggle to Provide Accurate Maps During the U.S. Civil War."

WEBCAST: The Album in the Age of Photography

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:18:59 GMT

As photography became an increasingly accessible medium in the 20th century, the popularity of the photographic album exploded, yielding a wonderful range of objects made for varying purposes -- to memorialize, document (officially or unofficially), promote or educate and sometimes simply to channel creative energy. Verna Posever Curtis traces the rise of the album from the turn of the last century to the present day.

WEBCAST: Inscribing Ethics and Belief in Medieval India & Europe (2)

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:18:34 GMT

In "From Ptolemy to Pilgrimage: Images of Late Antiquity in Geography, Travel & Cartography," Scott Johnson links various genres of travel narrative writing to the transition from a pagan/Greco-Roman world to a Christian one as new ways of explaining the known world mixed the classical inheritance with biblical and early Christian history.

WEBCAST: Inscribing Ethics and Belief in Medieval India & Europe (1)

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:16:54 GMT

In "Seeing You Is Equivalent to Being the King": Loyalty, Ethics & Piety in 16th Century India, Christopher Chekuri examines loyalty and piety in the making of an ethical kingship.

WEBCAST: The Forgotten Founding Father

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:36:23 GMT

Noah Webster's name is synonymous with the dictionary he created, but his story is not nearly so well-known. Webster hobnobbed with various Founding Fathers and started America's first daily newspaper, predating Alexander Hamilton's New York Post. His "blue-backed speller" for schoolchildren sold millions of copies. But perhaps most important, Webster was an ardent supporter of a unified, definitively American culture, distinct from the British, at a time when the United States of America were anything but unified -- and his dictionary of American English is a testament to that. Joshua Kendall has written an absorbing and insightful account of how American English came to be codified in his new book.

WEBCAST: Skulls, Scalps and Seminoles

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:36:58 GMT

Exploration of the history of science in Florida during the decades before and after the beginning of U.S. governance in 1821. The lecture emphasizes the context of violence in Florida shaped scientific practices in the region as well as knowledge circulating throughout the United States of Florida's native peoples and natural history.

WEBCAST: Preserving State Government Information

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:34:53 GMT

Cal Lee and Bob Horton discussed their involvement in the Preserving State Government Information initiative, a National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program initiative focusing on capturing, preserving and providing access to a rich variety of state and local government digital information.

WEBCAST: From Divine Art to Printing Machine

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:34:22 GMT

Elizabeth L. Eisenstein offers an authoritative and highly readable account of five centuries of ambivalent attitudes toward printing and printers in her new book, "Divine Art, Infernal Machine: The Reception of Printing in the West from First Impressions to the Sense of an Ending."

WEBCAST: Big Ice Sheets Doing Big Things

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:33:43 GMT

This loss of ice in areas of the World such as Antarctica and Greenland is causing an increasing rate of sea-level rise, making it critically important to provide accurate predictive models as a basis for policymakers and citizens to take action. NASA scientist Robert Bindschadler presents his theories as to why this is occurring.

WEBCAST: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:47:00 GMT

Frederick Law Olmsted is best remembered for his landscape architecture, from New York's Central Park and Boston's Emerald Necklace to the grounds of the U.S. Capitol and the campus of Stanford University. Olmsted was also an influential journalist, an early voice for the environment and an abolitionist credited with helping dissuade England from joining the South in the Civil War. Justin Martin discusses his new book on Olmsted, "Genius of Place."

WEBCAST: "In Mexico There Are No Mexicans"

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:46:15 GMT

New Spain became Mexico virtually overnight, in 1821, although a decade of bloody civil strife preceded its final independence. Historian Eric Van Young uses the case of Mexico to examine the layered and contradictory nature of decolonization.

WEBCAST: Tchaikovsky & Taneyev: Mentor and Protege

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:45:35 GMT

Set within the artistic milieu of the last decades of Imperial Russia, this presentation traces the lives and careers of two of that country's most influential composers: Petr Il'ich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), and his student Sergei Ivanovich Taneyev (1856-1915) -- the former having enjoyed a worldwide celebrity during his lifetime, and the latter's reputation having been eclipsed to some degree by his more famous mentor, despite his own monumental accomplishments.

WEBCAST: Current Preventive Conservation Approach

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:44:46 GMT

Koenraad Van Balen and Anouk Stulens present the activities of the UNESCO Chair on Preventive Conservation, Monitoring and Maintenance of Monuments and Sites (PRECOMOS), and discuss current preventive conservation, monitoring, and maintenance-based preservation approaches.

WEBCAST: Tim Tingle & D.J. Battiest-Tomasi

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:30:59 GMT

Both D.J. Battiest-Tomasi and Tim Tingle are enrolled as members of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and regularly participate in tribal events. Both also share relatives who came on the Trail of Tears from the original Choctaw homelands in Mississippi. They speak Choctaw as a part of their performances. They normally perform individually, but have been asked to perform together on this occasion.

WEBCAST: Inspiring Stories from River of Words

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:30:27 GMT

Two of the winners in 2000 from the River of Words environmental poetry and art contest return to the Library of Congress in a special program in which they discuss how the contest changed their lives.

WEBCAST: Malinche & Women in the Conquest of Mexico

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:29:42 GMT

Argentinean poet Gladys Ilarregui reads and discusses her poetry in Spanish.

PODCASTS: Book Festival 2011 Series Launches

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:48:19 GMT

David McCullough, Russell Banks and Jennifer Egan are interviewed in the first three podcasts featuring authors who will attend this year's National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept 24-25.

WEBCAST: Inside Compassion

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:46:02 GMT

Joan Halifax Roshi talks about empathy and compassion on the part of caregivers who are tending to the ill and dying. A follow-up was given by George Chrousos, who will discuss the stressors caregivers may experience.

WEBCAST: The Man Who Died Too Young

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:45:37 GMT

Mark Horowitz discusses the life and work of Jonathan Larson, composer of the hit musical "Rent."

WEBCAST: A Talk with Sebastian Currier

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:45:07 GMT

Composer Sebastian Currier talks about his new work ("Xenakis Remix," performed later that evening) and his career.

WEBCAST: Ian Fleming, James Bond & the CIA

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:33:58 GMT

Christopher Moran explores the similarities between Ian Fleming's James Bond novels and the real world of the Central Intelligence Agency.

WEBCAST: Olli Kotekangas & Norman Scribner

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:33:22 GMT

Composer Olli Kortekangas and Norman Scribner, artistic director of The Choral Arts Society of Washington discuss the composer's new work, "Seven Songs for Planet Earth," which has been described as "a statement about our relationship to the natural world and our human duty to respect and nurture our planet -- a universal message for all to understand and contemplate."

WEBCAST: American Political Cartoons

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:32:54 GMT

From Benjamin Franklin's drawing of the first American political cartoon in 1754 to Herblock's blistering attacks on Richard Nixon, editorial cartoons have always been a part of American journalism and politics. The authors of "American Political Cartoons 1754-2010" discuss their book.

WEBCAST: Tony Ellis & the Musicians of Braeburn

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:55:48 GMT

In this concert in the Library's "Homegrown" series, Tony Ellis and the Musicians of Braeburn play traditional banjo and stringband music from Ohio.

WEBCAST: Poet Yermiyahu Ahron Taub

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:55:10 GMT

Yermiyahu Ahron Taub reads from his new book of poetry, "Uncle Feygele," which explores the issues encountered by gay Orthodox Jews. He follows up with questions from the audience regarding the book and translating between English and Yiddish.

WEBCAST: Does This Book Go to Law?

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:54:39 GMT

The routing of law and legal materials at the Library of Congress presents unique challenges. How do law and legal materials end up in the Law Cataloging Section for processing? In this presentation titled "Does this book go to law?" Aaron Kuperman presents the issues that must be considered before determining whether or not to send an item to the Law Section for cataloging.

WEBCAST: Two Worlds of the Pennsylvania Dutch

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:30:48 GMT

The Pennsylvania Dutch culture, which is now over three centuries old and still evolving, is an American hybrid creation put together from Continental Europe, British Isles, and American building blocks in Southeastern Pennsylvania. While this culture is a unit linguistically, and in most other ways, it is divided down the middle by religion. The "two worlds" are those of the "Plain Dutch"--Amish, Mennonites, and Brethren--and the much large world of the Lutheran and Recorded churches of the German and Swiss Reformates. Yoder illustrates the differences between these two cultural patterns with slides and ethnographic commentary.

WEBCAST: History & the Movies: An Historian Writes a Screenplay

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:29:39 GMT

The process of compressing history into drama often generates sharp tensions between the historian and the dramatist. As James Reston Jr. will testify, the historian usually feels a sinking disappointment as the dramatist explains what it will take to capture and hold the attention of an audience. When Reston was asked to write a screenplay based on his own 2005 book, "Dogs of God: Columbus, the Inquisition, and the Defeat of the Moors," he leapt at the chance to resolve and to control the historian/dramatist tension.

WEBCAST: 1861: The Civil War Awakening

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:29:10 GMT

Adam Goodheart discussed his book "1861: The Civil War Awakening."

WEBCAST: Ben Payton and the Thundering Harps

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:28:33 GMT

Ben Payton's voice resonates with a passion for life and his skills as a guitarist evoke the tradition of the original Delta blues greats such as Robert Johnson, Tommy Johnson, Charley Patton and Son House. He performs with Steve Chester on rhythm guitar, Cyndi Clark on conga drums and Kindrick Hart on electric bass.

WEBCAST: Let's Travel the World Through Books

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:28:04 GMT

This event, sponsored by the Library of Congress National Book Festival and the D.C. Public Library, featured master storyteller Diane Macklin, music by the Elise Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School Student band, and special guest NFL linebacker Chris Draft. The event was designed to promote the summer reading theme of "One World, Many Stories" and serve as an introduction to the Library's 2011 National Book Festival.

David McCullough: Americans in Paris

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 15:00:37 GMT

When historian David McCullough announced his intention to write a book about Americans in Paris, his interest was in Americans who went to Paris in the years between 1830 and 1900, not, as he observed, "to make a social splash, but with the ambition to excel. The old world was the new world to them," says the author. McCullough discusses his latest work, "The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris."

Teatro de la Luna Poetry Marathon

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:59:43 GMT

In this celebration of words, the only Spanish-language poetry marathon in the country, renowned Spanish-language poets were accompanied by audience members of all ages who recited, read or interpreted their own work or that of well-known authors. Participants included Medar Serrata (Dominican Republic), Veronica Zondek, Omar Lara (Chile), Gustavo Adolfo Garces (Colombia), Rafael Bordao (Cuba), Kary Cerda (Mexico), Vanessa Droz (Puerto Rico) and Maria Angeles Maeso (Spain). (In Spanish)

Modigliani: A Life

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:59:12 GMT

Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920) was considered the quintessential bohemian artist, his legend almost as infamous as Van Gogh's. In Modigliani's time, his work was seen as an oddity: contemporary with the Cubists but not part of their movement. Meryle Secrest discusses her new book on the artist.

The Making of Soviet Central Asia, 1917-1932

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:58:44 GMT

Adeeb Khalid discusses the transformation of culture and identity in Central Asia during the early years of Soviet rule and how the transformations in culture came not from Moscow, but from the Central Asian people themselves and how their new identity fostered a growing modernity that shaped the region as it is today.

American Loyalists in the Revolutionary World

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:20:13 GMT

On Nov. 25, 1783, the last British troops pulled out of New York City, bringing the American Revolution to an end. Patriots celebrated their departure and the confirmation of U.S. independence. But for tens of thousands of American loyalists, the British evacuation spelled worry, not jubilation. Maya Jasanoff discusses the plight of these exiles in place in her new book.

Shaping Physics in the Three Nations

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:19:45 GMT

Kluge Fellow Josep Simon spoke on the role of pedagogy and the importance of international scientific communication in the making of modern science, particularly physics.

Ellen & Edith: Woodrow Wilson's First Ladies

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:19:17 GMT

The wives of Woodrow Wilson were strikingly different from each other. Ellen Axson Wilson, quiet and intellectual, died after just a year and a half in the White House and is thought to have had little impact on history. Edith Bolling Wilson was flamboyant and confident but left a legacy of controversy. Kristie Miller discusses them, the subject of her new book.

Marvels of Roadside & Main Street: John Margolies

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:18:47 GMT

The eccentric landmarks glimpsed on a road trip through a car window and the changing commercial vistas on familiar hometown streets can reveal much about America's past and present. John Margolies has made a life's work of documenting and sharing such monuments and environments in photographs, packed lectures and popular books. Scholars of design, photography, commercial vernacular and automotive culture gathered at the Library of Congress to discuss Margolies' work.

W.S. Merwin Closes the Literary Season

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:17:51 GMT

U.S. Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin--the two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize, hailed by the New York Times as the "undisputed master"-- concluded the Library of Congress spring literary season with a reading of his work.

Symposium on Whitehead Letter

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:59:07 GMT

A rare, six-page letter written by Alfred North Whitehead, one of the major philosophers and mathematicians of the 20th century, was the subject of a half-day symposium at the Library of Congress.

The Googlization of Everything

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:58:26 GMT

Siva Vaidhyanathan questions assumptions in a new book, examining Google's methods of capturing, storing, and filtering information as well as raising flags about issues of intellectual property and the Google Book program.

Witter Bynner Fellows Poetry Reading 2011

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:56:59 GMT

Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin chose two seasoned voices in poetry, Forrest Gander and Robert Bringhurst, to receive the 2011 Witter Bynner Fellowships, and introduced the poets at a ceremony at the Library of Congress.

Vivian Ann Davidson Hewitt: The One and Only

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:56:09 GMT

Vivian Ann Davidson Hewitt, who, among other achievements, was the first African-American president of the Special Libraries Association (1978-1979), has written an autobiographical history of her remarkable life.

'One Muslim is Enough!' Evidence from a Field Experiment

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:33:09 GMT

David Laitin, a political science professor who has examined the causes of religious discrimination in France, discusses the rationales that sustain discrimination against Muslims in the French labor market.

Copyright Registration Demonstration & Concert

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:31:55 GMT

Chicago Victory Gardens: Yesterday and Tomorrow

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:09:17 GMT

During World War II, Chicago led the nation in urban food production with its Victory Gardens program of 1,500 community gardens and more than 250,000 home gardens. In 2010, LaManda Joy launched the Peterson Garden Project, on land that was part of an original World War II Victory Garden from 1942-1945.

Jews & Magic in Medici Florence

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:08:10 GMT

Through introducing his latest publication, "Jews and Magic in Medici Florence," Medici scholar Edward Goldberg outlines Florence of the period and the culmination of his study on the topic.

Emile Berliner & the Birth of the Recording Industry

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:06:46 GMT

Emile Berliner (1851-1929), a German-born immigrant whose inventions contributed to the birth of the recording industry, is the subject of a talk by Samuel Brylawski and Karen Lund.

Money on the Road to Empire

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:40:06 GMT

Japan's gold standard adoption of 1897 might have come from the country's inability to raise foreign loans denominated in its own currency. This and other views are presented by Kluge Fellow Michael Schiltz.

Assessing Options for Large Collections II

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:39:42 GMT

(Afternoon Session) This symposium reviewed current best-practice preservation options of mass deacidification and environmental control for preserving large-scale legacy collections, and addressed current best-practice options for managing and preserving large-scale digital collections.

Assessing Options for Large Collections I

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:39:13 GMT

(Morning Session) This symposium reviewed current best-practice preservation options of mass deacidification and environmental control for preserving large-scale legacy collections, and addressed current best-practice options for managing and preserving large-scale digital collections.

Cuba & Florida: A Historical Connection

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:38:42 GMT

Miguel Bretos looks at the Cuban presence in "La Florida" from the time of Ponce de Leon, almost 500 years ago, through the late 20th century.

Haitian Revolution and Atlantic Performance

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:42:47 GMT

Haiti's revolutionary origins and independence influenced its theatrical style. Kluge Fellow Peter Reed discusses the resulting perceptions of Haitians and their republic in the Atlantic world from the 1790s to the 20th century.

The Last Full Measure

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:42:14 GMT

Portrait photographs of the young men who fought in the Civil War, as well as their wives and children--poignant faces that gaze across time--are the subject of a major exhibition at the Library of Congress that opened on April 12, 2011, through the generous bequest of the Liljenquist family.

Challenges of Designing the Roud Folk Song Index

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:41:30 GMT

Steve Roud discusses his work compiling The Folk Song Index, an online index to all the traditional folksongs of the English-speaking world.

Black Campus Movement

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:40:46 GMT

Ibram Rogers discusses the Black Campus Movement and its affect on higher education from 1965-72.

Predicting Disease Outbreaks from Space

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:12:55 GMT

NASA scientist Assaf Anyamba, an expert on using earth science satellite data to see links among weather, disease and famine, discusses predicting disease outbreaks from Space.

Protectionist Empire

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:12:32 GMT

Ben Fordham discusses the emergence of the United States as a world power during the years prior to World War I in a presentation on "Protectionist Empire: Trade, Tariffs & U.S. Foreign Policy, 1890-1914."

Library Conservation & Scholarly Communication

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:11:46 GMT

Donald J. Waters characterizes the changes in scholarly communication and discusses the challenges and opportunities for creating a more robust environment for heritage conservation in research libraries.

Women Against Tyranny

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:32:42 GMT

Davi Walders speaks about her new book, "Women Against Tyranny: Poems of Resistance During the Holocaust."

Personal Archiving: Documents

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:32:01 GMT

Library of Congress conservators and experts discuss how to care for personal collections including traditional paper, electronic documents, and books.

Personal Archiving: Photos

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:31:12 GMT

Library of Congress experts discuss how to care for personal photograph collections, including traditional as well as digital photographs.

Ameen Rihani: The Book of Khalid

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:01:32 GMT

The Library of Congress and the Ameen Rihani Institute presented a symposium on the 100th anniversary of the first Arab-American novel, Ameen Rihani's "The Book of Khalid."

Food Thrift: Scraps from the Past

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:00:52 GMT

Constance Carter describes the resourceful ways American housewives found to feed their families during hard times of the past.

Concert: Eddie Daniels & Roger Kellaway

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:00:28 GMT

"A duet of one" -- a concert with Eddie Daniels and Roger Kellaway, two jazz masters with classical leanings and an impressive command of the American Songbook.

Discussion: Daniels & Kellaway & the American Songbook

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:59:53 GMT

The Library's Larry Appelbaum talks with musicians Eddie Daniels and Roger Kellaway on jazz and the American songbook.

Utrecht String Quartet

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:28:39 GMT

Praised for its benchmark recordings of Tchaikovsky, the Utrecht String Quartet from the Netherlands makes its first U.S. appearance in the Library of Congress in a program of Schubert, Meijering and Tchaikovsky.

Manuscript Sources of Verklarte Nacht

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:27:54 GMT

Wayne Shirley discusses the manuscript sources for Arnold Schoenberg's Verklarte Nacht in the Library's Whittall Collection.

Music Therapy for Alzheimer's & Post-Traumatic Stress

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:27:20 GMT

Dr. Alicia Clair discusses music therapy and their affect on patients with Alzheimer's and Post-Traumatic Stress syndrome.

HIV/AIDS 2011: Where Are We Now?

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:04:36 GMT

Mehret Mandefro discusses the past, present and future of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:03:41 GMT

French composer Olivier Messiaen wrote his seminal chamber work Quatuor pour la fin du temps (Quartet for the End of Time) while he was a prisoner of the German army during World War II. The first performance, given for an audience of about four hundred of his fellow prisoners of war and their prison guards in Stalag VIII-A, resonates as poignant example of the transformative power of music even in the most dire circumstances.

Schumann Trio

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:14:18 GMT

The Schumann Trio plays works by Mozart, Bruch, Sheng and Brahms.

Joel ben Simeon & the Washington Haggadah

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:13:39 GMT

David Stern and Katrin Kogman-Appel discuss the 1478 Washington Haggadah illustrated by Joel ben Simeon, among the most gifted and prolific scribe-artists in the history of the Jewish book.

Black Gotham: A Family History

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:13:14 GMT

Part detective tale, part social and cultural narrative, "Black Gotham: A Family History of African-Americans in Nineteenth-Century New York," is Carla Peterson's account of her quest to reconstruct the lives of her 19th-century ancestors.

The Marriage of Preservation & Access

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:12:36 GMT

The close alliance between preservation of cultural heritage collections and the provision of access to them is explored, with particular reference to the ways in which the grant programs of the Division of Preservation and Access at the National Endowment for the Humanities exemplify that alliance.

Poets C.D. Wright & David Wagoner

Fri, 27 May 2011 17:11:17 GMT

Two distinguished poets, C.D. Wright and David Wagoner, will read from their work in an evening presentation at the Library of Congress.

Getting It Wrong

Fri, 27 May 2011 17:10:47 GMT

W. Joseph Campbell discusses his new book on the ten greatest misreported stories in American journalism.

Wild Bill Donovan, Spymaster

Fri, 27 May 2011 17:10:22 GMT

Author Douglas Waller discusses "Wild" Bill Donovan and his role in the OSS and modern American espionage, the subject of his new book.

Divine Art, Infernal Machine

Thu, 26 May 2011 20:57:51 GMT

Elizabeth Eisenstein discusses five centuries of ambivalent attitudes toward printing and printers, based on her new book, "Divine Art, Infernal Machine: The Reception of Printing in the West from First Impressions to the Sense of an Ending."

IMPOWR: Women and the Rule of Law

Thu, 26 May 2011 17:41:45 GMT

Aileen Pisciotta introduces and demonstrates the new website impowr.org from the International Models Project for Women's Rights, established by the American Bar Association in 2008 to harness the information sharing power of the internet to empower advocates and defenders of gender equality under the law around the world.

Mobile Technology & Telephony in East Africa

Thu, 12 May 2011 14:33:56 GMT

J. Kwabena Addo discusses how mobile technology and telephony have affected job and wealth creation in East Africa, and possible lessons for the rest of Africa.

Compassionate Conservation in East Africa

Thu, 12 May 2011 14:33:34 GMT

Will Travers of the Born Free Foundation offers a multimedia presentation on wildlife conservation in East Africa.

Health Risks of Atomic Bomb Exposure

Fri, 06 May 2011 18:16:09 GMT

Human geneticist William Jack Schull outlines the health effects of exposure to atomic bomb radiation.

Coffee, Culture and Intellectual Property Rights

Fri, 06 May 2011 18:15:40 GMT

Heran Sereke-Berhan discusses coffee and intellectual property rights in Ethiopia.

The Many Colors of the Sun

Fri, 06 May 2011 18:15:18 GMT

W. Dean Pesnell of the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory presents an illustrated lecture on new observations and views of solar phenomena.

Belly Dancers, Harems & Chadors

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:13:35 GMT

Author Maha Addasi discusses the importance of getting multicultural details right in children's books.

The Jihadis' Path to Self-Destruction

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:13:10 GMT

Do contemporary jihadists hold, in their own doctrine, the seeds to self-destruction? Nelly Lahoud, a top expert on jihadi ideology and a West Point associate professor, discusses this topic, the subject of her new book of the same name.

Martin Luther King's Use of Proverbs for Civil Rights

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:12:41 GMT

For more than ten years Wolfgang Mieder has made the study of proverbs in political discourse one of his major research areas, particularly the role of proverbs at critical moments in American history. In this lecture he discusses his research for his most recent book.

Work & Transformation: Panels 5, 6 & 7

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:55:17 GMT

(Part 3 of 3) This symposium featured presentations by the 2010 recipients of the American Folklife Center's Archie Green Fellowships on their research and documentation of the culture and traditions of American workers in New York, Idaho, and Louisiana. Panels also included representatives of community-based documentation projects supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services concerning the role of America's libraries and museums as vibrant centers for the documentation of oral history and the development of 21st century skills.

Work & Transformation: Panels 3 & 4

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:54:39 GMT

(Part 2 of 3) This symposium featured presentations by the 2010 recipients of the American Folklife Center's Archie Green Fellowships on their research and documentation of the culture and traditions of American workers in New York, Idaho, and Louisiana. Panels also included representatives of community-based documentation projects supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services concerning the role of America's libraries and museums as vibrant centers for the documentation of oral history and the development of 21st century skills.

Work & Transformation: Panels 1, 2 & Keynote

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:54:00 GMT

(Part 1 of 3) This symposium featured presentations by the 2010 recipients of the American Folklife Center's Archie Green Fellowships on their research and documentation of the culture and traditions of American workers in New York, Idaho, and Louisiana. Panels also included representatives of community-based documentation projects supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services concerning the role of America's libraries and museums as vibrant centers for the documentation of oral history and the development of 21st century skills.

Rare Revolutionary War-Era Map

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:51:24 GMT

David M. Rubenstein, co-founder and managing director of The Carlyle Group, has given the Library of Congress stewardship of the first map printed in North America, depicting the boundaries of the new American nation and showing the "Stars and Stripes" for the first time.

Arthur Szyk and His Passover Haggadah

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:51:00 GMT

Irvin Ungar discusses Polish-Jewish artist Arthur Szyk and his haggadah created in the stunning style of medieval illuminated manuscripts.

Preservation Planning for the Future

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:50:31 GMT

This presentation examined the three overarching goals in the Foundation's strategic plan: expanding education programs, building awareness of the conservation profession, and strengthening the organizational structure and capacity of FAIC. The plan was developed through a series of stakeholder meetings and surveys that highlighted the needs and trends in the field.

Moving Images: Digitizing to the Future

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:31:27 GMT

This workshop covers the key concepts and technologies pertaining to moving image preservation and digitization in libraries, archives, and museums, including the typical elements in the preservation and digitization of moving images, how to assess their condition, and relevant technologies and best practices.

Fashion & Politics in Postcolonial Argentina

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:31:53 GMT

Regina Root discusses her new book "Couture and Consensus: Fashion and Politics in Postcolonial Argentina" (University of Minnesota Press, 2010).

CIP & ONIX: The Future of Bibliographic Control?

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:31:24 GMT

Library of Congress staff discuss new developments in bibliographic control.

Educating Girls in Tsarist Russia

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:30:30 GMT

Eliyana Adler discusses her new book, "In Her Hands: The Education of Jewish Girls in Tsarist Russia."

Gamma-Ray Bursts and the Birth of Black Holes

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:59:02 GMT

Dr. Neil Gehrels discusses "Gamma-Ray Bursts and the Birth of Black Holes" as part of the Library's series in conjunction with NASA.

NLS 80th Anniversary

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:58:34 GMT

On March 3, 2011, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), the nationally-renowned talking-book and braille program of the Library of Congress, celebrated 80 years of helping visually impaired and physically handicapped individuals enjoy reading their favorite books and magazines.

Bernstein Meets Broadway

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:21:24 GMT

Carol Oja offers new perspectives on Leonard Bernstein's "On the Town" of 1944.

Working (and Not Working) with Bernstein

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:20:15 GMT

Composer Jack Gottlieb, author of the recently published memoir "Working with Bernstein," discusses his own role as a fellow composer.

RDA: Recursos, Descripcion y Acceso

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:25:04 GMT

Speaking in Spanish, Barbara Tillett recreates a presentation she gave in Peru and Costa Rica in the fall of 2010 regarding the proposed cataloging code RDA: Resource Description and Access.

Concert: Gautier Capucon & Gabriela Montero

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:01:34 GMT

An exciting musical partnership born under the aegis of the legendary Martha Argerich: her Venezuelan protege and the brilliant young French cellist, two of the most exciting young performers of today.

Abbas Milani & The Shah

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:00:43 GMT

Over the course of almost 40 years, Mohammad Reza Shah was a colossus in Iran, the one constant in a swirl of changing loyalties, political fortunes, and pressures both domestic and international; by the end of his reign, virtually no state decision could be taken, save by him. Abbas Milani discusses the ruler in his latest book, "The Shah".

Chaplains: Reflections from the Past

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:00:26 GMT

Retired military chaplains from various branches of service discuss chaplaincy from a historical perspective and share their experiences of service.

Diversity & Social Harmony in Mauritius

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:00:04 GMT

Roukaya Kasenally discusses her native land in a presentation on the challenges and limitations of managing diversity and social harmony in Mauritius.

Collecting Metadata for Recorded Sound

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:36:43 GMT

As part of the NDIIPP Briefing series, the Library of Congress hosted a presentation by John Spencer, president of BMS/Chace. Spencer leads a partnership with NDIIPP exploring the structured collection of audio multitrack metadata, working to create a shareable application that facilitates the gathering of technical and descriptive metadata across multiple roles in the recording process.

Kate Masur: An Example for All the Land

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:13:13 GMT

In "An Example for All the Land: Emancipation and the Struggle Over Equality in Washington, D.C.," author Kate Masur offers the first major study in more than 50 years of the nation's capital during Reconstruction.

Concert: Lionel Loueke Trio

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:12:25 GMT

West African harmonies and jazz rhythms are seamlessly blended by guitarist/singer/composer Lionel Loueke with Massimo Biolcati on bass and Ferenc Nemeth on drums.

Immigrants on the Mississippi

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:11:50 GMT

French scholar Anny Bloch-Raymond discusses the French-Jewish communities along the Mississippi River and the issue of belonging.

Japanese Influences in American Music

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:14:53 GMT

The history of the cross-cultural interaction between American composers and Japan is documented in unpublished and published scores, manuscripts, and correspondence held, often uniquely, in the Music Division of the Library of Congress.

Whiskey: A Global History

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:14:11 GMT

Focusing on three nations -- Scotland, Ireland and the United States -- author Kevin R. Kosar charts how the techniques of distillation moved from ancient Egypt to the British Isles.

The English Concert

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:13:30 GMT

One of the world's finest period instrument orchestras comes to the Library with Alice Coote, a singer praised for her "commanding, sensual, and leonine presence" and "a voice of copper silk" in vocal and instrumental works by Dowland, Handel, Monteverdi, and Vivaldi.

2010 Americas Award

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:12:57 GMT

Authors Julia Alvarez and Carmen Tafolla and illustrator Magaly Morales received the 2010 Americas Award for Children's and Young-Adult Literature at the 17th annual award presentation.

What Did Harpsichords Sound Like in 1910?

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:20:59 GMT

John Koster discusses the sound of harpsichords in the early part of the 20th Century, in a companion lecture to a concert by Mahan Esfahani.

Mahan Esfahani: Harpsichord Concert

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:20:32 GMT

Mahan Esfahani plays Wanda Landowska's Pleyel harpsichord, featuring pieces from her 1927 concert at the Library of Congress.

Constitution-Making in the Western Hemisphere

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:58:12 GMT

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Arturo Valenzuela hosted the third of three panels on "Creating Freedom in the Americas, 1776-1825." Participants are historians from the U.S., Latin America, and Spain. Presentations by the panelists are discussed by commentators and by the audience.

Comparing Independence Movements in the Americas

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:57:45 GMT

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Arturo Valenzuela hosted the second of three panels on "Creating Freedom in the Americas, 1776-1825." Participants are historians from the U.S., Latin America, and Spain. Presentations by the panelists are discussed by commentators and by the audience.

The Americas on the Eve of Independence Movements

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:57:09 GMT

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Arturo Valenzuela hosted the first of three panels on "Creating Freedom in the Americas, 1776-1825." Participants are historians from the U.S., Latin America, and Spain. Presentations by the panelists are discussed by commentators and by the audience.

Cuisine and Culture in the Arab World

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:09:23 GMT

Author Amy Riolo discusses cuisine and culture in the Arab world.

Human Rights Day 2010

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:08:54 GMT

In recognition of Human Rights Day 2010, the Law Library of Congress hosted a panel discussion on "Cultural Property Rights of Indigenous People."

Early Cartography of Panama & Darien

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:21:23 GMT

Due to its role as a world's crossroads, the Isthmus of Panama has been one of the most mapped regions in the Americas. Hernan Arauz examines some of Panama's most significant maps and their interpretation and how the feats of the early conquistadors, buccaneers, surveyors and explorers influenced the development of cartography there.

Cornelis de Bruyn & His Contemporaries

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:20:40 GMT

Rebecca Parker Brienen addresses the phenomenon of Internationalism as exemplified in the work and career of painter, traveler, and writer Cornelis de Bruyn (1652-1726).

Expecting Pears from an Elm Tree

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:20:10 GMT

Boliva historian Eric Langer speaks at the Library of Congress.

2010 Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:33:08 GMT

Lucia Perillo, winner of the 2010 Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry, reads from her book "Inseminating the Elephant," at the awards ceremony.

Joaquim Nabuco Seminar (Spanish)

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:32:34 GMT

This seminar examines the life and career of Joaquim Nabuco, a leader of the abolitionist movement in Brazil and later Brazil's first ambassador to the United States. (Spanish)

Joaquim Nabuco Seminar (English)

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:32:03 GMT

This seminar examines the life and career of Joaquim Nabuco, a leader of the abolitionist movement in Brazil and later Brazil's first ambassador to the United States. (English)

ASCAP Collection Concert

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:31:25 GMT

The stories of, and back stories behind, several beloved songs were laid out for a most entertained audience as the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Foundation brought forward an evening of songs sung by ASCAP's member songwriters at the Library of Congress Coolidge Auditorium.

Architecture in Shanghai & Mumbai

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:04:11 GMT

Through the unique architectures of Shanghai and Mumbai, from their imperial origins to their current building booms, Black Mountain Institute fellow Daniel Brook examines the cities' volatile, continuing experiments in forging a Chinese and Indian modernity.

McIntosh County Shouters

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:03:49 GMT

The McIntosh County Shouters perform Gullah-Geechee Ring Shout at a concert at the Library.

Access to Electronic Federal Publications

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:03:25 GMT

Kate Zwaard discussed how the GPO's Federal Digital Systems (FDsys) is helping the agency meet its mission of preserving and providing access to authentic Federal government information.

A History of Afro-Uruguay

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:02:53 GMT

George Reid Andrews discusses his new book "Blackness in the White Nation: A History of Afro-Uruguay."

And the Pursuit of Happiness

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:46:24 GMT

Noted writer, illustrator and designer Maira Kalman's year-long investigation of democracy and how it works has resulted in her newest book, "And the Pursuit of Happiness."

Quiches, Kugels & Couscous: Search for Jewish Cooking in France

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:45:56 GMT

Joan Nathan discusses her latest book.

The Lion of Judah: Prince Ermias Sahle Selsssie

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:45:13 GMT

His Royal Highness Prince Ermias Sahle Selsssie of Ethiopia discusses his work.

The Secret War in El Paso, 1906-1920

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:44:25 GMT

Authors Charles H. Harris III and Louis R. Sadler discuss their work and the Mexican Revolution.

Weight Loss Through the Ages

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:20:06 GMT

Nutrition, obesity and weight-loss experts gathered at the Library of Congress to present "Weight Loss Through the Ages: Where We've Been, What We've Learned and Where We're Going."

CMA Songwriters Series

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:18:24 GMT

Platinum-selling country quartet Little Big Town and country songwriters Brett James, Lori McKenna and Bob DiPiero kick off the new Country Music Association (CMA) Songwriters concert series at the Library of Congress.

Oral History in a Digital Age

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:17:53 GMT

Over the course of the twentieth century, oral history, the gathering and recording of interviews and memories, was an essential ingredient of this democratization of scholarship. Oral histories provided vital evidence to allow scholars to move beyond the written records of elites and expand their focus to broader groups and to social and cultural history.

Conservation Training: Commemorating 50 Years

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:17:30 GMT

This 50th anniversary of New York University's graduate program in conservation features NYU allumni contributions to the Library of Congress.

The Most Musical Nation: Jews & Culture in the Late Russian Empire

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:22:12 GMT

James Loeffler discusses the role of music in the formation of modern Jewish identity in 19th- and 20th-century Russia in his new book, "The Most Musical Nation: Jews and Culture in the Late Russian Empire."

Navajo Film Themselves Through Navajo Eyes

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:21:42 GMT

The Library presented excerpts from the film series "Navajo Film Themselves." The seven films that comprise the series were a gift from the Penn Museum at the University of Pennsylvania. The series was produced in 1965 through a National Science Foundation-funded project that provided Navajo youth in Arizona with 16 mm cameras and basic instruction. The goal was to see what these amateur films would reveal about Navajo culture and visual language.

Carlos Nakai: American Indian Flute Music

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:21:02 GMT

Carlos Nakai performs American Indian flute music in a noontime concert in the Library's "Homegrown" series.

Tories: Fighting for the King in America's First Civil War

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:20:35 GMT

Most Americans have learned the essential narrative of the American Revolution: Our Founding Fathers led proud Patriots to fight against British rule and ultimately prevailed. Rarely mentioned are the thousands of Tories, or Loyalists, who supported the British and fought to remain in their American homes as loyal subjects of the crown. Historian Thomas B. Allen contends the American Revolution was as much a civil war as it was a rebellion against the British.

Using Fair Trade Principles to Empower Women in Northern Uganda

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:28:52 GMT

Halle Butvin discussed using fair trade principles to empower women in Northern Uganda.

Through Veterans' Eyes: The Iraq and Afghanistan Experience

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:28:22 GMT

Larry Minear discusses his book "Through Veterans' Eyes: The Iraq and Afghanistan Experience," based on interviews culled from the Library of Congress Veterans History Project collection.

Italian Enlightenment and the U.S. Constitution

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:27:52 GMT

The Library sponsored a conference on Gaetano Filangieri and Benjamin Franklin: The Italian Enlightenment and the U.S. Constitution, with speakers including Marcello Pera and Justice Antonin Scalia.

Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin Opens the Literary Season

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:53:15 GMT

W.S. Merwin, the newly-announced 17th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, an undisputed master who has won nearly every major literary award, opens the Library's 2010-2011 literary season with a reading of his poetry.

The Not Too Bad Bluegrass Band

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:52:35 GMT

The Not Too Bad Bluegrass Band performs at the Library of Congress.

A Celebration of American Poets Laureate

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:51:28 GMT

Some of the most distinguished voices in American poetry--seven former U. S. Poets Laureate/Consultants in Poetry--reunited in the historic Coolidge Auditorium of the Library of Congress for a night of poetry. The event marked publication of "The Poets Laureate Anthology," a volume which brings together for the first time in print a sampling of poems by all of the U.S Poets Laureate/Consultants in Poetry.

Volcanoes: Near, Far and Really Far Away

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:58:46 GMT

Does life exist elsewhere in our solar system? NASA believes the best place to answer this question is Europa, an icy moon of Jupiter. The best way to understand how Europa works may be through studying the massive lava lakes on a neighboring Jupiter moon, Io. Dr. Ashley Davies of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory discusses volcanoes.

25 Years of Preservation Research

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:58:18 GMT

Preservation leader James Reilly and others reviewed 25 years of research by the Image Permanence Institute (IPI) that has produced resources and recommendations now widely used to preserve a broad range of media.

Optical Scanning & Sound Preservation

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:57:46 GMT

Dr. Carl Haber discusses the current status of ongoing collaborative research between the Library of Congress and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories.

Haiti: Actions, Vision & a Plan

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:50:41 GMT

Chavennes Jean-Baptiste, founder of the Peasant Movement of Papay, addressed how his organization is responding to the earthquake in Haiti.

Languge and Identitiy in Medieval French Jewish Communities

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:50:12 GMT

Kirsten A. Fudeman discussed her new book, "Vernacular Voices: Language and Identity in Medieval French Jewish Communities."

Aysha Murad: From Dilmun to Bahrain

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:58:14 GMT

Aysha Murad discusses the past and future of Bahrain.

Michal Govrin: Hold on to the Sun

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:58:10 GMT

Michal Govrin presents a lecture about her new book, "Hold on to the Sun."

Women at the Valley Forge Encampment

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 20:18:27 GMT

Nancy Loane discusses her book, the untold story of the women -- from those on society's lowest rungs to the women of the upper class -- who spent the winter of 1777-78 with the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Pa.

Balla Kouyate and World Vision

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 20:19:05 GMT

In this concert, Balla Kouyate performs with singer Adjaratou "Tapani" Demba, Sekou "Pablo" Dembele, Makane Kouyate, Idrissa Kone, Daniel Day, and Raja Kassis.

Samuel Barber: The Composer and His Music

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 20:18:02 GMT

Barbara B. Heyman discusses her book "Samuel Barber: The Composer and His Music."

The Case for Books: Past, Present and Future

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:15:33 GMT

Robert Darton makes "The Case for Books" with an in-depth examination of the book from its earliest beginnings to its shifting role today in popular culture, commerce and the academy.

Confucianism as a World Cultural Heritage

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:15:10 GMT

Rep. Al Green, Hsu Cho-Yun, Robert Scott, Jason Yuan, Kung Ling-He, Rep. Mike Honda, Paul Youshing Shao, Anna Chennault and Rep. Judy Chu speak at a symposium on Confucianism as a world cultural heritage.

Life Lessons from Children's Literature

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:14:45 GMT

More than 100 leaders from the arts, sciences, politics, business and other fields recall a children's book they loved in a new compilation of essays, "Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Children's Book: Life Lessons from Notable People from All Walks of Life." Editor Anita Silvey discusses the book.

David Warren Steel: Makers of the Sacred Harp

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:14:13 GMT

David Warren Steel discusses his new book, "The Makers of the Sacred Harp," newly published by the University of Illinois Press.

African Presence in Latin America

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:06:59 GMT

Ambassador Francisco Campbell Hooker of the Republic of Nicaragua discusses the African presence in Latin America.

Why Coolidge Matters: The Importance of Civility

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:06:26 GMT

Contributors to a new book on the Calvin Coolidge legacy make a compelling case for revisiting and learning from the moral tenor and style that defined the Coolidge presidency.

Professional Help for Public Policy

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:43:19 GMT

According to Roger White, policy analysis, which has emerged over the past half-century as a field of intellectual inquiry and practice, is one of a number of sources that inform the public and policymakers about policy needs, options and operations.

Obama & the Democratic Struggle for Power

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:42:48 GMT

Jeffrey Alexander offers a new way of looking at the struggle for political power by discussing what happened and why during Barack Obama's run for the presidency. He argues that images, emotion and performance are the central features of the battle for power.

New Sources: Early Cold War Soviet Espionage Records

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:42:19 GMT

Kluge Staff Fellow John Haynes discusses making new sources accessible and specifically, a digital concordance to early Cold War Soviet espionage record.

History of Education in Ethiopia

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:23:49 GMT

Dr. Aklilu Habte discusses the history of higher education in Ethiopia.

National Collegiate Book Collecting

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:23:21 GMT

An illustrated talk by noted bibliophile, collector and author Carol Fitzgerald, who spoke on collecting mid-20th-Century regional Americana.

The Cheetah: A Race for Survival

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:23:01 GMT

The African and Middle Eastern Division and the Science, Technology and Business Division co-sponsored this event featuring Laurie Marker, executive director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

African Elites in India

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:35:29 GMT

Author Kenneth X. Robbins discusses his book, a series of snapshots, in the form of essays by specialists in the history numismatics, architecture, and art history of South Asia.

Books as Weapons During World War II

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:35:05 GMT

John Hench tells the little-known story of the vital partnership between American book publishers and the United States government to put carefully selected recent books highlighting American history and values into the hands of civilians liberated from Axis forces.

Cape Verde & Sao Tome Principe

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:33:29 GMT

The commonalities and differences of two Lusophone African countries are discussed.

Early Music at the Library

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:33:00 GMT

A panel discussion on early music performance at the Library of Congress.

Uri Caine Trio

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 22:30:30 GMT

The Uri Caine Trio performs at the Atlas Performing Center in Washington, D.C.

Observing the Living Oceans from Space

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:34:20 GMT

According to oceanographer Gene Feldman, there is no question among scientists that the Earth is changing. Observing the oceans from space enables NASA to monitor the biological consequences of that change and determine how it affects Earth's ability to support life.

2010 Library of Congress Junior Fellows

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:33:28 GMT

This webcast features interviews and collection highlights from the 2010 Library of Congress Junior Fellows Project displays. Junior Fellows describe some of the special collections and items they worked with and researched over the summer including a rare, underground copy of Leo Tolstoy's The New Gospel (Novoe Evangelie), scrapbooks from a WWI soldier and DC opera singer, WWII film evaluations for Bambi and Tarzan Triumphs, and recently acquired Civil War ambrotypes and tintypes.

Chesapeake Bay from Space

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:32:54 GMT

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) studies Earth from space, and the Chesapeake Bay is an important part of NASA research. Changes in the waters of the bay and on the land nearby are generating questions about the sustainability of current land-use practices. NASA scientist Eric Brown de Colstoun discusses this research.

Broken: My Story of Addiction and Redemption

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:43:58 GMT

William Cope Moyers spiraled into a crack-cocaine binge that threatened to destroy his life. After multiple attempts at rehabilitation, Moyers was finally able to recover from his addiction and make sobriety the center of his life.

Music & the Brain: Uri Caine & Larry Appelbaum

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:43:15 GMT

Larry Appelbaum interviewed pianist-composer Uri Caine at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, Lang Theatre in Washington, D.C.

A History of the Library of Congress

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:49:57 GMT

John Cole gives a history of the Library of Congress for the annual visitor docent training class.

Paolo Ventura: Winter Stories

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:49:27 GMT

A conversation among Ventura; Denise Wolff and Renato Miracco. The book depicts scenes from the memory of an old circus performer as he looks back on his life.

A Public Intellectual of the First Cuban Republic

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:48:59 GMT

Judith Weiss lectures on Jose Antonio Ramos as part of the Library's Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations.

Translating Africa in Global Contexts

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:48:31 GMT

Although African myths and folktales have long been trivialized as childish, translators today are revealing new insights, which show that Africa led the world in the invention of the most sophisticated literary styles.

Steve Meisner and Friends

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:23:13 GMT

Accordion polka concert with Steve Meisner and friends.

Cultural Democracy in a Time of Diminished Resources

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:22:48 GMT

According to James Bau Graves,"Cultural Democracy" is the notion that everybody's heritage and cultural expression is worthwhile and deserving of an equitable share of whatever resources are available.

Place and the Politics of Belonging

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:22:01 GMT

Debra Lattanzi Shutika says that one of America's greatest ironies is that, although a nation of immigrants, the country also has a longstanding history of ambivalence, and at times hostility, toward its newest arrivals. In the last decade, the increased number of immigrants living in new destinations, those settlements located outside the U.S.-Mexico borderlands, has coincided with an upsurge in local anti-immigrant sentiment.

The Story Behind the Stamp

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:21:11 GMT

Kim Therault talks about Arshile Gorky's Stamp and the development of abstract expressionism.

The Marx Brothers as Social Critics

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:09:11 GMT

Martin Gardner discusses his new book, which examines historical events, political practices, economic conditions, manners and customs, literary subjects and popular entertainment as satirized in the Marx brothers' films and considers the ways in which the films were relevant in their era and remain so today.

George Kennan and the Russian Nihilists

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:08:37 GMT

In 1885 George Kennan travelled to Russia as a reporter for "The Century" to investigate and write about the so-called Nihilists. Hundreds of political dissidents had been exiled to Siberia since the mid-1870s, and in 1881 Russia's most violent revolutionaries attracted international attention with the assassination of Alexander II.

The Egyptian Museum

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:07:42 GMT

The director of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo spoke about the museum. The event was co-sponsored by the Egyptian Embassy Cultural and Educational Affairs Office.

Marimba Linda Xelaju

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:07:13 GMT

Marimba Linda Xelaju performs traditional Guatemalan marimba.

Clothing and Cartography in Spanish America

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:14:09 GMT

Alexander Hidalgo discusses clothing and maps in early Spanish America.

Folk Music from the Slovak Mountains

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:13:12 GMT

Bohuslav Rychlik discusses and performs fujara music from Slovakia.

Cherdabayev & Uvalzhanova: The Gift to Stalin

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:12:11 GMT

Film producers Boris Cherdabayev and Aliya Uvalzhanova show selected clips and discuss the film, the tale of a young Jewish orphan is sent into exile during a Stalinist purge.

Rich Remsberg: Hard Luck Blues

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:34:39 GMT

Documentary photographer Rich Remsberg discusses his new book of photos of of American roots musicians during the Great Depression.

Supreme Power: Franklin Roosevelt vs. the Supreme Court

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:33:20 GMT

Historian Jeff Shesol documents FDR's plan to expand the court to 15 justices and to "pack" the new seats with liberals who shared his belief in an expanded version of the Constitution.

2010 River of Words

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:32:43 GMT

Poet Robert Hass hosts the 2010 River of Words ceremony.

Japanese Collections: Past, Present and Future

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 18:26:56 GMT

In a symposium presented in conjunction with a display in the Library's Asian Reading Room, the Library of Congress celebrated the 80th anniversary of its Japanese collection.

Managing Stress and Enhancing Wellness with Music Therapy

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 18:26:30 GMT

A discussion in association with the American Music Therapy Association.

Wellness and Growth with Acoustic Medicine

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 18:25:58 GMT

A discussion presented in cooperation with the American Music Therapy Association.

Rebecca Stead: 2010 National Book Festival

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:50:06 GMT

Author Rebecca Stead appears at the 2010 National Book Festival.

Authors Breakfast: National Book Festival 2010

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:02:19 GMT

Authors' breakfast prior to the 2010 Library of Congress National Book Festival, sponsored by the Washington Post.

Jeff Smith: 2010 National Book Festival

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:43:16 GMT

Graphic novelist Jeff Smith gives an illustrated talk at the 2010 National Book Festival.

Letters About Literature: 2010 National Book Festival

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:42:32 GMT

The Letters About Literature presentation at the 2010 National Book Festival. Letters About Literature, a national reading and writing promotion program of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, is presented in partnership with Target. Each year students in grades 4 through 12 are invited to write a personal letter to an author, explaining how that author"s work has changed their view of the world or of themselves. For the 2009-2010 Letters About Literature program, 70,000 students submitted letters that were judged at the state and national levels.

Michael Buckley: 2010 National Book Festival

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:41:58 GMT

Author Michael Buckley appears at the 2010 National Book Festival.

M.T. Anderson: 2010 National Book Festival

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:40:43 GMT

Author M.T. Anderson appears at the 2010 National Book Festival.

Margarita Engle: 2010 National Book Festival

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:40:00 GMT

Author Margarita Engle appears at the 2010 National Book Festival.

Katherine Paterson: 2010 National Book Festival

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:36:12 GMT

National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Katherine Paterson appears at the 2010 National Book Festival.

Phillip M. Hoose & Claudette Colvin: 2010 National Book Festival

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:35:46 GMT

Authors Phillip M. Hoose and Claudette Colvin appear at the 2010 National Book Festival.

Karin Slaughter: 2010 National Book Festival

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:39:02 GMT

Author Karin Slaughter presents at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Peter Straub: 2010 National Book Festival

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:38:25 GMT

Peter Straub appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Brad Meltzer: 2010 National Book Festival

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:37:52 GMT

National best selling author Brad Meltzer appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Scott Turow: 2010 National Book Festival

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:37:20 GMT

Author Scott Turow presents at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Anita Silvey: 2010 National Book Festival

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:36:30 GMT

Author Anita Silvey appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Ken Follett: National Book Festival 2010

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:55:57 GMT

Author Ken Follett appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Julia Glass: National Book Festival 2010

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:55:23 GMT

Author Julia Glass appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Olga Grushin: National Book Festival 2010

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:54:43 GMT

Author Olga Grushin presents at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Anchee Min: National Book Festival 2010

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:54:05 GMT

Author Anchee Min appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Martha Grimes: National Book Festival 2010

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:53:23 GMT

Author Martha Grimes speaks at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Scott Spencer: National Book Festival 2010

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:52:38 GMT

Author Scott Spencer speaks at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

David Remnick: National Book Festival 2010

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 21:06:02 GMT

New Yorker editor David Remnick reads at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Stacy Schiff: National Book Festival 2010

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 21:05:26 GMT

Pulitzer prize-winning biographer Stacy Schiff at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Richard Holmes: National Book Festival 2010

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 21:04:45 GMT

Biographer and scholar Richard Holmes appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Steven V. Roberts: National Book Festival 2010

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 21:04:07 GMT

Cokie Roberts interviews author Steven V. Roberts at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

James McGrath Morris: National Book Festival 2010

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 21:03:31 GMT

Author James McGrath Morris presents at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Isabelle Allende: National Book Festival 2010

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 21:02:30 GMT

Author Isabelle Allende presents at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Diana Gabaldon: National Book Festival 2010

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 21:01:52 GMT

"Outlander" series novelist Diana Gabaldon appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

PSA: Call to Record Veterans' Histories

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 21:01:02 GMT

In this public service announcement, a part of the Veterans History Project's 10th Anniversary Commemoration, the Librarian of Congress asks the nation to help gather the accounts of 10,000 veterans by Veterans Day 2010.

Laura Bush: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:35:01 GMT

Former first lady Laura Bush appears at the 2010 National book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

David E. Hoffman: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:34:27 GMT

Journalist, editor and author David E. Hoffman appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Wil Haygood: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:33:50 GMT

Journalist and biographer Wil Haygood presents at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Adele Logan Alexander: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:33:16 GMT

Author and scholar Adele Logan Alexander appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Evan Thomas: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:32:36 GMT

Journalist and author Evan Thomas speaks at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Rosemary Wells: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:31:50 GMT

Author and illustrator Rosemary Wells appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Timothy Egan: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:30:49 GMT

Journalist and author Timothy Egan appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Veterans History Project 10th Anniversary

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 20:27:16 GMT

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and others issue a call to action to all Americans. During the Veterans History Project's 10th Anniversary Commemoration on September 29th, Dr. Billington unveils a new campaign and asks America to "collect and preserve the story of at least one veteran," to "pledge to preserve this important part of American history" and to "gather in the accounts of 10,000 veterans by Veterans Day."

2010 National Book Festival Gala

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:01:24 GMT

The night before the 10th Anniversary of the National Book Festival, the Library of Congress hosted a gala honoring the festival authors and illustrators. The authors' program included remarks by Librarian of Congress James H. Billington; David M. Rubenstein, who with Dr. Billington co-chairs the National Book Festival Board; authors Isabel Allende, Ken Follett, Natasha Trethewey and Gordon S. Wood; and Congressman John B. Larson of Connecticut.

Hardcover Mysteries at the Library

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:01:46 GMT

The Library of Congress, as part of its special celebration of the 10th annual National Book Festival, joined with the national television channel Investigation Discovery to host "Hardcover Mysteries." Mystery authors David Baldacci, Sandra Brown and Kathy Reichs discussed their writing careers, the inspirations for their books and the crossover of fact and fiction.

Pat Mora: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:00:57 GMT

Literacy advocate Pat Mora appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Gordon S. Wood: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:00:06 GMT

Historian Gordon S. Wood appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Mem Fox: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 18:59:38 GMT

Author Mem Fox appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Marilyn Nelson & T.B. Ering: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 18:58:46 GMT

National best-selling authors Marilyn Nelson and Timothy Basil Ering appear at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Chang-rae Lee: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:51:39 GMT

Korean American novelist Chang-rae Lee presents at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Jane Smiley: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:50:36 GMT

Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jane Smiley appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Allegra Goodman: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:49:54 GMT

Author Allegra Goodman speaks at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Jerry Pinkney: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:49:11 GMT

Author and illustrator Jerry Pinkney appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Orhan Pamuk: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:48:26 GMT

Turkish novelist and scholar Orhan Pamuk appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

James Ransome: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:47:48 GMT

National best-selling author and illustrator James Ransome appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Natasha Trethewey: National Book Festival 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:47:11 GMT

Poet Natasha Trethewey reads at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Richard Rhodes: National Book Festival 2010

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 22:09:27 GMT

Author Richard Rhodes appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Michele Norris: National Book Festival 2010

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 22:08:49 GMT

Journalist Michele Norris speaks at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Thomas Mallon: National Book Festival 2010

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 22:08:11 GMT

Author Thomas Mallon speaks at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Elizabeth Alexander: National Book Festival 2010

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 22:07:32 GMT

Poet Elizabeth Alexander presents at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Harold Varmus: National Book Festival 2010

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 22:06:58 GMT

Nobel Prize winning scientist Harold Varmus appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Exquisite Corpse Adventure: National Book Festival 2010

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:16:45 GMT

Authors of this serialized story talk about their own books as well as writing the "Exquisite Corpse Adventure" in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Margaret Peterson Haddix: National Book Festival 2010

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:15:47 GMT

National best selling author Margaret Peterson Haddix appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Jonathan Safan Foer: National Book Festival 2010

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:13:58 GMT

Author Jonathan Safran Foer appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Jules Feiffer: National Book Festival 2010

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:13:14 GMT

Author and cartoonist Jules Feiffer appears at the National Book Festival.

Rae Armantrout: National Book Festival 2010

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:12:37 GMT

Poet Rae Armantrout reads at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Nell Irvin Painter: National Book Festival 2010

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:11:48 GMT

Author and historian Nell Irvin Painter presents at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Linda Sue Park & Margaret Peterson Haddix: 2010 National Book Festival

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:10:54 GMT

National best selling authors Linda Sue Park and Margaret Peterson Haddix present at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Poetry Out Loud: National Book Festival 2010

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:10:09 GMT

This program encourages high school students to memorize and perform great poems. Poetry Out Loud invites the dynamic aspects of slam poetry,spoken word and theater into the English class. This exciting program helps students master public speaking skills, build confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.

Spike Mendelsohn: National Book Festival 2010

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:56:09 GMT

Chef Spike Mendelsohn appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Lidia Matticchio Bastianich: National Book Festival 2010

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:55:32 GMT

Chef Lidia Matticchio Bastianich appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Jonathan Franzen: National Book Festival 2010

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:54:45 GMT

Author Jonathan Franzen appears at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Gail Godwin: National Book Festival 2010

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:54:09 GMT

Author Gail Godwin speaks at the 2010 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

Ree Drummond: National Book Festival 2010

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:53:24 GMT

Author Ree Drummond appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2010.

The Rise of Printed Visuality

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:51:10 GMT

Renzo Baldasso discusses printers and page design, 1467-1482.

RDA: Looking to the Future

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:50:08 GMT

Barbara Tillett presents an update on Resource, Description & Access, the new cataloging code, and its implications if implemented.

D.C. Councilman David Catania

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:15:05 GMT

The Library of Congress celebrated the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans with a keynote address by Washington D.C. Councilman (At-Large) David Catania and the launch of a new LGBT webpage.

Imad Moustapha: Syrian Cultural Event

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:14:38 GMT

Imad Moustapha, Syrian Ambassador to the United States and Nasser Rabbat, Aga Khan Professor and Director of the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture Department of Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Mars Update: James Garvin

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:14:12 GMT

What have scientists learned so far about Mars? Does life exist there? Will human beings someday colonize the Red Planet? NASA scientist James B. Garvin spoke about recent research and plans for Mars exploration.

William Schuman's Puzzling Seventh Symphony

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:55:54 GMT

Steven Swayne of Dartmouth College discusses William Schuman's Seventh Symphony in a lecture highlighting musicological research conducted in the division's collections.

Data Conservancy: A Web Science View of Data Curation

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:55:57 GMT

The Data Conservancy is one of two initial awards through the National Science Foundatiom's DataNet Program. The Data Conservancy embraces a shared vision: data curation is not an end, but rather a means to collect, organize, validate and preserve data to address grand research challenges. Sayeed Choudhury provides an overview of the Data Conservancy with an emphasis on the data framework aspects of the project.

Empires Who Came in from the Cold

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:04:42 GMT

The overlapping timelines of post-World-War-II decolonization and the Cold War create a fascinating interrelationship, according to historian Jason Parker.

Hard Times on the U.S.-Mexico Border, 1910-1939

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:04:03 GMT

This historical analysis by Martin Gonzalez de la Vara, Colegio de Michoacan sheds light on specific events which occurred in the US-Mexican border area during and in the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution.

Amuma Says No: Basque Music

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:03:24 GMT

Amuma Says No plays Basque music in a concert at the Library of Congress.

The ADA, Diversity and the Workplace

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:02:44 GMT

Twenty years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act sought to improve the lives of all people in the workplace. Today, both managers and employees must adhere to and embrace the change that ADA has brought to our places of employment.

European Colonial Empires in Asia and Africa

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:02:14 GMT

Historian William Roger Louis surveys the differences and similarities in European colonial empires from the 19th century to the post-World-War-II era.

Marce Lacouture & Friends: Cajun Music

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:40:16 GMT

Marce Lacouture, David Greely, and Kristi Guillory perform traditional Cajun music at the Library of Congress as part of the Homegrown Concert Series, presented by the American Folklife Center.

Borderlines/Borderlands: Canadian-U.S. Boundary Panels 4-6

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:39:33 GMT

This symposium explored the history and culture of regions, communities, and their residents along the Canada-U.S. border. Panels 4-6 of 6.

Borderlines/Borderlands: Canadian-U.S. Boundary Panels 2-3

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:38:44 GMT

This symposium explored the history and culture of regions, communities, and their residents along the Canada-U.S. border. Panels 2 & 3 of 6.

Borderlines/Borderlands: Canadian-U.S. Boundary Panel 1

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:37:56 GMT

This symposium explored the history and culture of regions, communities, and their residents along the Canada-U.S. border. Keynote and panel 1 of 6.

Walt Whitman, Rural New Yorker

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:25:42 GMT

Kluge fellow Karen Karbiener delivers a lecture entitled "Walt Whitman, Rural New Yorker."

Samuel's Daughter: A Love Story from Third-Century Parthia

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:25:03 GMT

Library Hebraic area specialist Ann Brener discusses her book "Samuel's Daughter" along with Dr. Levon Avdoya, Mr. Hirad Dinavari, Dr. Muhannah Salhi, Peggy Pearlstein.

Gail Twersky Reimer: Making Trouble

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:23:25 GMT

As demonstrated by vaudevillian Sophie Tucker, silent film and stage star Molly Picon, Ziegfeld Follies star Fanny Brice, stand-up comic Joan Rivers, "Saturday Night Live" performer Gilda Radner and Broadway's Wendy Wasserstein, American Jewish women comedians have made an indelible impact on the entertainment world and the times in which they lived.

Photographs from Cummins Prison

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:22:20 GMT

In two separate decisions in 1969 and 1970, Holt v. Sarver I and II, the Arkansas prison system was declared unconstitutional on the grounds that it was cruel and unusual punishment. A year later, ethnographer Bruce Jackson made a brief visit to Cummins prison in Grady, Ark., to see what the worst prison in the United States looked like.

Seeing Mary

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:18:55 GMT

What happens in a community after a Catholic claims to see and hear Mary, the Blessed Mother? This talk focuses on the politics and practice of apparitions in communities in the United States, ranging from the 1950s events in Necedah, Wisc., to the current ongoing apparition in Emmitsburg, Md.

Stories from Afghanistan

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:06:07 GMT

Scholar Nancy Gallagher discusses Afghanistan in this lecture. While her past work has focused on the Arab world, she is now concentrating on Afghanistan, especially the place and role of women in Afghanistan's society, which has undergone tremendous change over the past 30 years, during which the country has been constantly at war.

Nazarbayev and the Making of Kazakhstan

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:05:34 GMT

Author Jonathan Aitken discusses his book "Nazarbayev and the Making of Kazakhstan: From Communism to Capitalism," which focuses on the activities of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in the first 20 years of that nation's independence from the former Soviet Union.

Hope for America: Performers, Politics & Pop Culture

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:20:41 GMT

Linda Hope, Sloan Gibson and Librarian of Congress James Billington open "Hope for America: Performers, Politics & Pop Culture," a new exhibition that explores the dynamics of political and social satire.

Glimpsing the Future through User Studies

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:20:03 GMT

Since 2003, the University of Rochester River Campus Libraries have been applying anthropological and ethnographic methods to the study of library users. Studies of the work practices of faculty and students have led to significant improvement in the Libraries' services, web presence and facilities. This presentation includes examples of the anthropology-based methods used to study users, some of the major findings, and how libraries are adapting to the changing needs of their users.

Palestinian Comtemporary Arts

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:19:25 GMT

Adila Laidi-Hanieh of George Mason University presents "Palestinian Contemporary Arts, Trends and Thematics: Cultural, Social and Historical Influences."

Poetry: The 2010 Maraton De Poesia

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:22:31 GMT

The Hispanic Division hosted an afternoon of poetry readings, moderated by Rei Berroa of George Mason University.

Failure of the Freedman's Bank

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:22:07 GMT

In 1865, Congress chartered the non-profit "Freedman's Savings and Trust Company," a savings bank designed for a population of four million newly emancipated American slaves. By 1873, it had received a staggering $50,000,000 in deposits. But the banking house Jay Cooke & Co. was charged with investing the freedpeople's savings, and when Jay Cooke & Co. failed during the panic of 1873, so did the Freedman's Bank. Liberated from their former masters, the freedpeople had very suddenly come face to face with the frenzied finance of the Gilded Age.

Asian-Pacific American Veterans

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:21:35 GMT

The Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress American Folklife Center sponsored a panel discussion honoring Asian-Pacific American veterans. This discussion explored the service experience of Asian-Pacific Americans.

Re-Examining the Portolan Chart

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:18:53 GMT

To the historian of cartography, the invention of the portolan chart is a major revolutionary moment in the history of mapping. This early map began as the workaday navigational tool of medieval mariners and later developed into a highly stylized and decorative art form. Yet the origin and development of the portolan chart is shrouded in mystery.

Transitional Justice or Just Transitions?

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:18:18 GMT

Devin Pendas discusses the extensive Nazi war crime prosecution that took place in Germany following World War II.

Jewish-Latin American Historiography

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:18:00 GMT

History professors Raanan Rein and Jeffrey Lesser deliver a joint lecture. Latin-American Jewish Studies has become an increasingly popular area of academic inquiry, with a growing number of institutions offering classes in related subjects.

Composer John Adams Reads from His Autobiography

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:17:19 GMT

As a composer, conductor, and creative thinker, Adams occupies a unique position in the world of classical music. His works, both operatic and symphonic, stand out among contemporary classical compositions for their depth of expression, brilliance of sound, and the profoundly humanist nature of their themes.

The Case of the Sinai Musical Manuscripts

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:16:47 GMT

Dr. Svetlana Kujumdzieva believes that the Library of Congress' microfilmed collection of musical manuscripts from St. Catherine's Monastery, Mt. Sinai, one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world, are representative of music from the Byzantine era and, by extension, for all Orthodox music that entered the orbit of Byzantine Christian civilization.

Survey Photos of Timothy O'Sullivan

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:16:08 GMT

The image of the American West persists as one of the nation's most enduring cultural symbols, and few photographers have captured more compelling images of the American frontier than Timothy H. O'Sullivan. The work of O'Sullivan, much of whose work is in the collections of the Library of Congress, is presented in "Framing the West: The Survey Photographs of Timothy H. O'Sullivan."

Alexander String Quartet with Robert Greenberg

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:15:26 GMT

The Alexander String Quartet and composer-pianist-musicologist Robert Greenberg, who has been called "the Elvis of music history and appreciation" unravel the mysteries and marvels of Beethoven's String Quartet op. 130, bringing to life the history, art, politics, intrigue and romance that have shaped this music.

Russian Imperial Bindings

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:26:10 GMT

The global social-political and cultural cataclysm at the beginning of 20th century in Russia eradicated the moral and spiritual basis for millions of people. The destruction of archives and private libraries, especially those of the Russian emperors and grand dukes, and the ensuing world-wide dispersal of books caused an unreliable "new" version of history to be written.

Birthright: The True Story That Inspired "Kidnapped"

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:25:34 GMT

No saga of personal hardship so captivated the British public in the 18th century as did the turbulent life of James Annesley, the presumptive heir of five aristocratic titles and scion of the mighty house of Annesley. His tale was the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's classic "Kidnapped," and the story is vividly recounted by A. Roger Ekirch.

Jonathan Spence on Matteo Ricci

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:24:42 GMT

Historian Jonathan D. Spence, one of the foremost experts on modern China, delivers the fourth Jay I. Kislak lecture titled "Mapping the Way: The Chinese Quests of Matteo Ricci."

Baseball Americana: Treasures from the Library of Congress

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:24:15 GMT

The world's largest collection of things related to baseball is housed at the Library of Congress, and a new, lavishly illustrated history of the sport features more than 350 of the best items in the collections, some dating as far back as the late 1700s. From baseball's biggest stars to street urchins, from its most newsworthy stories to sandlot and Little League games, "Baseball Americana" examines baseball's hardscrabble origins, rich cultural heritage and uniquely American character.

Secret Flights of the Wright Brothers

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:23:44 GMT

The buildup to Wilbur and Orville Wright's first powered flights in 1903 is history that is well known to aviation enthusiasts everywhere. Five years later, the Wright brothers returned to Kitty Hawk, N.C., to perform the test flights that would catapult them to international fame.

Paul McCartney Interview: Gershwin Prize

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:27:55 GMT

Upon his receipt of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, Paul McCartney discusses his life, career and music.

Faith and Foxholes: Religion in the Military

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:49:17 GMT

In Celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month 2010, the Hebraic Section, African and Middle Eastern Division, the Veterans History Project, and the American Folklife Center presented a talk by Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff on his experiences as a chaplain in the military.

The History of the Book in America

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:48:34 GMT

A celebratory discussion from the American Antiquarian Society to mark the completion of the series, from "The Colonial Book in the Atlantic World" to "Print Culture in Postwar America."

A Tour of the Lost Kingdom: Sikkim

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:47:53 GMT

Sikkim was an independent kingdom in the Himalayas ruled by a hereditary line of kings (Chogyal) from the 17th century until it became a British protectorate, then an Indian protectorate in 1950. This program features a photographic presentation with comments by two special speakers.

Hemingway in Pamplona

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:46:56 GMT

Yolanda Barcina, mayor of Pamplona, and others present a discussion on "Ernest Hemingway and Pamplona."

Church of the Presidents

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:46:19 GMT

Washington, D.C.'s St. John's Episcopal Church, located just north of Lafayette Square and in clear view of the White House, has witnessed the presence within its walls of more notable civilian and military leaders of the United States than any other church in the nation.

Carl Jung and "The Red Book" (Part 2)

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:09:30 GMT

"Carl Gustav Jung and The Red Book," an all-day symposium, features presentations by prominent Jungian scholars.

Carl Jung and "The Red Book" (Part 1)

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:08:34 GMT

Carl Gustav Jung and "The Red Book," an all day symposium, features presentations by prominent Jungian scholars.

Asian Pacific American Cultural Stewardship

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:00:49 GMT

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebration comes to a close with a keynote address titled "Cultural Stewardship in Asian Pacific American Communities" by Franklin Odo, founding director of the Smithsonian Institution's Asian Pacific American Program.

Poet Laureate Kay Ryan's Farewell Reading

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:59:53 GMT

Poet Laureate Kay Ryan concludes her second and final term as Poet Laureate at the Library of Congress with a reading from her newest volume of poetry "The Best of It: New and Selected Poems," published in March 2010.

History as a Way of Life

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:57:06 GMT

Distinguished historians Jurgen Kocka and Klaus Larres discuss German and American historiography at the Library of Congress.

Respecting Conscience, Protecting Patients

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:53:52 GMT

A lecture on "Respecting Conscience, Protecting Patients: Unresolved Tensions in American Health Care" is presented at the Library of Congress by James F. Childress, a distinguished professor from the University of Virginia.

Gordon Bell and MyLifeBits

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:53:12 GMT

Gordon Bell of Microsoft Research discusses MyLifeBits, an experimental system to digitally store everything in a person's life, including accumulated and current articles, books, correspondence, financial and legal records, memorabilia, photos, telephone calls, time-lapse photos, video and web pages.

Alan Lomax: A Bio-Ethnography

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:30:34 GMT

In this presentation, John Szwed discusses his forthcoming biography of Alan Lomax.

Walter Evans: Ten Favorite Books and Manuscripts

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:30:07 GMT

Walter O. Evans, well known for his remarkable collection of 19th and 20th century African American artworks, has also assembled an extensive collection of more than 100,000 books and manuscripts. He has taken on the formidable task of selecting his favorite 10 to discuss at the Library of Congress.

Drugs, Drinks, and Ritual Goods, Actual or Imaginary Content?

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:29:39 GMT

Speaker Jennifer Loughmiller-Newman, Kislak Fellow, discussed "Kislak Ceramics: Drugs, Drinks, and Ritual Goods, Actual or Imaginary Content". The ancient Maya created extraordinary ceramics for ritual use.

Dafnis Prieto Si O Si Quartet

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:26:37 GMT

Cuban-born composer and drummer Dafnis Prieto brings his Si O Si Quartet for a concert with guest artist, Christian Howes.

A Conversation With Dafnis Prieto and Larry Appelbaum

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:23:19 GMT

Host of WPFW's "Sound of Surprise" Larry Appelbaum, Music Division, interviews Dafnis Prieto.

The Positive Affects of Music Therapy on Health

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:21:00 GMT

Dr. Concetta M. Tomaino will explain how and why music is an effective tool to enhance neurologic function, ability and quality of life.

Being Indian, Being Israeli

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:00:02 GMT

Israelis of Indian descent continue to live on the periphery, where they were settled by the state of Israel between the 1950s and 1970s. The story of Indian migration, acculturation and identity in Israel is the subject of a new book by Maina Chawla Singh.

Paul McCartney: 2010 Gershwin Prize Press Conference

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:43:25 GMT

Prior to receiving the third annual Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, Sir Paul McCartney was on hand for a press conference at the library.

Rosalynn Carter Book Talk

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:42:42 GMT

Former First lady Rosalynn Carter came to the Library on May 10 to discuss her new book, "Within Our Reach: Ending the Mental Health Crisis."

Barbie's Jewish Mother and Corporate Genuis

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:42:01 GMT

Attorney and author Robin Gerber delivers a lecture about Mattel Inc.'s Ruth Handler titled "Barbie's Jewish Mother and Corporate Genius" in the Mary Pickford Theater.

American Jewish Soldiers in World War II

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:41:26 GMT

Liaison Specialist Jason Steinhauer of the Library of Congress Veterans History Project presented a lecture and discussion on the contributions, impact and legacy of American Jewish service during World War II.

Flour Mills and Social Memore in Sonora

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:40:55 GMT

"The abandoned flour mills throughout the region," said a Mexican researcher interviewed during fieldwork in northern Mexico, "are the equivalent for Sonorans of the pyramids in Central Mexico." In this talk about her research as a Fulbright Fellow in Sonora, Mexico for the last nine months, folklorist and anthropologist Maribel Alvarez explores the role of wheat - a grain introduced by the Spanish to Mexico in the 16th century - as a central element in the construction of a distinct regional identity.

Tribute to Mama Afrika: Miriam Makeba

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:37:56 GMT

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the African Section and Women's History Month, the Library of Congress paid tribute to Mama Afrika: Miriam Makeba, Grammy-Award winning singer and civil rights activist, who was honored with film clips from her concerts, live performances by her fellow musicians.

Mulenga Kapwepwe: Zambia's Cultural Heritage

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:37:01 GMT

As part of a year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary, the African Section of the Library's African and Middle Eastern Division sponsors a program on Zambia's cultural heritage. The featured speaker is Mulenga Kapwepwe, policy advisor in Zambia's Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, and chair of the Zambian National Arts Council.

Dexter Gordon Collection

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:36:40 GMT

Considered one of the world's greatest tenor saxophonists, jazz legend Dexter Gordon (1923-1990) was once quoted as saying, "Jazz to me is a living music. It's a music that since its beginning has expressed the feelings, the dreams, hopes, of the people." The Library of Congress has taken steps to ensure the survival of Gordon's musical heritage by acquiring more than a thousand items from his career spanning more than five decades. The Library celebrates the acquisition of this invaluable record of Gordon's cultural legacy in a special program.

Shedding Light on Dark Matter

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:36:06 GMT

Richard Mushotzky, an astronomy professor at the University of Maryland, presents an illustrated lecture, the third in a series of programs in 2010, is presented through a partnership between the Library's Science, Technology and Business Division and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Witter Bynner Fellows Poetry Reading

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:35:25 GMT

Poet Laureate Kay Ryan has chosen two talented voices in poetry, Jill McDonough and Atsuro Riley, for the 2010 Witter Bynner Fellowships, and will introduce the poets at the Library of Congress.

NEW: Exquisite Corpse Adventure: The Podcast

Fri, 21 May 2010 15:12:37 GMT

Download audio chapters of the Library's compelling serialized story designed for readers (and listeners) of all ages.

How Different Jurisdictions Treat Foreign Law 2

Fri, 07 May 2010 18:57:08 GMT

Vicki C. Jackson provided the lunch presentation for the program, "How Different Jurisdictions Treat Foreign Law In Their Jurisprudence" at the Law Library of Congress.

How Different Jurisdictions Treat Foreign Law 1

Fri, 07 May 2010 18:56:01 GMT

Three speakers discussed "How Different Jurisdictions Treat Foreign Law In Their Jurisprudence" at the Law Library of Congress.

I'm Frozen and I Can't Play a Thing!

Thu, 06 May 2010 20:49:25 GMT

Norman Middleton recalls famous artists with the afflictions of stage fright and discusses recent research into solving the condition, through medication and altered thinking patterns that exacerbate the problem.

John McNeill on Mosquito Empires

Thu, 06 May 2010 20:49:02 GMT

John R. McNeill discusses and signs his book "Mosquito Empire: Ecology and War in the Caribbean."

Suckers, Firestarters, & Cultural Anarchists, Oh My!

Thu, 06 May 2010 20:48:34 GMT

Norman Middleton and Jessica Krash discuss "dangerous classical music" and marketing, examine the relation between high art and popular art and the mental and emotional intensity of classical music, and journey to the dark side with a discussion of arson and murder associated with heavy metal music and the highly controversial and contemporary issue of music and torture.

Helen Benedict on "The Edge of Eden"

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:30:19 GMT

Author Helen Benedict discusses her novel of British diplomacy and clashing cultures set in 1960 on the remote Seychelle Islands in the Indian Ocean.

Curtis Contemporary Music Ensemble

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:29:43 GMT

Young artists from one of the nation's top conservatories celebrate the centennial of Samuel Barber. The program includes the Violin Sonata; "Dover Beach" for string quartet and baritone; "Hermit Songs" (Library of Congress commission); "Summer Music" for woodwind quintet; and, the Sonata in E-flat minor, Op. 26, for piano.

Civic Passions: Seven Who Launched Progressive America

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:28:16 GMT

In the last quarter of the 19th century, great industrial growth resulted in corporate excesses and economic inequities, somewhat similar to current economic and social conditions. The Gilded Age led to community organizers fighting tirelessly to better the lives of working people. Cecelia Tichi discussed the era and its parallels to today.

Abbas Milani on Eminent Persians

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:27:22 GMT

Abbas Milani discusses his two-volume work "Eminent Persians: The Men and Women Who Made Modern Iran, 1941-1979."

Looking at Pictures at the Library of Congress

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:35:31 GMT

Barbara Orbach Natanson provides an overview of Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division holdings and tips for exploring the collections.

U.S.-Mongolian Relations in the 20th Century

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:02:13 GMT

Dr. Alicia Campi discusses her book "The Impact of China and Russia on United States-Mongolian Political Relations in the Twentieth Century."

20th Century Photographic Paper

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:01:46 GMT

Private conservator Paul Messier discusses several technical studies of 20th century photographs using a collection of photographic papers as a reference source.

Taha Husayn's Intellectual Legacy in the Arab World

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:01:21 GMT

Egyptian writer and scholar Taha Husayn (1889-1973) devoted his life to intellectual freedom and the introduction of Western learning into his country. His body of work, which focused on Islamic and Arabic history and literature, had a profound effect on scholarship in the Arab and non-Arab world.

Forum on Artists and Technology

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:00:52 GMT

A public presentation by composers Steve Antosca and Roger Reynolds, moderated by Professor Thomas DeLio from the University of Maryland, College Park. This event is part of Changes: Seasons, a spring 2010 series of lectures, workshops, forums and performances focusing on current and historical trends in the use of technology in music, as well as the role that performance spaces play in the dissemination of music, art and technology.

Hoda Kotb: 2010 Women's History Month Keynote Address

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:04:54 GMT

Broadcast journalist and television personality Hoda Kotb delivers the keynote address for the Library of Congress's month-long celebration of Women's History Month.

The Icelandic Edda: Myth and the Mind

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:04:25 GMT

Part of the Music and the Brain series, "The Icelandic Edda: Myth and the Mind -- Wagner, Tolkien, and Beyond" is presented by Hjalmar W. Hannesson, Ambassador of Iceland; Alexander Stein, psychoanalyst; and Taru Spiegel, European Division, Library of Congress.

Island in a Storm: Global Warming

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:09:28 GMT

In the mid-19th century, the Isle Derniere was emerging as an exclusive summer resort near the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. About 100 miles from New Orleans, it attracted the most prominent members of antebellum Louisiana society. Without warning, on Aug. 10, 1856, a ferocious hurricane swept across the island, killing half of its 400 inhabitants. Sallenger traces the link between the environmental deaths across the Mississippi delta and the human deaths that occurred when the storm swept ashore.

Airlift to America

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:08:42 GMT

Tom Shactman discusses his book "Airlift to America: How Barack Obama Sr., John F. Kennedy, Tom Mboya and 800 East African Students Changed Their World and Ours."

Parallel Worlds: The Remarkable Gibbs-Hunts

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:08:05 GMT

When William Henry Hunt married Ida Alexander Gibbs in the spring of 1904, their wedding was a glittering Washington social event that joined an Oberlin-educated diplomat's daughter and a Wall Street veteran who could trace his lineage to Jamestown. Their union took place in a world of refinement and privilege, but both William and Ida had mixed-race backgrounds, and their country therefore placed severe restrictions on their lives because, at that time, "one drop of colored blood" classified anyone as a Negro.

Spies: The Rise and Fall of the KGB in America

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:07:31 GMT

"Spies" is the fascinating, sometimes shocking story of the activities of the KGB in the United States during the 1930s and '40s.

Why Do Listeners Enjoy Music That Makes Them Weep?

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:03:32 GMT

Music-induced weeping represents one of the most powerful and potentially sublime experiences available to human listeners. Modern neuroscience provides helpful insights into music-induced weeping, how sounds can evoke sadness or grief, and why such sounds might lead to "a good cry." A "Music and the Brain" lecture.

King of the Lobby: The Life and Times of Sam Ward

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:03:07 GMT

In her fascinating new book, Kathryn Allamong Jacob tells the story "of how one man harnessed delicious food, fine wine and good conversation to the task of becoming the most influential lobbyist of the Gilded Age."

Give My Poor Heart Ease: Voices of the Mississippi Blues

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:02:34 GMT

In this presentation William R. Ferris discusses his book, "Give My Poor Heart Ease: Voices of the Mississippi Blues."

Pulitzer: A Life in Politics, Print, and Power

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:02:04 GMT

Although he may be best known today for the prize that bears his name, Joseph Pulitzer ushered in the era of modern mass media in the 19th century. "What he accomplished was as significant in his time as the creation of television would be in the 20th century, and it remains deeply relevant in today's information age," writes James McGrath Morris in his new biography.

Jefferson's Flight from Monticello

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:01:35 GMT

Michael Kranish illuminates the events that unfolded as Benedict Arnold, in command of British troops, descended on Virginia and eventually occupied Williamsburg. Arnold was easily able to take control of the rest of the state, leaving Jefferson to take to the back roads, with a British force quite literally nipping at his heels. Though he was running for his life, Jefferson would be called a coward for his actions, and worse: He would later receive a letter in refuge that accused him of being responsible for all that had happened since the British invaded Virginia earlier that January. His political enemies would later attempt to use this episode against him in his bid for the presidency; and the personal demons these events unleashed would plague him until the end of his life.

RDA Changes from AACR2 for Texts

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:01:01 GMT

As the United States begins to prepare to test the new cataloging code, RDA: Resource Description and Access, this presentation explores the changes from AACR2 that the new code brings. The focus of this presentation is a brief overview of the changed instructions for cataloging textual materials.

The United States and Sino-Indian Maritime Rivalry

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:06:46 GMT

As China and India emerge as great powers, they are beginning to transform the maritime security politics in the Western Pacific and Indian oceans. A panel discussion at the Library of Congress examines the naval dynamic among China, India and the United States and the implications for the maritime balance of power in Asia.

National Federation of the Blind President Marc Maurer

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:38:17 GMT

Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the Blind, provides an overview of the National Federation of the Blind and its agenda.

Emissary of the Doomed: Bargaining for Lives

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:37:43 GMT

The little-known story of one man's attempt to save the Jews of Hungary is the subject of a new book by Ronald Florence.

NAACP: Reflections on the First 100 Years

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:56:31 GMT

In commemoration of 100 years of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), the Library of Congress sponsored the symposium "The NAACP: Reflections of the First 100 Years." The symposium explored both the history and future of the NAACP.

In Search of Africa

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:28:44 GMT

Archivist Sylivester Sennabulya speaks about collecting and preserving African heritage at the Library of Congress.

Read Across America with Michelle Obama

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:16:08 GMT

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington is joined by First Lady Michelle Obama, President of the National Education Association (NEA) Dennis Van Roekel and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for the kickoff of NEA's Read Across America program.

Galileo: 400 Years of the Telescope

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:10:39 GMT

In 1609, Galileo constructed the first powerful telescope and started observing the heavens, which led to many monumental discoveries. He published his initial findings on the moon and the stars in 1610 in a brief treatise titled "Sidereus Nuncius" ("Starry Messenger"). NASA scientist Michelle Thaller presents.

NAACP 100th Anniversary

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:09:37 GMT

In commemoration of African American History Month, the Library of Congress launches a new online exhibition about the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), an organization which has donated its records to the Library, where they are the most-consulted collection. President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous speaks.

Five Countries in 21 Days

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:08:25 GMT

Library staff member Nawal Kawar makes this presentation.

The Millers' Suffrage Scrapbooks

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:58:33 GMT

Rosemary Fry Plakas discusses the seven suffrage scrapbooks compiled between 1897 and 1911 by Elizabeth Smith Miller and her daughter, Anne Fitzhugh Miller of Geneva, New York. The scrapbooks document the activities of the Geneva Political Equality Club, which the Millers founded in 1897, and the persistent efforts of women and men working for women's suffrage at the state, national, and international levels.

A Tribute to Archie Green, Folklorist

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:45:22 GMT

The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress hosted a two-day event including a tribute, a symposium, and a concert, honoring folklorists Archie Green and Joe Wilson, and celebrating the acquisition of the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) Collection by the Center's archive.

Militant Publics in Gujarat, India

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:42:29 GMT

Prof. Arafaat Valiani gives a lecture drawing upon his current book project which ethnographically and historically investigates how practices of physical training have produced novel forms of civic conduct that are tied to public performances of violence in the Indian state of Gujarat.

Shimon Iakerson: Unique Hebrew Manuscripts

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:41:47 GMT

Shimon Iakerson, curator of Judaica at the Russian Museum of Ethnography, delivers a presentation on "Unique Hebrew Manuscripts in St. Petersburg, Russia" at the Library of Congress.

Ambassador Talk: The Joy of Writing

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:40:24 GMT

Following the Jan. 5, 2010, ceremony announcing the appointment of Katherine Paterson as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature for 2010-2011, Jon Scieszka, National Ambassador for 2008-2009, interviewed his successor. (Part 5)

Ambassador Talk: Privileges of Being an Ambassador

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:39:19 GMT

Ambassador Talk: A Different Approach to Being an Ambassador

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:38:21 GMT

Ambassador Talk: Reading Is a Privilege

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:37:28 GMT

Ambassador Talk: Why Reading Makes a Difference

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:36:19 GMT

National Ambassador for Young People's Literature

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:34:40 GMT

Announcement of the name of Katherine Paterson as the second National Ambassador for Young People's Literature at the Library of Congress.

Music and Grief: Clinical Perspective

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:26:06 GMT

Series advisor Kay Redfield Jamison returns with a new presentation based on her forthcoming book, "Nothing Was the Same," a haunting meditation on mortality, grief and loss.

Arnold Schoenberg's Creative Journey

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:25:40 GMT

Walter Frisch discusses "Arnold Schoenberg's Creative Journey, 1897-1912" in the Coolidge Auditorium.

Francisco Pareja: Missionary and Linguist

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:25:09 GMT

Timucuan is a dead language. Spoken by an indigenous tribe that lived in northeast-north central Florida during the time of Spanish colonization, it was learned and recorded by Friar Francisco Pareja, a missionary and self-taught linguist.

Abandoned: Foundlings in 19th Century New York City

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:24:36 GMT

In her book, Julie Miller offers a fascinating, frustrating and often heartbreaking history of a once devastating, now forgotten social problem that wracked America's biggest metropolis, New York City.

China, Africa, and the African Diaspora

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:23:58 GMT

Part of a series of programs to mark the 50th anniversary of the African Section of the African and Middle Eastern Division, Dr. Sharon Freeman discusses her latest book.

Trance Formation: Music, Trance, Religious Experience, and the Brain

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:03:13 GMT

Dr. Robin Sylvan, Director of the Sacred Center in El Cerrito, Calif. gives a pre-concert presentation, part of the Music and the Brain Series.

Memento: Time Travel for the Web

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:02:44 GMT

This National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIPP) briefing features the project Memento, presented by Herbert Van de Sompel of the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Michael Nelson from Old Dominion University.

From Every End of This Earth

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:02:13 GMT

New York Times best-selling author Steven V. Roberts follows the stories of 13 families in his poignant, eye-opening look at immigration in "From Every End of This Earth: 13 Families and the New Lives They Made in America."

The Anthropocene: Are We There Yet?

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:01:23 GMT

Historians David Christian and John R. McNeill discuss how rapidly increasing human impact on the biosphere is changing the way scholars and experts view human history.

Free Press in a Time of Terrorism

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:00:45 GMT

In celebration of Human Rights Day, the Law Library of Congress hosts a 90-minute panel discussion. It focuses on how countries around the world are attempting to balance the needs of a free press with an effective strategy against terrorism.

Competing Spheres: Religion, Society and State in Morocco

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:59:58 GMT

The Near East Section of the African and Middle Eastern Division sponsors a noontime lecture given by Fulbright Scholar Moshine El Ahmadi.

Music in Islamic Sufi Rituals

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:17:17 GMT

Dr. Taoufiq ben Amor gives a pre-concert presentation on the music of Islamic Sufi rituals, part of the Music and the Brain series.

The Life and Photography of F. Holland Day

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:16:27 GMT

A fascinating and colorful figure and an extraordinary artist, F. Holland Day was a bibliophile, publisher and photographer. He assembled one of the largest collections in the world of materials relating to the life and work of John Keats and in 1894 traveled to England to dedicate the first ever memorial to the poet.

Fiction Collections at the Library of Congress

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:15:57 GMT

Discussion of the current fiction collections of the Library of Congress with an emphasis on the papers of National Book Award winners in the Manuscript Division.

Opening of the Young Readers Center

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:15:31 GMT

For the first time in its history, the Library of Congress has a center for young people, called the Young Readers Center. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Librarian of Congress James H. Billington speak at the event.

Gilbert Rohde: Modern Design for Modern Living

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:14:32 GMT

Few designers did more to change the appearance of postwar American interiors than Gilbert Rohde (1894-1944). In her new book, Phyllis Ross traces Rohde's career at the Herman Miller Furniture Co. in the 1930s and 1940s through the remainder of his brief but influential career.

Americas Awards Ceremony 2009

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:12:19 GMT

Authors Yuyi Morales and illustrator Margarita Engle receive the 2008 Americas Award for Children and Young Adult Literature during the 16th award presentation hosted by the Library of Congress.

Baseball Americana: Afternoon Session

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:11:49 GMT

This event explores the many ways we enjoy baseball at home, from watching it on TV, to following our favorite players and their all-important statistics, to playing baseball, softball and stickball in parks and city streets. (Afternoon Session)

Baseball Americana: Morning Session

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:11:21 GMT

International Literacy Day 2009

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:10:38 GMT

The Center for the Book marks International Literacy Day with a program at the Library of Congress.

Women Who Kept the Songs from India to Israel

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:10:11 GMT

For centuries Jewish women along India's Malabar Coast filled songbooks with Jewish-themed music sung in Malayam at weddings, community celebrations and rituals. The subsequent influx of Jews from other nations splintered the Jews of Cochin (the present day port city of Kochi, India) and caused many to emigrate, principally to Israel. With them went a rich musical heritage that might have been lost to posterity but for the recent efforts of a team of researchers.

Francis McPeake Family Concert

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:09:38 GMT

From March through May 2007, scholars and artists gathered at the Library of Congress and other venues in and around Washington, DC, to present and promote Northern Irish arts and culture through the Rediscover Northern Ireland Programme.

NCTA Collection, Session 2

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:04:27 GMT

Barry Bergey with the National Endowment for the Arts moderates a group of panelists who discuss the significance and highlights of the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) Collection (Session 2).

NCTA Collection, Session 1

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:03:57 GMT

The Evolution of Welsh Music

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:35:18 GMT

Musician Gwilym Morus discusses the aspects of Welsh culture, the history of the Welsh folk tradition and performs some pieces of modern folk music.

Norwegian-American Music

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:34:05 GMT

The Berntson family performs traditional Norwegian-American dance music from Virginia.

Chan Heng Chee

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:21:44 GMT

Singapore's Ambassador to the United States, Chan Heng Chee, is the inaugural speaker in the Library's Asian Ambassador Lecture Series.

Black Mesa: Water, Power, and the Story of a Master Theft

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:51:27 GMT

In this era of transnational corporations, the methods of separating indigenous peoples from their lands are many, and often quite legal - at least to those making the laws. When Native lands hold important energy resources, like coal, the human rights and environmental impacts take place far from mainstream media. Judith Nies presents.

Brendan Carey Block & Friends

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:19:26 GMT

Brendan Carey Block, a multi-faceted fiddler from New Hampshire performs some of his musical talents.

Making Music Changes Brains

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:22:59 GMT

Making music is an intense, multi-sensory and motor experience that is typically initiated at an early age and practiced throughout a musician's lifetime. Emerging research over the years has shown that long-term music making and continuous practice of learned skills can be a strong stimulator for neuroplastic changes in the developing, as well as the adult brain and has positive effects on motion, emotion and cognition.

Irish and Jewish Influences on Vaudeville and Tin Pan Alley

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:22:29 GMT

Mick Moloney's illustrated talk on Jewish and Irish collaborations in vaudeville and early Tin Pan Alley explores a fascinating, though largely forgotten, era in American popular culture. His presentation, rich with biographical details and period and contemporary recordings, is a charming story of decades of good natured inter-ethnic flux, competition and cooperation which left a lasting imprint on the history of American popular music.

Digital Accessibility for Blind and Physically Handicapped Individuals

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:21:55 GMT

A discussion of the philosophy, research, planning, and development of the next generation of Library-Services-provided free talking books.

Unsung Heroes: Afternoon Session

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:21:07 GMT

"Unsung Heroes: A Symposium on the Heroism of Asian Pacific Americans During World War II" is a special commemorative program honoring the heroism of Asian Pacific Americans during World War II. This afternoon session includes presentations from members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and Congressman Mike Honda and Congresswoman Judy Chu.

Unsung Heroes: Morning Session

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:20:35 GMT

"Unsung Heroes: A Symposium on the Heroism of Asian Pacific Americans During World War II" is a special commemorative program honoring Asian Pacific American heroism during World War II. This session of the symposium includes Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba's overview of the war in the Pacific Theater, Anna Chennault's recollection of her life with the Flying Tigers and Poet Vince Gotera performing a dramatic reading from his book "Ghost Wars."

Poets Tony Hoagland and Lucia Perillo

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:07:08 GMT

National Book Critics Circle Award finalist Tony Hoagland from Houston, Texas, and MacArthur fellow Lucia Perillo from Olympia, Wash., share their poetry.

Peasant Movement of Papay: Afternoon Session

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:08:50 GMT

Leaders of the Peasant Movement of Papay (MPP) from Haiti gather for an oral history of this movement. The presentation is given in Haitian Creole followed by English translation. (Afternoon Session)

Peasant Movement of Papay: Morning Session

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:08:12 GMT

Leaders of the Peasant Movement of Papay (MPP) from Haiti gather for an oral history of this movement. The presentation is given in Haitian Creole followed by English translation. (Morning Session)

On Thin Ice: Changing Ice Cover on Polar Oceans

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:06:19 GMT

NASA scientist Thorsten Markus shares his expertise on polar ice. He summarizes recent observations and findings-together with pictures from Arctic and Antarctic research campaigns-and puts those results into the bigger climate-system picture. He focuses on recent changes in the Arctic and in Antarctica.

Dawn Sturdevant Baum: Native American Heritage Month

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:05:38 GMT

Dawn Sturdevant Baum, a staff attorney with the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), delivers the keynote address for the Library's 2009 celebration of Native American Heritage Month. This year's national theme is "Pride in Our Heritage. Honor to Our Ancestors."

The Geneva Conventions at 60: Taking Stock

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:04:59 GMT

The Law Library of Congress, the American Red Cross and the Friends of the Law Library of Congress present a program to mark the 60th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions of 1949.

Is There Truth in Interpretation? Law, Literature and History

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:15:05 GMT

Ronald Dworkin, professor of jurisprudence at University College London and the New York University School of Law, delivers the inaugural Frederic R. and Molly S. Kellogg Biennial Lecture on Jurisprudence in the Coolidge Auditorium of the Library of Congress.

Coping with Onset and Progressive Disabilities

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:14:35 GMT

Eric Eldritch gives a presentation on how individuals cope and succeed with disabilities that become more pronounced over time.

Russim: On Russian Immigration and Culture in Israel

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:14:09 GMT

Since the former Soviet Union opened its doors to mass emigration 20 years ago, more than one million Russians have moved to Israel. The impact on Israel of Russian immigration and culture is the subject of this lecture delivered by author and artist David Stromberg.

Jazz Conversation: Lyricist Iola Brubeck

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:13:40 GMT

Denise Gallo, Head of Acquisitions and Processing with the Library of Congress Music Division, conducts a conversation with lyricist Iola Brubeck, wife of famed jazz musician Dave Brubeck.

Jazz Conversation: Pianist & Composer Dave Brubeck

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:13:07 GMT

Larry Appelbaum, Senior Music Reference Specialist with the Library of Congress, conducts a conversation with jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck.

Petroglyphic Art in North Africa

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:57:01 GMT

Dr. Ahmed Achrat speaks about petroglyphic art in North Africa.

Slow Medicine for Elders

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:54:18 GMT

Dr. Dennis McCullough speaks about his book, "My Mother, Your Mother: Embracing Slow Medicine, the Compassionate Approach to Caring for Your Aging Loved Ones."

Is Israeli Classical Music Jewish?

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:53:45 GMT

Ronit Seter discusses the music of Israel, a unique combination of Jewish and non-Jewish traditions that have come together over the course of a century to create a distinctive musical culture.

Lying, Stealing, and Other Theatrical Crimes

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:52:47 GMT

This lecture offers a case study of the events surrounding the acquisition, translation, and production of Ferenc Molnar's play "The Devil" (Az Ordog) by two rival American theatre managers, Henry W. Savage and Harrison Grey Fiske.

Innovative Non-invasive Observation Methods

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:51:56 GMT

Terahertz (THz) spectroscopy and imaging technologies have been actively developed in recent decades. THz waves (0.1-10 THz) are non-invasive, can penetrate opaque materials, and can be used to obtain fingerprint spectra whose characteristics depend upon intermolecular behavior.

The Cartoons and Art of Ding Cong

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:51:21 GMT

Sponsored by the Library's John W. Kluge Center, this symposium celebrates the life and work of China's famous cartoonist and artist, Ding Cong, who provided daring social commentary on Chinese society during China's turbulent 20th century.

The Royal Commentaries of the Inca

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:50:58 GMT

"The Royal Commentaries of the Inca," by El Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, considered by historians to be the earliest and most important literary work of the Americas, was published 400 years ago, in 1609. The book is a keenly observant account of the Inca Empire, its conquest by Spain and the first years of colonial rule in the Americas.

The Life of Gypsy Rose Lee

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:46:18 GMT

Most people's knowledge of the entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee was gained through the stage musical and film of her extraordinary life. In Noralee Frankel's biography "Stripping Gypsy: The Life of Gypsy Rose Lee," the author reveals another side of this complex and enigmatic figure.

My Prison, My Home: One Woman's Story of Captivity in Iran

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:45:29 GMT

Haleh Esfandiar, author and director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars speaks on her recently published memoir.

The Fourth Part of the World

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:44:56 GMT

In 1507 Martin Waldessmuller created a map that depicted what was then known as "the fourth part of the world"; the other three parts being Asia, Europe and Africa. When Toby Lester heard about the map, he set out on a journey to tell the story of how the map was created and eventually came to the Library of Congress.

Korean Culture Art Program and Concert

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:43:52 GMT

Musicians and artists from around the world traveled to participate in a program acknowledging and celebrating traditional Korean music, which includes the use of 17 instruments.

The Tale of Joseph and Zulahkha

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:43:12 GMT

The ancient tale of Joseph, son of Jacob, was a "best seller" on the Silk Road from Russia to China. Before the Bolshevik revolution of 1917, Tatars, a Turkic-speaking people living in the Middle Volga, used it to propagate Islam and address the internal communal fractures caused by Russian colonization. Today, proponents of national Islamic identity call for the re-appropriation of such tales to restore boundaries between Tatars and Russians.

Funny Business: Conversations with Writers of Comedy

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:59:21 GMT

Considered one of America's leading authorities on children's books, historian and critic Leonard S. Marcus discusses his new book, "Funny Business: Conversations with Writers of Comedy." Marcus' special guest is National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Jon Scieszka, himself a pretty funny guy.

Herblock: The Life and Work of the Great Political Cartoonist

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:58:17 GMT

Marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of political cartoonist Herbert Block, authors Haynes Johnson and Harry L. Katz discuss their book "HERBLOCK: The Life and Works of the Great Political Cartoonist."

Philip Trager, Architectural Photographer

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:57:33 GMT

Architecture and dance photographer Philip Trager, whose work is now on display at the National Building Museum exhibition "Form and Movement," discusses his art and technique in an illustrated lecture at the Library of Congress.

Place Making and the Religious Imagination in Italian New York

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:57:06 GMT

This presentation examines how Italian Americans create and use vernacular architecture, material culture, and ceremonial display to inscribe meaning on New York City's religious and cultural landscapes.

Legends and Legacies

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:56:34 GMT

A Legends and Legacies concert celebrates Joseph T. Wilson and the NCTA Collection coordinated and produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA).

Barbara Lynn and Friends

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:21:51 GMT

Barbara Lynn and friends perform Texas rhythm and blues at the Library of Congress.

Mark Ozer: The Litvak Legacy

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:21:09 GMT

Mark Ozer discusses his book "The Litvak Legacy" documenting the contributions of Lithuanian Jews to the English speaking world and Israel.

Hear, O Isreal: Yiddish-American Radio 1925-1955

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:20:36 GMT

While all other aspects of Yiddish culture existed wherever Ashkenazic Jews lived, it was only in America that radio realized its greatest and most fulfilling use by and for Jews. Yiddish scholar Henry Sapoznik discusses and shares some of the most memorable and powerful moments in this nearly lost world of ethnic American broadcasting.

Amy Tan: Writing in the Schools Program

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:20:00 GMT

Amy Tan discusses her work, especially "The Joy Luck Club," during a program for area schoolchildren. Part of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation's Writers in Schools program, the event is co-sponsored by the Center for the Book.

'Wednesday Is Indigo Blue'

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:58:24 GMT

Neurologist Richard Cytowic rediscovered the involuntary joining of different senses in 1980 and returned it to the scientific mainstream. In his recent book, "Wednesday is Indigo Blue," Cytowic sums up 30 years of exploration into synesthesia's place in both science and art. Far from a mere curiosity, it is an elevated form of the perception everyone already has.

Rock Hall of Fame Guitarist Chris Hillman

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:15:15 GMT

Rock pioneer Chris Hillman talks about the craft of the songwriter and about his prolific career with the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers and others.

Hubble: A New Beginning

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:14:10 GMT

Dave Leckrone, just-retired senior project scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope Program speaks about Hubble's final mission.

A Conversation with Film Producer Louis Stroller

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:16:58 GMT

Film producer Louis Stroller ("Scarface," "The Bone Collector," "Lara Croft Tomb Raider," "Carrie," "Carlito's Way") talks about film, the industry and current projects involving travel to Africa and Israel.

Killing Neighbors: Webs of Violence in Rwanda

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:17:26 GMT

Author Lee Ann Fujii addresses some of the causes of the genocide that took place in Rwanda 15 years ago, killing nearly one million people in a span of 100 days.

The Early Herblock

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:16:02 GMT

Scholar Warren Bernard discussed Herb Block's early life and the rise of his career as a political cartoonist in one of several outreach programs for the "Herblock!" exhibition at the Library of Congress.

The Jews of Brazil

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:15:39 GMT

Daniel R. Pinto of the Embassy of Brazil delivers an illustrated lecture on the Jews of Brazil.

U.S. Writers Translating Hispanic Writers

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:13:41 GMT

Part of the Hispanic Heritage celebration at the Library of Congress, American authors share their work translated into Spanish.

Sloan Foundation Book Scanning Project

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:36:34 GMT

Discussed is the Scanning for Access Program in partnership with Internet Archive and sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Community College Poetry Project Launch

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:37:42 GMT

Poet Laureate Kay Ryan, at a reading to open the literary season, announces a national poetry project that embraces community colleges through an online poetry page "Poetry for the Mind's Joy" and a poetry-writing contest.

Coptic Orthodox Liturgical Chant & Hymnody

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:38:16 GMT

Staff and guests gather to mark the launch of a new presentation on the Library's website on Coptic Christian chant. A demonstration of the site is given by the project curator, Carolyn Ramzy. With its roots in Ancient Egyptian music, Coptic Christian chant is one of the oldest liturgical genres still performed today.

The Arabic Souvenir of Valentine Mott

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:37:12 GMT

Author Andrew Oliver speaks on his investigation of "The Arabic Souvenir of Valentine Mott."

On Higher Education in Lebanon and the Role of USEK

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:36:46 GMT

Father Hady J. Mahfouz, Rector of the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Lebanon, gives a presentation on the private Catholic higher education institution, which was established by the Lebanese Maronite Order in 1961.

A Century of Change: China and Modernization (Part 2)

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:35:37 GMT

Weihua Niu presents a lecture titled "Test Fanaticism in the 21st Century of China: The Reality and Rationales."

A Century of Change: China and Modernization (Part 1)

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:35:13 GMT

Dr. Mi Chu discusses Chinese collections in the context of U.S.-China relations.

Cresencio Cris Arcos

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:34:36 GMT

Cresencio Arcos, former U.S. ambassador to Honduras, marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month events with a keynote address.

Take Me Out to the Library of Congress

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:20:25 GMT

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington kicks off the Library's Baseball Americana Symposium with the help of Martha Madden, Ernie Banks and Rep. Zach Wamp. Baseball Hall of Famer Ernie Banks is presented with the Living Legend Award given by the Library of Congress.

World Digital Library Demonstration

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:19:58 GMT

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington provides an overview of the newly launched World Digital Library website with Rachel Goslins, Executive Director of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. High school teachers and their students explain how they will use the World Digital Library in their studies.

The Unknown Saroyan

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:19:13 GMT

Dedicated to the celebration of the centenary of Pulitzer Prize-winning Armenian author William Saroyan's birth, Dickran Kouymjian delivers the 14th Annual Vardanants Day Lecture.

Physician Writers, Past and Present

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:18:37 GMT

Sherif Meleka M.D., Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University, discusses physician writers.

Pre-Qin Gold and Its Application in Ancient China

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:17:48 GMT

Based on archaeological findings, Junchang Yang introduces the use of gold and the development of the making of gold artifacts during the pre-Qin period, including the type and the scope of gold being utilized at different dynasties of pre-Qin period.

Ground Control: Beyond an Environmental History of the Space Race

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:37:21 GMT

Historians usually depict the space race of the 1960s and 1970s as a pitched technological battle between Cold War political rivals. Yet while U.S. and Soviet spacecraft forced the world to look upward towards the Moon, they also encouraged citizens across the globe to gaze back down at "spaceship Earth" with a newfound environmental awareness. In this lecture, Neil Maher not only examines this environmental history of the space race, but argues that it influenced many of the social movements of the postwar era, including the fight for civil rights, equality for women, an end to the Vietnam War, and the rise of suburbia and the military industrial complex.

Early Colonial Mexico

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:36:16 GMT

Focusing on surviving documents requesting and endorsing indigenous coats of arms, this talk by Monica Dominguez Torres analyzes some of the complex negotiations behind the heraldic production of early colonial Mexico.

Nazi Propaganda: The Machinery of Evil

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:35:20 GMT

Gabriel Weimann, professor of communication at Haifa University in Israel, explores the period of Nazi seizure of power in 1933 and their takeover of all communications in Germany, turning them into a sophisticated propaganda machine.

James Madison Carpenter Collection

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:34:41 GMT

This lecture by Julia Bishop showcases the variety and importance of the James Madison Carpenter Collection. The talk describes some of the editorial challenges facing the James Madison Carpenter Project team as they prepare a critical edition of the collection.

Comedy Icon Carl Reiner

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:28:44 GMT

Carl Reiner, a giant of American comedy for nearly six decades, spoke at the Library of Congress as part of the Books & Beyond author series sponsored by the Library's Center for the Book. Following his talk, Reiner signed his recently published book "Just Desserts" as well as his children's book "Tell Me a Scary Story, But Not TOO Scary."

World Digital Library Demonstration

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:19:30 GMT

The Librarian of Congress James H. Billington provides an overview of the newly launched World Digital Library with Rachel Goslins, Executive Director of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, assisting in welcoming the new website. Teachers and students from two high schools explain how they will use the World Digital Library in their studies.

Between European and Ottoman: Turn of the 18th Century

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:21:46 GMT

By the nineteenth century, philhellenic Europeans had appropriated the classical Greek world as their distinct cultural patrimony. However, sources composed in the late 1600s and early 1700s by Ottoman dignitaries, Greek Orthodox intellectuals, and French and English travelers reveal a more fluid period when the Greco-Roman tradition exerted an influence on the perceptions all these (sometimes overlapping) groups had of themselves and one another. Lecture by Karen Leal, Kluge Fellow.

South Indian Classical Music from Oregon

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:20:48 GMT

Sreevidhya Chandramouli plays the vina, a plucked Indian lute with a fret board spanning three and a half octaves. She was trained in the Karaikudi vina tradition, the only school of south Indian vina players that goes back more than ten generations. Also featured is Poovalur Sriji on the mridangam.

James Reston: Defenders of the Faith

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:20:18 GMT

James Reston discusses his newest book "Defenders of the Faith" which focuses on Charles V, Suleyman the Magnificent, and the Battle for Europe, 1520-1536.

Traditional Passamaquoddy Music from Maine

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:19:25 GMT

Wayne Newell and Blanch Sockabasin, members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe in Maine, perform at Coolidge Auditorium. They share music and culture of the Passamaquoddy Tribe.

Peering into the Storm: NASA's Exploration of Hurricanes

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:18:56 GMT

Dr. Scott Braun provides an overview of questions that motivate NASA's research on hurricanes and describes how NASA addresses these questions with the use of satellites, aircraft field campaigns, computer modeling, and other instrumentation.

Russian-American Jazz Summit

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:18:10 GMT

Conversations on the American influence in Russian Jazz were led by two world-renowned jazz experts, Russian Cyril Moshkow and American Larry Appelbaum.

Cowboys Paul Zarzski & Wylie Gustafson

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:17:37 GMT

Poet Paul Zarzyski and singer-composer Wylie Gustafson perform at Coolidge Auditorium as part of the Homegrown Concert Series.

Conservatives in a Marketplace of Ideas

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:34:35 GMT

Through a case study of the American Enterprise Institute, Jason Stahl examines the interrelationship of these increases with changing conceptions of public policy expertise -- namely, a move from a liberal technocratic ideal to a conservative "marketplace of ideas."

RDA: Recursos: Descripcion y Acceso

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:34:04 GMT

Barbara Tillett presenta, en espanol, un breve panorama de los antecedentes de la reglas actuales de catalogacion y provee una vista "entre bastidores" del desarrollo de la nuevas pautas para catalogacion: "RDA: Recursos: Descripcion y Acceso." La Dra. Tillett destaca la importancia e influencia en RDA de los Principios Internacionales de Catalogacion de la IFLA y los modelos conceptuales FRBR y FRAD. La videoconferencia fue coordinada por el Departamento de Estado EE.UU. y la Biblioteca Nacional de Chile para las bibliotecas en Chile.

James Patterson: 2009 National Book Festival

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:33:08 GMT

Mystery and young adult author James Patterson appears at the National Book Festival.

James L. Swanson: 2009 National Book Festival

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:32:45 GMT

New York Times best-selling author James L. Swanson appears at the National Book Festival.

Liz Kessler: 2009 National Book Festival

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:32:19 GMT

Known for her Emily Windsnap series, author Liz Kessler appears at the National Book Festival.

Kay Ryan: 2009 National Book Festival

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:50:36 GMT

U.S. Poet Laureate Kay Ryan appears at the National Book Festival.

James Patterson: 2009 National Book Festival

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:49:48 GMT

Author James Patterson appears at the National Book Festival.

Shannon Hale: 2009 National Book Festival

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:48:24 GMT

New York Times best-selling author Shannon Hale appears at the National Book Festival.

Ana Menendez: 2009 National Book Festival

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:47:45 GMT

Journalist and author Ana Menendez appears at the National Book Festival.

George Pelecanos: 2009 National Book Festival

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:47:15 GMT

Author of 15 crime novels George Pelecanos appears at the National Book Festival.

John Grisham: 2009 National Book Festival

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:46:46 GMT

International best-selling author John Grisham appears at the National Book Festival.

John Irving: 2009 National Book Festival

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:46:04 GMT

Best-selling author John Irving appears at the National Book Festival.

Katherine Neville: 2009 National Book Festival

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:45:35 GMT

Katherine Neville, author of best-sellers in more than 30 languages, appears at the National Book Festival.

Julia Alvarez: 2009 National Book Festival

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:45:06 GMT

Fiction and fantasy author Julia Alvarez appears at the National Book Festival.

Julia Glass: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:28:07 GMT

Fiction writer and freelance journalist Julia Glass appears at the National Book Festival.

David A. Taylor: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:27:37 GMT

Writer of award-winning documentaries David A. Taylor appears at the National Book Festival.

Ann Kidd Taylor: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:27:04 GMT

Ann Kidd Taylor, co-authoring a memoir with her mother Sue Monk Kidd, appears at the National Book Festival.

Patricia Sullivan: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:26:29 GMT

Professor and history author Patricia Sullivan appears at the National Book Festival.

Simon Schama: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:25:53 GMT

Professor and history author Simon Schama appears at the National Book Festival.

Valerie Martinez: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:25:23 GMT

Poet Valerie Martinez appears at the National Book Festival.

Jane Hirshfield: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:24:46 GMT

Jane Hirshfield, author of six collections of poetry, appears at the National Book Festival.

Edward Hirsch: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:24:10 GMT

Best-selling poet Edward Hirsch appears at the National Book Festival.

Michael Connelly: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:27:15 GMT

Mystery and thriller author Michael Connelly appears at the National Book Festival.

Craig Johnson: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:26:54 GMT

Craig Johnson, author of the Walt Longmire series appears at the National Book Festival.

Mary Brigid Barrett: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:26:33 GMT

Award-winning children's book author and illustrator Mary Brigid Barrett appears at the National Book Festival.

Lisa Scottoline: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:26:12 GMT

Lisa Scottoline, author of 16 best-selling legal-suspense novels appears at the National Book Festival.

Mark Kurlansky: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:25:49 GMT

New York Times best-selling author Mark Kurlansky appears at the National Book Festival.

Rickey Minor: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:25:24 GMT

Emmy-nominated music director and author Rickey Minor appears at the National Book Festival.

S.J. Rozan: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:25:01 GMT

Mystery author S.J. Rozan appears at the National Book Festival.

Jon Meacham: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:24:39 GMT

Jon Meacham, author and 2009 Pulitzer Prize winner appears at the National Book Festival.

Haynes Johnson: 2009 National Book Festival

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:24:28 GMT

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and best-selling author Haynes Johnson appears at the National Book Festival.

Sue Monk Kidd: 2009 National Book Festival

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:23:52 GMT

New York Times best-selling author Sue Monk Kidd appears at the National Book Festival.

Dayton Duncan: 2009 National Book Festival

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:23:25 GMT

Award-winning writer, documentary filmmaker and author Dayton Duncan appears at the National Book Festival.

Ken Burns: 2009 National Book Festival

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:23:01 GMT

Ken Burns, producer of groundbreaking documentaries for more than 30 years, appears at the National Book Festival.

Annette Gordon-Reed: 2009 National Book Festival

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:22:20 GMT

Pulitzer Prize winning author Annette Gordon-Reed appears at the National Book Festival.

Jerry Pinkney: 2009 National Book Festival

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:21:49 GMT

Children's illustrator Jerry Pinkney appears at the National Book Festival.

Kadir Nelson: 2009 National Book Festival

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:21:22 GMT

Children's illustrator Kadir Nelson appears at the National Book Festival.

Craig Hatkoff: 2009 National Book Festival

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:21:00 GMT

Award-winning children's author Craig Hatkoff appears at the National Book Festival.

Douglas Brinkley: 2009 National Book Festival

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:20:29 GMT

Professor and author Douglas Brinkley appears at the National Book Festival.

Margaret Coel: 2009 National Book Festival

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:46:51 GMT

Mystery author Margaret Coel appears at the National Book Festival.

David Baldacci: 2009 National Book Festival

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:46:21 GMT

Trial and corporate attorney turned author David Baldacci appears at the National Book Festival.

David Wroblewski: 2009 National Book Festival

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:44:24 GMT

New York Times best-selling author David Wroblewski appears at the National Book Festival.

Colson Whitehead: 2009 National Book Festival

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:44:04 GMT

Fiction and fantasy author Colson Whitehead appears at the National Book Festival.

Jeannette Walls: 2009 National Book Festival

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:43:41 GMT

New York Times best-selling author Jeannette Walls appears at the National Book Festival.

Kate DiCamillo: 2009 National Book Festival

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:43:19 GMT

Teens and children's author Kate DiCamillo appears at the National Book Festival.

Still Invisible: Women, Gender and Decolonization

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:36:39 GMT

Philippa Levine, a professor at the University of Southern California, discusses why decolonization studies rarely include the contributions of women, from the perspectives of women involved in anti-colonial movements and women who were part of the colonial authority structure.

Bagit: Transferring Content for Digital Preservation

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:37:15 GMT

The Library of Congress's steadily growing digital collections arrive primarily over the network rather than on hardware media. But that data transfer can be difficult because different organizations have different policies and technologies. The Library - with the California Digital Library and Stanford University - has developed guidelines for creating and moving standardized digital containers, called "bags."

Limited War, Unlimited

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:36:11 GMT

Historian Marilyn B. Young, in a lecture at the Library of Congress, discusses the nature of America's limited wars, from Korea to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Carmen Agra Deedy: 2009 National Book Festival

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:27:44 GMT

Children's book author and storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy appears at the National Book Festival.

Charles Santore: 2009 National Book Festival

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:27:11 GMT

Children's illustrator Charles Santore appears at the National Book Festival.

Rick Riordan: 2009 National Book Festival

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:26:49 GMT

Children's and adult author Rick Riordan appears at the National Book Festival.

Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah: 2009 National Book Festival

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:26:23 GMT

In collaboration with Carmen Agra Deedy on "14 Cows," Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah appears at the National Book Festival.

Jeff Kinney: 2009 National Book Festival

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:25:56 GMT

New York Times best-selling author Jeff Kinney appears at the National Book Festival.

Mo Willems: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:03:36 GMT

Children's author and illustrator Mo Willems appears at the National Book Festival.

Tim O'Brien: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:03:06 GMT

Fiction author Tim O'Brien appears at the National Book Festival.

Marilynne Robinson: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:02:05 GMT

Pulitzer Prize winning author Marilynne Robinson appears at the National Book Festival.

Tony DiTerlizzi: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:01:36 GMT

Children's author and illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi appears at the National Book Festival.

Patrick Carman: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:00:55 GMT

New York Times best-selling author Patrick Carman appears at the National Book Festival.

Lois Lowry: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:00:25 GMT

Children's author Lois Lowry appears at the National Book Festival.

Jacqueline Woodson: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:59:55 GMT

Author Jacqueline Woodson, winner of the Newbery, Caldecott and Coretta Scott King awards appears at the National Book Festival.

Sharon Robinson: 2009 National Book Festival

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:59:20 GMT

Author of several books for young readers Sharon Robinson appears at the National Book Festival.

Junot Diaz: National Book Festival 2009

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:16:35 GMT

Fiction author and 2008 Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Diaz appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

David Shannon: National Book Festival 2009

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:15:26 GMT

Children's illustrator David Shannon appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

Dan Balz: : National Book Festival 2009

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:14:40 GMT

Washington Post writer and author Dan Balz appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

Daniel Silva: National Book Festival 2009

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:13:58 GMT

New York Times best-selling author Daniel Silva appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

Patricia Smith: National Book Festival 2009

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:13:14 GMT

Poet Patricia Smith appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

Paula Deen: National Book Festival 2009

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:12:28 GMT

Paula Deen, author of many best-selling cookbooks of Southern food appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

W. Ralph Eubanks: National Book Festival 2009

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:47:13 GMT

Nonfiction author W. Ralph Eubanks appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

Mary Jane Clark: National Book Festival 2009

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:46:26 GMT

New York Times best-selling author Mary Jane Clark appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

Sabiha Al Khemir: National Book Festival 2009

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:45:25 GMT

Fiction and fantasy author Sabiha Al Khemir appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

Holly Black: National Book Festival 2009

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:44:39 GMT

Children's and teens author Holly Black appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

Sharon Creech: National Book Festival 2009

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:43:55 GMT

Young-adult author Sharon Creech appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

Kirstin Downey: National Book Festival 2009

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:42:50 GMT

Washington Post writer and author Kirstin Downey appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

"The Exquisite Corpse Adventure": National Book Festival 2009

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:19:35 GMT

Authors of this story talk about their own books as well as writing "The Exquisite Corpse," a serial adventure story for initial exclusive publication on the Library of Congress’ new read.gov website.

Judy Blume: National Book Festival 2009

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:17:44 GMT

Best-selling author Judy Blume appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

Walter Mosley: National Book Festival 2009

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:16:43 GMT

Author of the critically acclaimed Easy Rawlins mystery series Walter Mosley appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

Azar Nafisi: National Book Festival 2009

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:15:53 GMT

National best-selling author Azar Nafisi appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

Lee Child: National Book Festival 2009

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:14:32 GMT

Best-selling author Gwen Ifill appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

Nicholas Sparks: National Book Festival 2009

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:09:44 GMT

Nicholas Sparks, author of successful best-sellers turned into popular films appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

Jodi Picoult: National Book Festival 2009

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:08:17 GMT

Author of 15 best-sellers Jodi Picoult appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

Lee Child: National Book Festival 2009

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:07:32 GMT

Author Lee Child known for his Jack Reacher adventures appears at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2009.

Jane Goodall Discusses "Hope for Animals and Their Worlds"

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:38:38 GMT

Jane Goodall--primatologist, conservationist and humanitarian, whose work with wild chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania, is known throughout the world--talks about inspiring success stories and the efforts of dedicated environmentalists.

Surviving Katrina and Rita in Houston

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:15:30 GMT

Surviving Katrina and Rita in Houston is the first large-scale project, anywhere, in which the survivors of a major disaster have taken the lead in documenting it. The project's goal is to voice, as intimately as possible, the experiences and reflections of those displaced to Houston by the two major hurricanes that pounded the Gulf Coast in August and September of 2005. The heart of the project is stories: stories told by survivors, to survivors, on the survivors' own terms.

The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:14:57 GMT

C.M. Mayo's first novel revolves around the little-known but true story of how Emperor of Mexico Maximilian von Hapsburg and his wife, Empress Carlota, adopted a toddler in 1865 from a reluctant American mother, who hailed from a prominent Georgetown family and who desperately tried to get her son back.

Public Markets

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:14:24 GMT

Public markets, with their small vendors selling locally-grown food and locally-made crafts, accentuate the qualities of a town and help build a sense of community. Helen Tangires, author of "Public Markets," discussed her book, which is a richly illustrated compendium of the wide variety of architectural structures devoted to the urban marketplace. Drawn from the Library's unparalleled collections, more than 800 photographs, architectural drawings, maps and posters from around the world depict the many types of public markets: open-air street, enclosed market houses, central markets and wholesale terminal markets.

Tetouan, Morocco

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:13:52 GMT

Tetouan is the largest North Moroccan Mediterranean city, but it is not one of nation's larger, famous or glamorous cities. Yet Tetouan stands out for its incredible capacity to incorporate Andalusian, Ottoman, Arab and Middle Eastern, Berber or Amazgh, Jewish, European Christian cultural elements into one predominantly Arabic and Islamic society and culture.

Great Tradition of Ancient South Asia

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:29:05 GMT

This lecture focuses on the puzzles of the earliest South Asian civilization -- the Harappan/Indus Civilization of the 3rd millennium BC -- from the point of view of ancient Indian thought. The main themes discussed in the lecture are: the use of ancient texts in the analysis of archaeological data, the historicity of ancient Indian literature, the sociopolitical identity of the Harappan culture, and ideological implications of the study of the past in modern South Asia.

Elaine Kaplan Keynotes LGBT Pride Month

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:28:30 GMT

The Library of Congress celebrated the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans with a keynote address by U.S. Office of Personnel Management General Counsel Elaine Kaplan.

Islamic Medicine and Biomedicine in South Asia and the Middle East

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:27:58 GMT

In this lecture, Kelly Pemberton discusses ways in which the relationship between various streams of knowledge and praxis surrounding Islamic tibb (medicine) in contemporary South Asia and the Middle East may be articulated.

'The High Lonesome Sound' Revisited

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:19:54 GMT

In the early 1960s, the multitalented musician, filmmaker, and photographer John Cohen journeyed to eastern Kentucky to document the songs of church-goers, miners, and farmers, and the rural community that produced and sustained their uniquely American sound. The result was "The High Lonesome Sound," a classic 1963 documentary film than evocatively illustrates how music and religion help Appalachian people maintain their dignity and traditions in the face of change and hardship.

Crusader and Ottoman Fortress at Acre

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:19:18 GMT

Shelley-Anne Peleg, director of the International Conservation Center of the Israel Antiquities Authority, discussed the center's ongoing archaeological exploration of the Crusader-era city of Acre. Acre remains a thriving community with extensive Ottoman-era buildings, which are now historic structures in their own right.

Jazz Conversation with Jim Hall

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:18:51 GMT

Jazz guitarist and composer Jim Hall talks about his life in music with Larry Appelbaum, senior music reference specialist in the Library's Music Division.

Music and the Brain: Halt or I'll Play Vivaldi

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:18:07 GMT

Jacqueline Helfgott and Norman Middleton examine the use of classical music by law enforcement and other cultural institutions as social control, to quell and prevent crime. Their conversation touches on how classical music is viewed in contemporary culture, how it can be a tool for discouraging criminal activity and anti-social behavior, as well as its history as a mind-altering experience.

A Tribute to Fay Kanin

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:55:10 GMT

Fay Kanin was recognized for her 20 years of service to the Library as chair of the Library of Congress National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) with a presentation of the institution's 100th Living Legend Award.

Sikh Conference: Day Two

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:54:38 GMT

Sen. Richard Lugar, Congressman Mike Honda and Congressman Chris Van Hollen were the featured speakers for the second and final day of the Library's Sikh conference, which was sponsored by the Kaur Foundation under the auspices of the Library's Asian Division and Asian Division Friends Society.

Sikh Conference: Book Reception and Cultural Program

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:54:06 GMT

A cultural program celebrating the Sikh culture culminated the first day of the conference, which was sponsored by the Kaur Foundation under the auspices of the Library's Asian Division and Asian Division Friends Society.

Achievements of Extraordinary Sikh Women in Art

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:53:36 GMT

The Library's Sikh conference continued with a session on "Achievements of Extraordinary Sikh Women in Art." The even was sponsored by the Kaur Foundation under the auspices of the Library's Asian Division and Asian Division Friends Society.

Sen. Ben Cardin: Sikh Conference - Profiles in Courage

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:53:04 GMT

Sen. Ben Cardin kicked off the Library's two-day conference on the Sikh culture, "Taking Heritage to the 21st Century." The conference was sponsored by the Kaur Foundation under the auspices of the Library's Asian Division and Asian Division Friends Society.

Ensuring the Longevity of Digital Documents

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:34:09 GMT

David S.H. Rosenthal, chief scientist with the LOCKSS Program at Stanford University, explores sustainable approaches to format obsolescence in digital preservation.

Legal Challenges Facing NATO at 60

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:33:37 GMT

The Law Library, in conjunction with the Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies, held a panel on July 9 about the North American Treaty Organization as it turns 60. NATO's expansion in Eastern Europe, its training mission in Afghanistan and its anti-piracy operations off the coastline of Somalia were discussed.

One Millionth Page in Chronicling America

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:33:08 GMT

The Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities today marked a major milestone in their partnership to digitize historic U.S. newspapers and make them widely available to the public on the Internet. During an event held at the Newseum, Deanna Marcum, Associate Librarian for Library Services at the Library of Congress, announced that the Chronicling America website--a free, national, searchable database of historic American newspaper pages published between 1880 and 1922--recently posted its millionth page.

Genre/Form Headings

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:38:24 GMT

In 2007, the Library of Congress embarked upon a project to create a system of genre/form headings, which describe what a work is rather than what it is about, as subject headings do. This presentation will explain the motivations for undertaking the project, including the need to anticipate the linked data requirements of the new generation of search engines and user interfaces, as well as enumerate the authority record distribution channels, which furnish data for both human use and for data mining and computer manipulation.

Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:47:36 GMT

The Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers perform a capella gospel music from Kentucky, another in the 2009 Homegrown Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center.

Dinosaurs Along the Silk Road

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:47:12 GMT

During the past seven years, James M. Clark has been part of a team that found the bones of small dinosaurs mired in mud, stacked one on top of another, in the northern part of Xinjiang, China, near the ancient Silk Road.

Contemporary and Colonial Tlaxcala, Mexico

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:46:45 GMT

Each year, indigenous languages around the world disappear with the death of their last living speaker. Jacqueline Messing believes that it is imperative for the social sciences and humanities to explain how and why people come to abandon their ancestral languages, as well as the role of colonialism, globalization and racism in this process. From a linguistic-anthropological and ethnohistorical perspective, she discussed identity emergent in narratives from the sixteenth century historical record of indigenous communities in the Nahuatl-speaking state of Tlaxcala, Mexico, a region that was pivotal in the conquest of Mexico.

Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:12:37 GMT

Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac performs Aztec dance from Pennsylvania, another in the 2009 Homegrown Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center.

How Do Flowers Kill? The Japanese Emperor and Modern Dictators

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:12:15 GMT

Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney, an expert on symbols of Japanese identity, compares the representations of the Meiji emperor of Japan with those of Lenin, Stalin and Hitler in this lecture.

The Approach of the Halakah and Sharia' to Contemporary Legal Issues

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:11:41 GMT

Judaic and Islamic legal systems (based on Halakah and Sharia', respectively) have endured for centuries despite the rapid changes and challenges of the modern world --from exploration of outer space to human cloning. They serve as a testimony to the relevance and universality of their underlying values and principles. The potential application of these legal systems to the development of foreign policy was the subject of this program.

Yugoslav Socialism in Latin America

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:10:56 GMT

According to Johanna Bockman, neoliberal policies seek to expand the role of the free market and reduce the role of the state. As a result, analysts of neoliberalism have often assumed that these policies were transported from the United States through such groups as the "Chicago Boys" in Chile. However, socialist Yugoslavia sent experts around the world, spreading its anti-state and often pro-market worker self-management socialism. This talk examines the role of Yugoslav socialism in Chilean and Peruvian neoliberalism. Talk by Joanna Bockman.

Report from Armenia

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:58:50 GMT

Marie L. Yovanovitch, United States Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia, discussed the situation in Armenia since her appointment to the position on Aug. 1, 2008. Her report covered the contemporary Armenian scene, U.S.- Armenian relations and USAID-funded programs and initiatives in Armenia.

Impeached: the Trial of President Andrew Johnson and the Fight for Lincoln's Legacy

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:58:23 GMT

After Abraham Lincoln's assassination, the United States continued to tumble through tumultuous times. President Andrew Johnson was failing to heal the nation's wounds, and the bitter political environment culminated in an impeachment trial. David O. Stewart discussed Johnson's 1868 trial, when once again the nation's fate hung in the balance.

Victor Fleming: American Master

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:57:57 GMT

Victor Fleming was the most sought-after director during Hollywood's golden age, renowned for his ability to make films across an astounding range of genres: westerns, earthy sexual dramas, family entertainment, screwball comedies, buddy pictures, romances and adventures. Fleming is best remembered for directing the two most iconic movies of the period, "Gone with the Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz," but the more than 40 films he directed also included classics such as "Red Dust," "Test Pilot," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and "Captains Courageous."

"World War II: 365 Days"

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:57:19 GMT

Described in a recent review as "one of the best single-volume histories of the war yet published," "World War II: 365 Days" is a unique compilation of riveting text and more than 600 color and black-and-white images (many of them rarely seen) from the Library of Congress's collections. The speakers discuss their work on the book.

Building the Bomb, Fearing Its Use: Nuclear Scientists, Social Responsibility and Arms Control, 1946-1996

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:56:47 GMT

After the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II, statesmen and scientists confronted the unprecedented destructive power of nuclear weapons, according to Palevsky. Early postwar efforts for international control of atomic energy failed, and by the mid-1950s both American and Soviet scientists had invented the hydrogen bomb, a weapon of greater destructive potential than the atomic bomb.

"The House at the End of the Road"

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:56:06 GMT

Ralph Eubanks discusses his personal story that began with his grandparents: James Richardson, a white man from a middle-class family, who defiantly married Edna Howell, a light-skinned black woman in 1914 in Alabama.

Romila Thapar: Perceptions of the Past in Early India

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:17:57 GMT

One of the world's foremost experts on the history of early India, Romila Thapar, winner of the 2008 Kluge Prize, discussed the rich and ancient civilization in a lecture titled "Perceptions of the Past in Early India." In her talk, Thapar critiqued the notion that the civilization in India lacked a sense of history, and discussed the recognition of historical traditions in the early texts of Northern India.

Kay Ryan Closes Literary Season

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:17:31 GMT

U.S. Poet Laureate Kay Ryan concludes the Library of Congress 2008-2009 literary season with a poetry reading in the historic Coolidge Auditorium, where past consultants/laureates -- such as Robert Frost, Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Hayden -- have read.

Literary Depictions of Slaveries in Early 18th Century Britain

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:17:08 GMT

This talk examines the mulitple depictions and the many forms of enslavement presented to the British reading public in the early part of the 18th century. Though "slavery" came to refer most commonly to transatlantic African slavery by the end of the century, in the beginning of the century the term had a far broader meaning. Slavery could be spiritual as well as physical and applied as often to European as to African people.

Boat People Retrospective (Afternoon Session)

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:15:21 GMT

In the years following the Vietnam War, more than 1 million refugees fled the war-ravaged countries of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Those who took to the ocean in small, overcrowded ships were dubbed the "boat people." By the late 1970s and 1980s, the United States, Canada and other nations accepted many of those who survived the refugee camps. Scholars, community leaders and former refugees discussed the topic in four sessions: "Historical Background," "Exodus," "Rescue and Hospitality," and "Remembering Who We Are and Where We Have Been."

Boat People Retrospective (Luncheon Session)

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:16:17 GMT

Boat People Retrospective (Morning Session)

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:14:46 GMT

In the years following the Vietnam War, more than 1 million refugees fled the war-ravaged countries of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Those who took to the ocean in small, overcrowded ships were dubbed the "boat people." By the late 1970s and 1980s, the United States, Canada and other nations accepted many of those who survived the refugee camps. Scholars, community leaders and former refugees discussed the topic in four sessions: "Historical Background," "Exodus," "Rescue and Hospitality" and "Remembering Who We Are and Where We Have Been." Senator James Webb (D-Va.) delivered the opening keynote address.

The Mind of an Artist

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:42:55 GMT

Michael Kubovy and Judith Shatin, both from the University of Virginia, discuss "The Mind of the Artist." Debate has long raged about whether and how music expresses meaning beyond its sounding notes. Kubovy and Shatin discuss evidence that music does indeed have a semantic element, and offer examples of how composers embody extra-musical elements in their compositions.

Breaking the Holocaust Silence

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:42:24 GMT

Gershon Greenberg delivered the 10th Annual Myron M. Weinstein Memorial Lecture on the Hebraic Book. The lecture was titled "Breaking the Holocaust Silence: A Hidden Hasidic Text of 1947--and Elie Wiesel." The lecture series honors Myron M. Weinstein (1927-1998), whose 29-year tenure at the Library was spent in the Hebraic Section.

Reflections on the Mendelssohn Bicentenary

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:41:44 GMT

Hailed in the New York Times as "the dean of Mendelssohn scholars in the United States," R. Larry Todd shares his insights on the Mendelssohn reception in the 19th and 20th centuries and how different composers responded to his music.

HABS: Planning for the Future

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:41:17 GMT

2008 marks the 75th anniversary of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), America's first federal historic preservation program. The HABS mission is to create a public archive of America's architectural heritage, consisting of measured drawings, historical reports and large-format black-and-white photographs. (Afternoon Session.)

HABS: Celebrating the Past and Present

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:40:42 GMT

2008 marked the 75th anniversary of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), America's first federal historic preservation program. The HABS mission is to create a public archive of America's architectural heritage, consisting of measured drawings, historical reports and large-format black-and-white photographs (Morning Session).

Interpretation of Renaissance Maps

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:54:26 GMT

The difficulties in researching and interpreting Renaissance texts and maps, including Waldseemuller's 1507 World Map, are the subject of this discussion.

2009 River of Words

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:53:26 GMT

The environmental poetry and art contest River of Words holds its annual awards ceremony at the Library.

Japanese Illustrators, Then and Now

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:52:58 GMT

The Library celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with a presentation titled "Japanese Illustrators, Then and Now" featuring James Miho, a Bauhaus illustrator, and Yuko Ota, a comic illustrator.

Alexander von Humboldt in the United States, 1859-2009

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:52:22 GMT

Alexander von Humboldt achieved cultural hero status in the United States in the second half of the 19th century. His travels, experiments and knowledge transformed Western science. A lecture at the Library of Congress examined the influence and legacy of the German naturalist and explorer. Andreas Daum presented "Mourning, Celebrating, Revisiting: Alexander von Humboldt in the United States, 1859-2009."

Soul of a People

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:51:38 GMT

The origins and legacy of the Federal Writers' Project are the focus of an excerpted film screening and panel discussion.

Charles Darwin, Geologist

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:08:18 GMT

The Science, Technology and Business Division of the Library of Congress celebrated the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth with a lecture by Sandra Herbert, one of the world's leading authorities on Darwin. She discussed her book "Charles Darwin, Geologist," which explores how geology changed Darwin and how Darwin changed science.

Farming, Food Security and Climate Change

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:07:30 GMT

Molly E. Brown, a research scientist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), has been involved for the past 10 years with the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) use of satellite remote sensing to monitor food security in developing regions. Satellite estimates of crop production play an important role in USAID's Famine Early Warning System.

Our Sun - Its Influence on Climate and Life

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:06:19 GMT

Edward Guinan, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Villanova University, is a scientist on NASA-sponsored research programs that explore the behavior of the sun - and stars like the sun - to determine the effects of their radiation, magnetic activity and ejected plasmas on planets and life.
Guinan addressed the topic in a lecture titled "Our Sun - Its Influence on Climate and Life."

Crisis Over Marjorie

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:19:26 GMT

The Library of Congress presented a performance of "Crisis Over Marjorie," an unpublished 1940 one-act play by Herman Wouk.

Astrobiology: Life in Space

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:18:45 GMT

Daniel P. Glavin, an astrobiologist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, says the possibility of extraterrestrial life in our solar system is not limited to Mars; other "habitable" worlds might exist including the icy Moons of Jupiter and Saturn, known as Europa and Enceladus. The challenge for scientists and engineers in the next couple of decades, he says, will be to design miniaturized instruments and technologies capable of detecting the signatures of life in our own solar system and beyond.

What Stillness Illuminated

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:17:53 GMT

Aaron Taub presented a reading of his poetry in a program sponsored by the African and Middle Eastern Division.

Search for Israel's Lost Submarine Dakar

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:17:08 GMT

On Jan. 25, 1968, the Dakar, Israel's just-commissioned submarine, disappeared without a trace in the eastern Mediterranean. Israel spent the next 31 years looking for the massive submarine and her crew of 69 officers and seamen. In 1996, the country invited a noted ocean explorer, David Jourdan, to investigate, and in 1999 Jourdan and his team solved the legendary mystery.

Artist Colonies in Europe and the U.S.

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:16:11 GMT

Dimitry Lyubin, Mellon Fellow, discussed the phenomena of the artists colony in Europe and the United States at the turn of the 20th century. According to Lyubin, these colonies were located in small towns, far from big cities, and that colony residents concerned themselves mostly with subjects of peasant life and country landscapes.

Webcast: Data Model Patterns

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:09:55 GMT

When an organization is planning to develop or revise the automation of information processing, a typical first step is to analyze the underlying structure of its business. The 'entity/relationship' (or simply 'data') model is a good vehicle for doing this. What has been discovered over the years is that there are a number of structures that are universal and applicable to all kinds of organizations, both private and public.

Webcast: The Art of the Steal

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:34:53 GMT

Frank W. Abagnale is one of the world's best known authorities on forgery, embezzlement, and secure documents. His rare blend of knowledge and expertise began more than 40 years ago when he was between the ages of 16 and 21, successfully posing as an airline pilot, an attorney, a college professor, and a pediatrician. Mr. Abagnale's presentation will describe how to detect whether documents have been altered and forged using simple techniques.

Webcast: Kids Who Fought for Civil Rights in Mississippi

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:16:25 GMT

As an illustrator and journalist, Tracy Sugarman covered the nearly one thousand student volunteers who traveled to the Mississippi Delta to assist black citizens in the South in registering to vote. Two white students and one black student were slain in the struggle, many were beaten and hundreds arrested, and churches and homes were burned to the ground by the opponents of equality. Yet the example of Freedom Summer resonated across the nation. The U.S. Congress was finally moved to pass the civil rights legislation that enfranchised millions of black Americans.

Webcast: Law Day 2009: Emancipation Proclamation

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:15:38 GMT

What effect did the Emancipation Proclamation have on the Civil War? Did it have a broader effect on the slave trade throughout the Americas? In celebration of Law Day, these questions and many more were discussed by Congressman G.K. Butterfield, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., Dean Kurt Schmoke and Professor Emeritus Roger Wilkins, with PBS Newshour's congressional correspondent Kwame Holman moderating. The program was presented with support from the Friends of the Law Library of Congress.

Webcast: Recovering the Memory of Emir Abdel-Kader

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:14:55 GMT

John W. Kiser, author of "Commander of the Faithful: The Life and Times of Emir Abd el-Kader" presented a lecture titled "Recovering the Memory of a Muslim World Hero: Emir Abdel-Kader, 1808-1883" in a program sponsored by the Library's African and Middle Eastern Division.

Webcast: Human Environment Challenges

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:14:17 GMT

In his talk, Barry Hill defined "human environment challenges," and discussed the relationship between the rule of law and government enforcement of protective environmental laws to address these challenges. He spoke about one of the most pressing human environment challenges: the availability of clean water both in U.S. territories and internationally. He stressed the importance of measuring governmental performance through appropriate performance measures, using Jordan as an example of how he works with other countries.

Webcast: Waldseemuller's World - Changes & Revolutions

Sat, 30 May 2009 12:48:59 GMT

Prominent scholars gathered at the Library to examine the vision behind the 1507 Waldseemuller map of the world and to reflect on the philosophical and historical context of the map's production and reception. Experts spoke on a wide range of topics, from the history of exploration and German Humanism to the mathematical and astronomical basis of early 16th-century cartography.

Webcast: Waldseemuller's World - Sources & Texts

Sat, 30 May 2009 12:47:49 GMT

Prominent scholars gathered at the Library to examine the vision behind the 1507 Waldseemuller map of the world and to reflect on the philosophical and historical context of the map's production and reception. Using the first session on the transmission of texts as a general theoretical framework, speakers in this session specifically discussed Waldseemuller's sources, both textual and cartographic.

Webcast: Waldseemuller's World - Known & Unknown

Sat, 30 May 2009 12:47:04 GMT

Prominent scholars gathered at the Library to examine the vision behind the 1507 Waldseemuller map of the world and to reflect on the philosophical and historical context of the map's production and reception. This session begins a more focused examination of Waldseemuller's world by attempting to place the map within the context of exploration and the discovery of the new lands in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

Webcast: Waldseemuller's World - Scholars & Scientists

Sat, 30 May 2009 12:46:11 GMT

Prominent scholars gathered at the Library to examine the vision behind the 1507 Waldseemuller map of the world and to reflect on the philosophical and historical context of the map's production and reception. This session examined how the transmission of texts and other information took place during Waldseemuller's time and the place of the individual scholar within that world.

Webcast: Jewish Life in Mr. Lincoln's City

Fri, 29 May 2009 20:58:38 GMT

Laura Cohen Apelbaum and Wendy Turman spoke about and showed a power point presentation on the new exhibit at the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington.

Webcast: Literature and Nation-Building in the Writings of 'A'isha Taymur

Fri, 29 May 2009 20:58:03 GMT

Mervat Hatem, professor of political science at Howard University, presented this lecture.

Webcast: Svetlana Kim Delivers Asian Pacific Keynote

Fri, 29 May 2009 20:57:20 GMT

Author Svetlana Kim delivered the keynote address for the Library's 2009 celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. She discussed her new book, "White Pearl and I: A Memoir of a Political Refugee," which describes her journey from Korea to the United States and her rise from poverty to a successful career as a stockbroker.

Webcast: Healthy Bites: Healthy Food on a Budget

Fri, 29 May 2009 20:56:34 GMT

Sally Squires, award-winning journalist and former syndicated nutrition columnist of the Lean Plate Club in the Washington Post, discussed "Healthy Bites: Great-Tasting, Healthy Food on a Budget."

Webcast: Wealth, Working and Poverty in Early Christian Monasticism

Fri, 22 May 2009 18:55:30 GMT

Historian Peter Brown, winner of the 2008 Kluge Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the Study of Humanity, discussed the financial support of monks during the period A.D. 250-400.

Webcast: Touching History - Pianos in Perspective

Fri, 22 May 2009 18:53:48 GMT

Dr. Frank P. Baer, curator of historic instruments at the German National Museum, Nuremberg, and fortepianist Ludwig Semerjian from Quebec, shared their experience of a journey into the land of the forgotten sound. The event was presented in collaboration with the Orchestre de la Nouvelle France and SMW World of Sound.

Webcast: Drago Ensemble Concert

Fri, 22 May 2009 18:53:21 GMT

Drago, Russia's preeminent Romani (Gypsy) ensemble, presented a lunchtime concert.

Webcast: The Dickson Baseball Dictionary

Fri, 22 May 2009 18:52:49 GMT

"The Dickson Baseball Dictionary" is an indispensable resource for hard-core fans as well as anyone newly interested in the national pastime. It has become an essential resource for those who love the game. Drawing on dozens of 19th and early-20th century periodicals as well as contemporary sources, the Dictionary's illuminating definitions trace the earliest appearances of terms both well known and obscure.

Webcast: Symbolism of the Flower in Japanese Culture, History

Fri, 22 May 2009 18:52:15 GMT

Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney, holder of the John W. Kluge Center Chair of Modern Culture at the Library, gave a talk entitled "Blooming Cherry Blossoms, Falling Cherry Blossoms: Symbolism of the Flower in Japanese Culture and History."

Webcast: The Art of Mitsuko Asakura

Fri, 22 May 2009 18:51:26 GMT

On the eve of the March 13 opening of her art exhibition at the American Institute of Architects Headquarters Gallery in Washington, D.C., Japanese tapestry artist Mitsuko Asakura discussed her work at the Library of Congress.

Webcast: The History of Education in Jamaica

Wed, 13 May 2009 14:26:05 GMT

Anthony S. Johnson, Ambassador of Jamaica to the United States, delivered a lecture titled "The History of Education in Jamaica."

Webcast: FRBR - Things You Should Know, But Were Afraid to Ask

Wed, 13 May 2009 14:25:21 GMT

This presentation for non-catalogers is intended to present basic concepts and benefits of using the FRBR conceptual model (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records) in resource discovery systems.

Webcast: Rosamond Pinchot, the Loveliest Woman in America

Fri, 01 May 2009 19:09:09 GMT

Rosamond Pinchot was dubbed "the loveliest woman in America" at 23, yet 10 years later she was dead by her own hand. An acclaimed actress, socialite and sportswoman, she was the toast of Broadway and Hollywood during the 1920s and 1930s. Bibi Gaston took a remarkable journey to discover the truth about her forgotten grandmother.

Webcast: Amish Resources at the Library of Congress

Fri, 01 May 2009 16:27:38 GMT

Paul Connor, reference specialist in the Local History & Genealogy Reading Room, draws on the Library's extensive resources in Amish Studies to discuss the unique history and culture of Amish Americans.

Webcast: Vernacular Architecture in Northern Sweden

Fri, 01 May 2009 16:26:37 GMT

Architect and folklorist Mats Widbom presented his research on the traditional building culture of Dalecarlia in Northern Sweden.

Webcast: The Lyre of Ur Project

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:39:24 GMT

Andy Lowings is a civil engineer and harpist who, in April 2003, formed a group to remake an authentic, but playable version of the famous Gold Lyre of Ur, damaged in Baghdad during the conflict.

Webcast: Education in Kurdistan

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:38:42 GMT

Idris Hadi Salih, minister of higher education of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, presents a lecture on education in Iraqi Kurdisan.

Webcast: Iraq: Rural and Urban Social Organization

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:38:06 GMT

Michael Albin, former chief of the Library's Anglo-American acquisitions and former anthropologist with the U.S. military in Iraq, discusses "Iraq: Rural and Urban Social Organization."

Webcast: The Story of M. Carl Holman

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:37:09 GMT

M. Carl Holman was an African-American civil rights leader and president of the National Urban Coalition (1971-88) who promoted the need for a mutual partnership between industry and government to foster inner-city development.

Webcast: Exploration into Exile and Creativity: The Case of Arab-American Writers

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:34:34 GMT

Halim Barakat, professor emeritus at the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies at Georgetown University, delivered a lecture titled "Exploration Into Exile and Creativity: The Case of Arab-American Writers."

Webcast: UNESCO's Role in Building Bridges to Cultural Peace

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:34:01 GMT

Nureldin Satti, former UNESCO representative for Africa, discusses "UNESCO's Role in Building Bridges to Cultural Peace: Case Studies of Somalia, Burundi and Ethiopia."

Webcast: Victims of Darfur

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:33:24 GMT

Brian Wakley, chief executive of CORD, discussed "Waging Peace: Building a New Life in Chad After Conflict for the Victims of Darfur."

Webcast: The Iraqi Revolution

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:32:25 GMT

Juan Romero, adjunct professor at Georgetown University's Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, discussed "The Iraqi Revolution: Why is it Relevant to Modern Iraq?"

Webcast: Now It Can Be Told: The Unknown Irving Berlin

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:08:46 GMT

The Music Division of the Library of Congress and the American Musicological Society, in joint partnership, presented the third in a series of lectures highlighting musicological research conducted in the division's collections. Jeffrey Magee presented "Now It Can Be Told: The Unknown Irving Berlin."

Webcast: Poetry of J.D. McClatchy

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:07:32 GMT

The Spring Literary Season continued at the Library of Congress with a reading by poet J.D. McClatchy.

Webcast: Radical Christian Pacifists

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:06:58 GMT

Joseph Kip Kosek, assistant professor at George Washington University, discussed the impact of radical Christian pacifists on American democratic theory and practice, at the Library of Congress. Kosek, the author of "Acts of Conscience: Christian Nonviolence and Modern American Democracy" and a former fellow of the Library's John W. Kluge Center, talked about his book.

Webcast: Frances Perkins, the Woman Behind FDR

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:04:47 GMT

Although she is no longer a household name, Frances Perkins was one of the most influential people of the 20th century. Kirstin Downey discussed her new book, "The Woman Behind the New Deal: The Life of Frances Perkins, FDR's Secretary of Labor and His Moral Conscience." Franklin Delano Roosevelt named Frances Perkins secretary of labor in 1933.

Webcast: Legislating in Heels: Hon. Connie Morella

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:04:03 GMT

In her talk, Connie Morella recounted tales from her trajectory from Maryland's state senate to the U.S. House of Representatives and onward to an ambassadorship for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. This is a tribute to all women for National Women's History Month, featuring stories of historic firsts for women.

Webcast: Women in Science and Engineering

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:03:21 GMT

To honor women who have taken the lead in the environmental or "green" movement, the National Women's History Project chose "Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet" as the 2009 theme for National Women's History Month. In celebration, a panel discussion on "Women in Science and Engineering" was held at the Library.

Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:43:05 GMT

To honor women who have taken the lead in the environmental or "green" movement, the National Women's History Project has chosen "Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet" as the 2009 theme for National Women's History Month. In keeping with the theme, the Library invited Administrator Lisa Perez Jackson of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deliver its keynote address.

"They Have Killed Papa Dead!": The Road to Ford's Theatre, Abraham Lincoln's Murder and the Rage for Vengeance

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:42:39 GMT

The assassination of the 16th president is one of the singular events in American history, and historian Anthony Pitch uses primary source material to document and reveal previously unknown facts about Lincoln's death; the murder of his secretary of state, William Seward; and the events that led to the torturous incarceration of John Wilkes Booth's co-conspirators.

Webcast: Slavery and Civil War Through Reconstruction

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:41:59 GMT

The book draws on interviews with former slaves in the Library of Congress collections to convey the aspirations, sorrows, courage and hopes of ordinary people living through this period. More than 80 archival images complement the text. Major events covered include the rise of the domestic slave trade, the Emancipation Proclamation and the Republican Congress' Reconstruction policies.

Webcast: A Public Interest in Private Records

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:50:47 GMT

David Kirsch, an associate professor of management and entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, discussed "Paths Toward a Public Interest in Private Records."

Webcast: Stevie Wonder Discusses "Sketches of a Life"

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:06:44 GMT

Norman Middleton of the Library's Music Division talks to Stevie Wonder about his new Library of Congress commission, "Sketches of a Life," and his thoughts about composition and music.

Webcast: Rep. Jim Clyburn Keynotes African American Heritage Month

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:48:40 GMT

In recognition of African American History Month, Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) Majority Whip of the House, delivered the Library's 2009 keynote address. The 2009 theme for the month was Quest for Black Citizenship in the Americas. This year's celebration coincided with the centenary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The Library holds more than five million records of the NAACP, which is the largest single collection ever acquired by the institution.

Webcast: The Iraqi Monarchy - A British Experiment in Nation-Building

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:47:04 GMT

The Library of Congress is sponsoring a series of lectures on Iraq history and society. Juan Romero delivered the first of a two-part lecture based on research for an upcoming book. The first lecture was titled "The Iraq Monarchy: A British Experiment in Nation Building."

Webcast: My Father's Paradise

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:46:01 GMT

Yona Sabar was born in a mud hut in the remote Kurdish region of Northern Iraq. Protected by towering mountains, the Jews of Zakho lived peacefully among Muslims and Christians for hundreds of years. But in the late 1940s, the outside world came crashing in, and Yona would be the last boy in Zakho to become a bar mitzvah. Yona's son Ariel Sabar discussed his new book, "My Father's Paradise: A Son's Search for His Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq."

Webcast: How Arabs Transformed Western Civilization

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:45:09 GMT

The Library of Congress is sponsoring a series of lectures on Iraq history and society. Jonathan Lyons, a researcher at the Global Terrorism Research Center at Monash University, Victoria, Australia, discussed his new book, "The House of Wisdom: How the Arabs Transformed Western Civilization."

Webcast: Stevie Wonder Performs "Sketches of a Life" (complete concert)

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:24:58 GMT

Singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder, the awardee of the second Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, premieres "Sketches of a Life," a sprawling, hybrid pop-classical concerto, written between 1976 and 1994. The work was unveiled through a commission for the Library of Congress in the Coolidge Auditorium.

Webcast: "Justice" by Roger Reynolds

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:26:35 GMT

Composer Roger Reynolds' operatic work "Justice," commissioned for the celebration of the Library's Bicentennial in 2000, was performed in the Great Hall of the Library's Jefferson Building. Written for actress, soprano, percussionist, multichannel computer sound and real-time surround sound, "Justice" is based on the Greek tragedy of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon.

News Conference: "Digitizing American Imprints" Program

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:25:53 GMT

Deanna Marcum, Library of Congress Associate Librarian for Library Services; Doron Weber, Program Director of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation; and officials of the Internet Archive participated in a news conference on the Library's "Digitizing American Imprints" program scanning "brittle books" too fragile for standard use, to preserve them, on an open-content basis, for future generations.

Webcast: Education in the 21st Century

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:30:43 GMT

A Library of Congress forum on K-12 education, titled "American Education in the Digital Age and Beyond: A Discussion for the 21st Century," was hosted by Strong American Schools and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Webcast: Robert Burns at 250: Day 2, Session 2

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:28:50 GMT

To mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, the American Folklife Center, in collaboration with the Scottish government, presented a free public symposium on Burns' life and work, as well as his impact on America and American culture. The afternoon featured a second panel discussion exploring Burns' relationship to the folk and traditional culture of Scotland.

Webcast: Robert Burns at 250: Day 2, Session 1

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:25:55 GMT

To mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, the American Folklife Center, in collaboration with the Scottish government, presented a free public symposium on Burns' life and work, as well as his impact on America and American culture. A panel discussion titled "Burns and His World" kicked off the second day of the symposium.

Webcast: Lincoln Bicentennial Symposium (Part 2)

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:35:17 GMT

The Library sponsored an all-day symposium celebrating the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln. The afternoon session featured presentations by Lucas E. Morel, Douglas L. Wilson and Elizabeth D. Leonard.

Webcast: Lincoln Bicentennial Symposium (Part 1)

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:33:49 GMT

The Library sponsored an all-day symposium commemorating the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln. The morning session included presentations by Harold Holzer, James M. McPherson and William Lee Miller.

Webcast: 12th Annual Witter Bynner Award and Reading

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:31:38 GMT

Poet Laureate Kay Ryan has chosen two gifted voices in poetry, Christina Davis and Mary Szybist, for the 2009 Witter Bynner Fellowships, who read selections of their work in a program at the Library.

Webcast: Anthony Benezet, Father of Atlantic Abolitionism

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:30:51 GMT

Maurice Jackson discusses Anthony Benezet, the founder of the antislavery movement in America in the mid-1700s. Benezet believed the British ban on slavery should have been extended to the colonies, and worked to convince his Quaker brethren that slave-owning was not consistent with Christian doctrine.

Looking Beyond Gitmo

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:37:54 GMT

The Law Library of Congress sponsored a panel discussion titled "Looking Beyond Gitmo: U.S. and Foreign Approaches Toward Legal Treatment of Terrorist Suspects." Panelists included Charles D. Stimson, senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation and former deputy assistant defense secretary for detainee affairs at the Pentagon; and Law Library of Congress legal specialists Clare Feikert, Louis Fisher and Ruth Levush.

"Depression and Creativity" Symposium

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:36:46 GMT

Kay Redfield Jamison, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, convened a discussion of the effects of depression on creativity. The symposium marks the bicentennial of the birth of German composer Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847), who died after a severe depression following the death of his sister, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, also a gifted composer.

Arab Medieval Philosophers' Doctrines on War

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:38:54 GMT

Maroun Aouad, a distinguished visiting scholar in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress, discussed the doctrines on war that were held by medieval philosophers writing in Arabic.

Violin Master Class with Christian Tetzlaff

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:35:36 GMT

Virtuoso violinist Christian Tetzlaff conducted a violin master class at the Library for area students and teachers.

Robert Burns at 250: Poetry, Politics and Performance: Session 1

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:10:05 GMT

To mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, the American Folklife Center, in collaboration with the Scottish government, presented a free public symposium on Burns' life and work, and his impact on American culture. The symposium began with a keynote address by Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland, and a talk on "America's Bard" by Robert Crawford, professor of literature at the University of St. Andrews. Crawford's address was followed by readings of Burns' poetry and performances of his songs by Scottish scholars and performers Margaret Bennett and Ed Miller, and Scottish journalist and broadcaster Billy Kay.

Stevie Wonder Performs "Sketches of a Life"

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:01:57 GMT

Stevie Wonder Press Conference

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:01:20 GMT

Singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder, the awardee of the second Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, and Librarian of Congress James H. Billington held a press conference to discuss the world premiere of his instrumental composition, which was commissioned by the Library. Wonder described the evolution of "Sketches of a Life," which was inspired by his life experiences and influenced by his longtime love for classical music. The Librarian explained the importance of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and the selection of Wonder as "the epitome of what the prize presents."

The Remarkable Tale of the Earliest Korean Sound Recordings

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:04:16 GMT

On July 24, 1896, the pioneering ethnologist Alice Fletcher recorded six wax cylinders documenting the singing of three Koreans who were studying in Washington, D.C. Now housed in the American Folklife Center Archive, these cylinders have proved to be the earliest known recordings of Korean music.

Edna Nahshon: "Jews and Shoes"

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:03:22 GMT

Shoes are an integral part of Jewish material culture according to Edna Nahshon, author of "Jews and Shoes." The book takes a fresh look at the makings and meanings of shoes, cobblers and barefootedness in Jewish experience.

Iranian Jewry: From Past To Present (Afternoon Session)

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:05:04 GMT

The history and culture of Iranian Jewry was the focus of a two-day conference titled "Iranian Jewry: From Past to Present."

Iranian Jewry: From Past To Present (Morning Session)

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:04:34 GMT

The history and culture of Iranian Jewry was the focus of a two-day conference titled "Iranian Jewry: From Past to Present."

Lubuto Libraries for Street Children in Africa

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:02:51 GMT

Across sub-Saharan Africa, where the HIV/AIDS epidemic is most severe, a growing number of orphans are heading their own households. In 12 African countries, it is projected that by 2010, 15 percent of all children under the age of 15 will be orphans. To bring literacy and hope to Africa's vulnerable children, Jane Kinney Meyers founded the Lubuto Library Project. Meyers discussed the goals and accomplishments of the project at the Library.

Weaving and Singing in Northern Ireland

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:02:11 GMT

Handloom weaving was dominated by men in 19th century Ireland. The Industrial Revolution changed that, enabling women to take the dominant role in the factory production of linen. In this talk, Maurice Leyden discusses the reasons for this historical shift, and the impact of this change on the traditions of singing and songwriting among weavers.

Opening Reception of Lincoln Exhibition

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:13:55 GMT

Librarian of Congress James Billington and Union Pacific Corporation, the exclusive sponsor of "With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Bicentennial Exhibition," hosted a reception celebrating the opening of the exhibit. Speakers included Billington, Union Pacific CEO Jim Young, Sen. Dick Durbin and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, with performances by renowned baritone Thomas Hampson and poetry readings by James Earl Jones.

Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:16:21 GMT

Tom Gjelten discusses his book "Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba," the dramatic story of one family, its business and its nation, paralleling Cuba's own development. The Bacardis of Cuba, builders of a rum distillery and a worldwide brand, came of age with the nation and helped define what it meant to be Cuban.

Chinua Achebe: 50th Anniversary of "Things Fall Apart" (Afternoon)

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:11:15 GMT

Through his fiction and non-fiction works, Nigerian author Chinua Achebe has sought to repair the damage done to the continent of Africa and its people as a result of European colonization. This is best exemplified in his most famous novel "Things Fall Apart," one of the first African novels written in English to achieve national acclaim. To mark this milestone, the Library's African Section hosted a day-long program titled "Fifty Years of Chinua Achebe's Celebrated Novel 'Things Fall Apart.'"

Chinua Achebe: 50th Anniversary of "Things Fall Apart" (Morning)

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:10:51 GMT

Rajput Maharaja: Afternoon Session

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:10:01 GMT

The program also includes talks dealing with Maharaja Gaj Singh II and Maharaja Ganga Singh, two of the greatest Rajputs of the 20th century. The conference reveals why the romantic image of the Rajputs seduced both the tourists of today and a British political agent almost 200 years ago. The current controversy over a Bollywood film about a Rajput princess was also addressed.

Rajput Maharaja: Morning Session

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:09:22 GMT

Rajput maharajas have ruled hundreds of places throughout northern India, not just Rajasthan. The Rathor clan of Rajputs, headed by the Maharaja of Jodhpur, ruled states in Central India (Alirajpur, Jhabua, Jobat, Ratlam, Sailana, Sitamau), Eastern States Agency (Seraikela), Rajasthan (Bikaner, Jodhpur, Kishangarh, Kushalgarh), and Western India (Idar, Malpur). The speakers include the son and grand-daughter of the Maharaja of Dhrangadhra, who heads the Jhala clan of Rajputs. Jhalas ruled states in Western India (Chuda, Halvad-Dhrangadhra, Limbdi, Laktar, Limbdi, Sayla, Wadhwan,and Wankaner) and in Rajasthan (Jhalawar) and were also in Central India.

Music and the Brain: The World in Six Songs

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:44:34 GMT

As part of the Library's "Music and the Brain" series, Daniel Levitin gives a talk titled "The World in Six Songs: How the Musical Brain Created Human Nature." Director of McGill University's Laboratory for Musical Perception, Cognition and Expertise and best-selling author of "This is Your Brain on Music," Levitin blends cutting-edge scientific findings with his own experiences as a former record producer and still-active musician.

Music and the Brain: The Music of Language and the Language of Music

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:43:44 GMT

As part of the Library's "Music and the Brain" series, neuroscientist and musician Ani Patel discusses some of the hidden connections between language and instrumental music that are being uncovered by empirical scientific studies.

Music and the Brain: How Music Began

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:42:04 GMT

As part of the Library's "Music and the Brain" series, Ellen Dissayanake discusses "Homo Musicus: How Music Began." The universally observed interaction between mothers and infants, commonly and even dismissively called "baby talk," is composed of proto-aesthetic, temporally-organized elements that Dissayanake suggests are the origin of human music. Because infants are born ready to engage in these encounters and to prefer their visual, vocal and gestural components to any other sight or sound, one could claim that humans are innately prepared to be musical.

Model City: Buildings and Projects by Paul Rudolph for Yale and New Haven

Paul Rudolph (1918-1997) was one of the most innovative American architects of the post-World War II period. In this lecture, Timothy M. Rohan from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, discusses the exhibition he curated which draws upon works from the Paul Rudolph Archive in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress.

The Air Poets

Former Indiana Poet Laureate Joyce Brinkman introduces a group of "Airpoets" whose poems were incorporated into stained-glass murals in the new Indianapolis International Airport that is scheduled to open later this year as part of the Library's Poetry at Noon series. The poets include Ruthelen Burns, Joseph Heithaus and the current Indiana Poet Laureate Norbert Krapf. Brinkman herself is an "Airpoet."

Spaces of Calculation: Street Addressing and the Making of a Geo-coded World

In this presentation, Kluge Fellow Reuben Rose-Redwood explores the cultural and political history of street addressing in the United States, from the late 18th century to the present, including the recent shift from rural route and box numbering systems to 911 addresses.

Celebrating Kentucky Poets

Kentucky poets Jane Gentry Vance, Maurice Manning, Tony Crunk and Davis McCombs read selections of their work as part of the Library's Poetry at Noon series.

India and the U.S.: Reinventing Partnership

The relationship between the United States and India and its likely evolution in the next decade is the topic of a lecture at the Library of Congress by Ambassador Teresita Schaffer, holder of the Henry Alfred Kissinger Chair in Foreign Policy and International Relations at the John W. Kluge Center.

2008 Kluge Prize Ceremony

Peter Robert Lamont Brown and Romila Thapar were awarded the 2008 Kluge Prize for lifetime achievement in the study of humanity.

Mark Anderson on Brazilian Literature

Kluge Fellow Mark Anderson discusses "The Natural Nation: Tropical Imaginings and Ecologies of Abjection in Brazilian Literature."

Suzan Shown Harjo: 2008 Native American History Month Keynote

Native American activist, journalist and poet Suzan Shown Harjo delivered the keynote address for the Library's 2008 celebration of Native American Heritage Month. The theme was "Celebrating Tribal Nations."

Surati: Indian Dance from New Jersey

Surati performs Indian classial and folk dance from New Jersey, another in the Homegrown Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center.

Bar J Wranglers: Cowboy Music from Wyoming

The Bar J Wranglers perform cowboy music from Wyoming, another in the Homegrown Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center.

Bajich Brothers: Tambura Music from Kansas

The Bajich Brothers perform tambura music from Kansas, another in the Homegrown Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center.

Gary Haleamau: Traditional Hawaiian Music from Las Vegas

Gary Haleamau and his band perform traditional Hawaiian slack-key guitar from Nevada, another in the Homegrown Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center.

Opalanga Pugh in Concert

Opalanga Pugh presents traditional African-American storytelling from Colorado, another in the Homegrown Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center.

Singing Russian/Mennonite Songs

Jonathan Dueck presented "Empires, Multiculturalisms and Borrowed Heartsongs: What Does It Mean to Sing Russian/Mennonite Songs?" as part of the Benjamin Botkin lecture series sponsored by the American Folklife Center. As "colonists" in 19th-century Russia, Mennonites sang German diasporic choral musics and borrowed Russian choral musics; when war drove many to North America, Mennonites drew on this repertoire and borrowed new repertoires to forge links to a new elite: North American classical choral singing circles. This webcast traces this story not as linear narrative, but as genealogical fragments, beginning with the resonances of particular songs for present-day Mennonite writers, historians and singers; and then exploring past moments of the production and reception of these songs in Russia and North America.

New Deal Legacy & Scholarship, Part 2

Leading scholars from throughout the United States joined experts from the Library of Congress in the program, "Art, Culture, and Government: The New Deal at 75." A day-long symposium titled "The New Deal Legacy and Contemporary Scholarship" rounded out the two-day event. Leading scholars presented recent research based on New Deal materials, showcasing how innovative interpretation of the Library's archival holdings continues to inspire new revelations and reassessments of 20th-century American culture.

New Deal Legacy & Scholarship, Part 1

New Deal Resources: Preserving the Legacy, Part 2

Leading scholars from throughout the United States joined experts from the Library of Congress in the program, "Art, Culture, and Government: The New Deal at 75." The program began with an afternoon presentation titled "New Deal Resources: Preserving the Legacy." Representatives from the National Archives and Records Administration and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum joined staff from several Library divisions to discuss and display a selection of materials from their New Deal holdings.

New Deal Resources: Preserving the Legacy, Part 1

Total Theatre: The Art of Kunqu, China's Earliest Classical Opera

Marjory Bong-Ray Liu discussed Kunqu, which is particularly noted for its graceful dance movements and gestures that are an integral part of the total art form, unlike many western operas where the aural aspect is predominant. Kunqu classical opera was perfected in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.). It uses four main acting roles: sheng, a young male scholar-hero; dan, a female role; jing, a male warrior-statesman; and chou, a comic.

Tommy, Moya and Fionan Sands in Concert

Tommy Sands, with his daughter Moya and son Fionan performed in concert as part of the Rediscover Northern Ireland Program at the Library of Congress.

"It's of My Rambles..." A Journey in the Song Tradition of Ulster

Len Graham explored the folk song tradition of his native Ulster. His talk was interspersed with live performances of songs in English on many themes, including early classic ballads, broadside ballads, and songs of love, politics, emigration and many other topics.

An Evening with Chinua Achebe

Memo to the President-Elect: How We Can Restore America's Reputation and Leadership

The president faces daunting tasks in shaping and maintaining America's core relationships with other nations around the world. In her new book, Madeleine Albright, United States secretary of state from 1997 to 2001, offers guidance for the occupant of the White House--and insights for voters to think about when deciding who that person should be.

Journals of Pioneer Argonaut Daniel Jenks

Sara W. Duke, curator of popular and applied graphic art in the Prints & Photographs Division, uses unique drawings in the Library of Congress and other archival materials to tell the story of a pioneer who went west to search for gold in the mid-19th century.

Researching Amos Kendall: Adventures in Library Research, Literature and Literacy

Through his philanthropy, Amos Kendall, who served as U.S. postmaster general under presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren, founded the institution that would become Gallaudet University, the leading educational institution for the deaf in the world.

2007 Americas Awards

Authors Pat Mora and Laura Resau and illustrator Rafael Lopez received the 2007 Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature at the 15th annual award presentation.

Song of Songs: The Honeybee in the Garden

The Song of Songs is the Hebrew Bible's love song. But who sings this song? While the literal words tell of the passionate love of a man and a woman, the early rabbis understood the verses as an allegory of the love between God and Israel. In her illuminated manuscript, "The Song of Songs: the Honeybee in the Garden," author and artist Debra Band interprets and illustrates the biblical text.

Nigerian Nation Symposium: Afternoon Session

The African Section of the African and Middle Eastern Division and the Nigeria Peoples Forum-USA jointly hosted the Ninth Annual State of the Nigerian Nation Symposium -- Developing Nigeria's Power Sector: Strategies, Challenges and Impact.

Nigerian Nation Symposium: Morning Session

Is Diplomacy the Answer?

Does the U.S., as a longstanding superpower, need a diplomatic strategy to protect and advance our interests in the new world? William R. Smyser examined the topic in a lecture at the Library of Congress.

Jane Shore and Dabney Stuart Poetry Reading

The Library's fall literary season continued with readings by poets Jane Shore and Dabney Stuart.

Photographs of Ben Shahn, Russell Lee and Marion Post Wolcott

Timothy Egan, a Pulitzer Prize winner and writer for The New York Times, has written the introduction to "The Photographs of Ben Shahn," one of three Library of Congress-published books in the "Fields of Vision" series. He led a discussion of the photos of the Farm Security Administration focusing on the three photographers in the series: Ben Shahn, Russell Lee and Marion Post Wolcott.

Books Before and Beyond: Publishing in the 21st Century

Barbara Peters and Robert Rosenwald, owners of Poisoned Pen Books and Poisoned Pen Press in Scottsdale, Ariz., discussed both the mystery genre and the state of publishing in America.

Chris Agee & Sinead Morrissey Poetry Reading

To celebrate the publication of the book "The New North: Contemporary Poetry from Northern Ireland," poets Sinead Morrissey and Chris Agee read from their work.

Jon Scieszka Receives National Ambassador's Medal

Jon Scieszka made his first official appearance at the Library of Congress since being named National Ambassador. The Librarian of Congress James H. Billington presented Scieszka with the National Ambassador's Medal. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session with 50 schoolchildren from Brent Elementary School in Washington, D.C.

Abkhazia and the New Cold War

Before the summer of 2008, it is likely that most Americans had never heard of Abkhazia. Paul Crego discusses the history, language and culture of the Abkhazian people and the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict as it developed in the late Soviet period through the 1992-1993 war. Abkhazia in the context of geopolitical conflicts was also covered.

From Vienna to Chicago and Back

Distinguished Austrian historian Gerald Stourzh discussed his storied career and his latest book, a collection of 15 essays previously published from 1953 to 2005, in a lecture titled "Traces of an Intellectual Journey: Gerald Stourzh Presents His Book 'From Vienna to Chicago and Back."

Almost Englishmen: Baghdad Jews in British Burma

Anthropologist Ruth Fredman Cernea discusses the Jewish experience in the land of Burma. For more than a century, Jews from the Middle East--the Baghdadis--formed vibrant communities throughout Southeast Asia.

Congress: Crucible of American Democracy

Though often treated by historians, political scientists and the American public as of lesser consequence than the Executive Branch, the U.S. Congress has historically served as the crucible of American democracy. In continual interaction and evolution as an institution, Congress has molded and directed national policy affecting the lives of virtually every American citizen. Its history is as diverse and complex as the nation and is waiting to be told in its entirety. Steve Stathis' continuing effort to capture the essence of that story focuses on the historical evolution of the twin functions of Congress--to legislate for the nation and to represent the people.

Robert Hass Moderates River of Words Ceremony

Winners and finalists of the 2008 River of Words Environmental Poetry and Art Contest were honored at a ceremony. The ceremony, hosted by the Center for the Book, was moderated by Robert Hass, River of Words co-founder, former U.S. Poet Laureate and recent winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for Poetry.

2008 National Book Festival Gala

Marisa de los Santos, Jon Scieszka, George Duran and Philippa Gregory were featured speakers for the 2008 National Book Festival Gala.

Walter Isaacson: 2008 National Book Festival

Veteran journalist Walter Isaacson appears in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

David Maraniss: 2008 National Book Festival

Reporter David Maraniss appears in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Daniel Schorr: 2008 National Book Festival

News analyst Daniel Schorr appears in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Paul Theroux: 2008 National Book Festival

Travel writer Paul Theroux speaks in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Immaculee Ilibagiza: 2008 National Book Festival

Author Immaculee Ilibagiza speaks at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Kay Bailey Hutchison: 2008 National Book Festival

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison appears at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Tony Horwitz: 2008 National Book Festival

Journalist Tony Horwitz speaks at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Kimberly Dozier: 2008 National Book Festival

Reporter Kimberly Dozier speaks at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Michael Dobbs: 2008 National Book Festival

Reporter Michael Dobbs speaks at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Peter Robinson: 2008 National Book Festival

Creator of the "Inspector Banks" series Peter Robinson speaks in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Francine Prose: 2008 National Book Festival

Francine Prose speaks in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Richard Price: 2008 National Book Festival

Novelist and screen writer Richard Price in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Brad Meltzer: 2008 National Book Festival

Brad Meltzer speaks in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Rick Atkinson: 2008 National Book Festival

Journalist Rick Atkinson appears in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Geraldine Brooks: 2008 National Book Festival

Journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks speaks in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Sandra Brown: 2008 National Book Festival

Romance novelist Sandra Brown speaks in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Andrew Klavan: 2008 National Book Festival

Mystery writer Author Klavan speaks in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

James McBride: 2008 National Book Festival

Author and musician James McBride speaks at the National Book Festival.

Marisa de los Santos: 2008 National Book Festival

Poet and author Marisa de los Santos speaks in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Gordon S. Wood: 2008 National Book Festival

Author Gordon S. Wood speaks at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Alexander McCall Smith: 2008 National Book Festival

"No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" author Alexander McCall Smith speaks at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Bob Schieffer: 2008 National Book Festival

CBS News correspondent Bob Schieffer appears at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Salman Rushdie: 2008 National Book Festival

Novelist Salman Rushdie appears at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Cokie Roberts: 2008 National Book Festival

Political commentator Cokie Roberts speaks at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Philippa Gregory: 2008 National Book Festival

Historical fiction writer Philippa Gregory speaks at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Eavan Boland: 2008 National Book Festival

Poet Eavan Boland appears at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Dan Chiasson: 2008 National Book Festival

Poet Dan Chiasson appears at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Elsa Cross: 2008 National Book Festival

Poet Elsa Cross appears at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Arthur and Pauline Frommer: 2008 National Book Festival

Travel authorities Arthur and Pauline Frommer appear at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Julie Morgenstern: 2008 National Book Festival

Organizational expert Julie Morgenstern appears at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Mike Richman: 2008 National Book Festival

Journalist Mike Richman appears at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Cathy Scott: 2008 National Book Festival

Journalist Cathy Scott appears at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Michelle Singletary: National Book Festival 2008

Financial expert Michelle Singletary appears at the National Book Festival in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

NEA Poetry: National Book Festival 2008

Representatives from the National Endowment for the Arts read selections from their favorite poets in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Louis Bayard: 2008 National Book Festival

Novelist Louis Bayard speaks at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

NBA/WNBA Players: 2008 National Book Festival

NBA legend Bob Lanier and NBA/WNBA players Chris Duhon and Ivory Latta appear at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Michael Lind: 2008 National Book Festival

Poet Michael Lind appears at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Molly Peacock: 2008 National Book Festival

Poet Molly Peacock speaks at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Stanley Plumly: 2008 National Book Festival

Poet Stanley Plumly appears at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

J. Allyn Rosser: 2008 National Book Festival

Poet J. Allyn Rosser appears at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Kay Ryan: 2008 National Book Festival

Kay Ryan, Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry for 2008-2009, speaks at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Warren Brown: National Book Festival 2008

"Cake Love" baker and television host Warren Brown in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Ellen Birmbaum & Nancy Schulman: National Book Festival 2008

Educators Ellen Birmbaum and Nancy Schulman in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Eleanor Clift: National Book Festival 2008

Eleanor Clift in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

George Duran: National Book Festival 2008

Chef George Duran in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Jon Scieszka: National Book Festival 2008

National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Jon Scieszka in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Charles R. Smith Jr.: National Book Festival 2008

Photographer and children's book author Charles R. Smith Jr. in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

R.L. Stine: National Book Festival 2008

"Goosebumps" favorite R.L. Stine in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Judith Viorst: National Book Festival 2008

Judith Viorst in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Annegret Fauser presents "After Pearl Harbor: Music, War and the Library of Congress"

The Music Division of the Library of Congress and the American Musicological Society, in joint partnership, presented the second in a series of lectures highlighting musicological research conducted in the division's collections. Annegret Fauser discussed "After Pearl Harbor: Music, War and the Library of Congress."

Mary Brigid Barrett, Katherine Paterson & Steven Kellogg: National Book Festival 2008

Children's authors and illustrators Mary Brigid Barrett, Katherine Paterson and Steven Kellogg speak at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., discussing their collaboration on "Our White House: Looking In and Looking Out."

Joseph Bruchac: National Book Festival 2008

Storyteller Joseph Bruchac in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Andrea Davis Pinkney: National Book Festival 2008

Children's author Andrea Davis Pinkney in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Sharon Draper: National Book Festival 2008

Author and educator Sharon Draper in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Neil Gaiman

Popular novelist Neil Gaiman in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Matthew Reinhart & Robert Sabuda: National Book Festival 2008

Children's book authors and illustrators Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Dionne Warwick: National Book Festival 2008

Singer and children's author Dionne Warwick in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Tiki Barber: National Book Festival 2008

Children's author and former NFL player Tiki Barber in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Jan Brett: National Book Festival 2008

Children's author and illustrator Jan Brett in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Marc Brown & Judy Sierra: National Book Festival 2008

Children's author and illustrator Marc Brown and author Judy Sierra in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Laura and Jenna Bush: National Book Festival 2008

First Lady Laura Bush and her daughter Jenna Bush Hager in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

David A. Carter: National Book Festival 2008

Children's author David A. Carter appears in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Doreen Cronin & Betsy Lewin: National Book Festival 2008

Children's author Doreen Cronin and illustrator Betsy Lewin in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Kadir Nelson & Doreen Rappaport: National Book Festival 2008

Children's illustrator Kadir Nelson and author Doreen Rappaport in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

David Shannon: National Book Festival 2008

Children's author and illustrator David Shannon in a presentation at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

The Hemingses of Monticello

The relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings has been a subject of speculation for centuries and even more so in the past decade, when DNA testing increased evidence of a sexual liaison. Author Annette Gordon-Reed, who received attention in 1997 for a book that carefully evaluated claims and counter-claims about the Jefferson-Hemings relationship, has written a new book about Sally Hemings -- a slave in the Founding Father's household -- and her family.

Vietnam: Will There Be Peace Again?

Kluge Fellow Subarno Chattarji lectures on aspects of Vietnamese representations of the Vietnam War and its aftermath.

Marie Arana: 2008 Hispanic Heritage Month Keynote

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, editor and author Marie Arana delivered the keynote address for the Library's celebration. This year's celebration, which runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, had a theme of "Getting Involved: Our Families, Our Community, Our Nation."

Poet Laureate Kay Ryan Opens the 2008 Literary Season

The fall literary season opened with a reading by Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry Kay Ryan. Ryan, who was appointed to the laureateship by Librarian of Congress James H. Billington in July, is the author of six books of poetry. Her latest book is "The Niagara River" (2005).

The Zionaires

The Zionaires perform gospel music from Maryland and Delaware, another in the Homegrown Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center.

Old Cultures/New Contexts: Traditional Music and Dance of Urban Immigrant Communities

Ethnographer and performer Ethel Raim, co-founder and artistic director of New York's celebrated Center for Traditional Music and Dance (CTMD), discusses her five decades of work with community-based traditional artists in urban America.

Merita Halili and the Raif Huseni Orchestra

Merita Halili and the Raif Huseni Orchestra perform Albanian music from New York, celebrating 40 years of the Center for Traditional Music and Dance, as part of the Homegrown Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center.

Major League Tassa

Major League Tassa performs Indo-Caribbean drumming and dance from Queens, New York, as part of the Homegrown Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center.

Force & Violins: What the FBI Had on Folksingers

For more than 20 years, the FBI and CIA conducted surveillance on folk musicians and folklorists organizing the folksong revivals of the 1930s and 1940s. As a result of speaker David Dunaway's successful suit under the Freedom of Information Act, it is now possible to reveal that surveillance, the texts it generated, and how it affected history.

The Beehive Band

The Beehive Band performs traditional Mormon string band music from Utah, another in the Homegrown Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center.

Do All Indians Live in Tipis?

Stereotypes, inaccuracies and inappropriate representations of Native Americans continue to abound in American society today. Reflecting on his 20 years of experience working in the field of American Indian education, the Edwin Schupman explores examples, causes and implications of the current state of awareness about Native peoples and issues.

Library of Congress Honors Herman Wouk with Literary Award

Writer Herman Wouk received the first Library of Congress Lifetime Achievement Award for the Writing of Fiction. During this event, ABC News' Martha Raddatz, William Safire of The New York Times and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg read from Wouk's novels. Jimmy Buffett spoke about his relationship with Wouk and performed songs from the musical "Don't Stop the Carnival," based on Wouk's novel of the same name. The event also marked the donation of Wouk's papers to the Library of Congress.

Excavations in Afghanistan and Central Asia

The Near East Section of the African Middle Eastern Division at the Library of Congress sponsored at talk by Fredrik Hiebert, National Geographic Archaeology Fellow and curator of the exhibition "Afghanistan, Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul."

Libraries and Human Development in Haiti (Afternoon-Creole)

The Library's Hispanic Division sponsored a day-long symposium, "Libraries and Human Development in Haiti: The Work of Fondation Connaissance et Liberte (FOKAL)." Speakers included leaders in the area of Haitian socio-economics, FOKAL officials and individuals who have benefited from the organization's programs. (Afternoon Session in Creole).

Libraries and Human Development in Haiti (Morning-Creole)

Libraries and Human Development in Haiti (Afternoon-English)

Libraries and Human Development in Haiti (Morning-English)

CORRECTION: Live Webcast, National Book Festival Gala

LIVE webcast, Friday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m. EDT. Join First Lady Laura Bush, Librarian of Congress James Billington and special guests for a gala event featuring and honoring authors and storytellers who have come to Washington for the 2008 National Book Festival on Sept. 26. Authors Marisa de los Santos ("Belong to Me"), Philippa Gregory ("The Other Queen"), George Duran ("Take This Dish and Twist It") and Jon Scieska ("The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales") will read from their works.

LIVE: National Book Festival Gala

LIVE webcast, Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. EDT. Join First Lady Laura Bush, Librarian of Congress James Billington and special guests for a gala event featuring and honoring authors and storytellers who have come to Washington for the 2008 National Book Festival on Sept. 26. Authors Marisa de los Santos ("Belong to Me"), Philippa Gregory ("The Other Queen"), George Duran ("Take This Dish and Twist It") and Jon Scieska ("The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales") will read from their works.

Death, Rebirth and Being Human in Tibetan Buddhism

Frances Garrett, David B. Larson Fellowship in Health and Spirituality, considers images of dying, the afterlife and rebirth, and notions of human embodiment and personhood, in Tibetan Buddhist literature, art and medicine.

Poster Mania in Turn-of-the-Century Paris

In the 1880s and 1890s, illustrated posters displayed on walls throughout Paris were accused of turning the city into a bazaar and mounting an aggressive assault on the eyes and souls of passersby. Kluge Fellow Karen Carter examines "poster mania," a topic of late 19th-century commentary that linked the viewing of publicity to pathology and madness.

Cruelty, Savagery and the Formation of a National Community in the Bohemian Reformation

The Bohemian Reformation of the 15th century was a seminal event in the history of late medieval Europe. Kluge Fellow Joel Seltzer contends that for the first time, the authority of the Roman Church over Latin Christendom was broken by a religious reform that sought to return to the primitive roots of the early Church.

'Remember Belgium' -- Poetry as Propaganda During the First World War

In 1914 the case of Gallant Little Belgium stirred political and artistic attention and emotion all over the world. Invaded by "the Huns," the Belgians found themselves at the heart of a propaganda battle in both warring and neutral nations. The writing of war poems became part of the war effort. American poets as well joined in. Kluge Fellow Geert Buelens address the use of poetry as propaganda.

How the States Got Their Shapes

Why does West Virginia have a finger creeping up the side of Pennsylvania? Why are California and Texas so large when so many of the states in the Midwest are roughly the same size and shape? Why are Alabama and Mississippi almost exact mirror images of each other? Mark Stein provided answers to these questions, and many more, when he discussed his new book.

Somali Food Traditions at Thanksgiving

Barlin Ali, author of "Somali Cuisine," presented a lecture on "Somali Food Traditions at Thanksgiving" in a program sponsored by the Library's African and Middle Eastern Division.

The Moral Conscience of the World: The United Nations and Palestine in 1947

The United Nations' role in the creation of the state of Israel marked the beginning of a critical episode in the changing colonial world order, according to historian William Roger Louis.

Rajatarangini and the Making of India's Past

Nineteenth-century European orientalists and philologists considered the Rajatarangini--a 12-century Sanskrit historical narrative from Kashmir--as the only Indian text to which the status of "history" could be accorded. Chitralekha Zutshi analyzes several late-19th and early 20th-century translations of this text by both Europeans and Indians to illustrate the mediated nature of the process of colonial and nationalist production of knowledge about India's past--indeed of the idea of history itsef--in British India.

Decolonization and Disorder

Historian Dane Kennedy examined three waves of European decolonization, from the late 18th century through the late 20th century, and the violence and discord that accompanied the transitions.

Digital Natives: Open Source Reality

Today's constantly evolving interactive technologies are having a profound impact on our culture, and the analog generation needs to look to its children to learn how to cope. According to new media and pop culture expert Douglas Rushkoff, the nation's youth have already adapted to the digital world's demands. Rushkoff discussed the new cultural complexities in his presentation.

Web 2.0 Mashups: Making the Web Your Own

The Web contains thousands of mashups that recombine everything -- including Google Maps, Flickr, Amazon.com, NASA, the New York Times, and Wikipedia -- with useful information about travel, finance, real estate, and more. By fusing elements from multiple web sites, mashups are often informative, useful, fun, and even transformative. Raymond Yee's presentation shows you how to create and apply mashups to make sense of the web, especially in the context of libraries.

Publishing Trends in the Islamic Republic of Iran

The Near East Section of The African Middle Eastern Division and the John W. Kluge Center presented a lecture by Nasrollah Pourjavady, Distinguished Visiting Scholar from Tehran University at the Roshan Persian Studies Center of the University of Maryland.

Bridging Homeland and Homegrown

Ambassador Christopher R. Hill was the keynote speaker at the launch of the Asian Pacific American Lecture Series. His speech centered on preserving America's relationships with her allies in Asia.

Forum on Education and the Economy: Gov. Roy Romer

Gov. Roy Romer ended the conference by reviewing the landscape of education reform from the first governor's conference in 2000 and spoke about the upcoming post-presidential election landscape.

Forum on Education and the Economy: Session II

Following a keynote address by William J. Bennett, former education secretary, a panel of leading economists discussed the risks our nation runs if we do not address the crisis in education. Panelists were Eric Hanushek, Hoover Institution; Clive Belfield, Queens College; and Helen Ladd, Duke University.

Forum on Education and the Economy: Welcome and Session I

The Library of Congress hosted a national, non-partisan policy forum to discuss the connection between education and the economy. Economic, educational and political experts examined data tracking the U.S. performance internationally that measure the skills needed to succeed in a global economy.

Women and Education in Saudi Arabia

The Near East Section of the African and Middle Eastern Division of the Library of Congress presented Nihad el- Jesh, consultant of the Majlis al-Shura (Consultative Assembly) of Saudi Arabia, who delivered a lecture titled "Women and Education in Saudi Arabia."

Earth's Water Cycle in a Changing Climate

Water is always in motion, changing from liquid to water vapor to ice - on, under and over the surface of the Earth. A leading NASA scientist explained how this water cycle can be affected by a warming climate and what we might expect for the future. Peter Hildebrand, chief of the Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, discussed "Earth's Water Cycle in a Changing Climate."

Seeger Tribute: Pete, Mike and Peggy Seeger with the Short Sisters

The Library of Congress is celebrated the musical legacy of the Seeger Family during a two-day program, sponsored by the American Folklife Center, titled "How Can I Keep from Singing? A Seeger Family Tribute." The symposium culminated in a concert with Mike, Peggy and Pete Seeger with the Short Sisters.

Seeger Tribute: Politics, Theory and the Folk Revival

Seeger Tribute: (1) Pete, Mike and Peggy Seeger and (2) Performing the Seegers

Seeger Tribute: Charles Seeger and Ruth Crawford Seeger

Seeger Tribute: Welcome, Introduction and Keynote Address

The Library of Congress celebrated the musical legacy of the Seeger Family during a two-day program, sponsored by the American Folklife Center, titled "How Can I Keep from Singing? A Seeger Family Tribute." Neil Rosenberg, professor emeritus at Memorial University of Newfoundland, delivered the keynote address titled "Family Values, Seeger Style." In his lecture, Rosenberg discussed the underlying forces, motifs and themes that recurred in the family members' musical and cultural lives.

Breaking the Bonds of People and Land: Native American Removal in the US and Mexico

Kluge Fellow Claudia Haake presented a lecture that lecture drew some general conclusions from an investigation of two cases of Native American forced migration: the Delawares in the United States and the Yaquis in Mexico.

America Between the Wars

The 12-year period between the end of the Cold War and the destruction of the Twin Towers was perceived as calm and peaceful. Yet foreign-policy experts say these were pivotal years in shaping America's role in the world. Derek Chollet and James Goldgeier examined those years in a lecture on their new book.

Korean Cultural Fan and Drum Dance

As part of the Library's celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, members of the Asian American Arts Center performed a traditional Korean drum and fan dance.

Poet Laureate Charles Simic Gives Swan Song Lecture

Charles Simic made the final appearance of his tenure as U.S. Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry when he presents a lecture on poetry translation at the Library of Congress.

Octavio Paz Symposium

Octavio Paz (1914-1998) was a world-famous poet, writer and essayist. His writing, which garnered him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1990, has been characterized as impassioned and marked with sensuous intelligence and humanistic integrity. A two-hour symposium, "A Tribute to Octavio Paz," was sponsored by the Library's Hispanic Division and the Poetry Office, in cooperation with the Mexican Cultural Institute of Washington, D.C.

XVI Poetry Marathon of Teatro de la Luna

The Hispanic Division of the Library of Congress hosted an afternoon of Spanish poetry featuring poets from Spain, Latin America and the Caribbean. Each poet read a selection in Spanish, followed by an open discussion in English moderated by Dominican poet Rei Berroa of George Mason University. Featured poets were Spaniards Ana Rossetti, Juan Carlos Mestre and Vicente Cervera Salinas. From Mexico were Hector Carretto, Dana Gelinas, Hernan Bravo Varela and Ciprian Cabrera Jasso. Also participating were Mateo Morrison, Dominican Republic; Otoniel Guevara, El Salvador; Marcelo Pellegrini, Chile; Ivon Gordon-Vailakis, Ecuador; and Juana Goergen, Puerto Rico.

Cataloging Principles and RDA

The second in a series on RDA: Resource Description and Access, the next generation cataloging code designed for the digital environment. This presentation deals with the cataloging principles that have influenced the development of RDA; the challenges they present to the international sharing of bibliographic and authority data; and the challenges they present to the developers of RDA.

Michelle Rhee Delivers Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Keynote Address

Michelle Rhee, chancellor of the Washington, D.C., public schools, delivered the keynote address for the Library's 2008 celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Recent Trends in Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage

Chandra Reedy discussed highlights of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and its context within overall preservation efforts of UNESCO.

Preservation Tools and Training in the Digital Age: NEDCC in the 21st Century

Ann Russell, executive director of the Northeast Document Conservation Center, presented a lecture as part of the Topics in Preservation Science series sponsored by the Library's Preservation Directorate.

Drawing the Line at the Big Ditch: The Panama Canal Treaties and the Rise of the Right

Political events in the United States often have unintended consequences for American politics and for the country as a whole. The long-term consequences of the Panama Canal debates of the 1970s was examined by Adam Clymer, former chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times.

Resource Description and Access: Background & Overview

RDA (Resource Description and Access), the next generation cataloging code designed for the digital environment, is under development. This presentation provides background on its development and a general overview of the conceptual models, international principles, and structure of this new code.

MIC: Moving Image Collections

MIC (Moving Image Collections) is a management, preservation, and educational tool incorporating a consortial database, directories, a METS/MODS cataloging/mapping utility, and informational resources in a portal structure customizing information for various constituencies.

To Read or Not to Read: A Question of National Consequence

Sunil Iyengar, director of the NEA Office of Research and Analysis that produced a 2007 research report from the National Endowment for the Arts about the state of reading in the United States, discussed the report, its potential consequences and the public reaction.

Law Day 2008: The Rule of Law in Established and Emerging Countries

The Law Library of Congress presented a panel discussion in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Law Day. The panel, moderated by Judge Harry T. Edwards, examined what the Rule of Law means to established and emerging countries.

Homegrown: The Beehive Band

The Beehive Band perform traditional Mormon string band music from Utah as part of the American Folklife Center's Homegrown Concert Series.

Poetry of Mark Strand and Charles Wright

Mark Strand and Charles Wright read from their works as part of the Poetry Center's Spring literary season.

Avoiding the Fate of the Mayans

The Maya civilization, at its peak, was one of the most densely populated and culturally dynamic societies in the world. But after flourishing for a thousand years, it abruptly disappeared. Thanks to Landsat satellite data and climate models, NASA archaeologist Tom Sever has gained insights into the event known as the Maya Collapse.

Traditional Judaism or Reform

s part of the Library's celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month, Marsha Rozenblit delivered the ninth annual Myron M. Weinstein Memorial Lecture on the Hebraic Book. The lecture focused on Viennese Jews in the 19th Century.

Achieving Library Excellence: Employing Modern Management Practices

The Library's Asian Division of the Library of Congress, in cooperation with the Greater Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Chinese American Librarians Association, presented Hwa-Wei Lee, former chief of the Asian Division and dean emeritus of Ohio University Libraries.

Preserving State Government Digital Information

Robert Horton, director of Library, Publication and Collections at the Minnesota Historical Society, discussed "A Model Technological and Social Architecture for the Preservation of State Government Digital Information."

Contemporary Russian Poetry Bilingual Reading

The Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) jointly hosted an evening of Russian poetry, featuring Evgeny Bunimovich, Elena Fanailova and Yuli Gugolev.

Education, Health and Socio-Economic Developments in Iraq Today: Afternoon Session

Representatives from the U.S. Departments of State and Health and Human Services; the Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine; the Office of Iraq Reconstruction; the International Office for Migration; AMIDEAST; Life for Relief and Development; International Relief and Development; World Learning; and Mobile Medical International Corporation met to discuss their work in Iraq.

Education, Health and Socio-Economic Developments in Iraq Today: Morning Session

Traditional Lao Dance Performance

A traditional Lao dance performance and Lao-American fashion show highlighted the Library's celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Becton: A Soldier and Public Servant

Lt. Gen. Julius W. Becton Jr. discussed his new autobiography.

American Earth: Environmental Writing Since Thoreau

Writer, activist and editor Bill McKibben discusses his new anthology of American environmental writing.

An Empire for a King

Kluge Fellow Jennifer Sessions discusses the conquest of Algeria at Louis-Philippe's Versailles.

Mapping the New Empire

Max Edelson discusses the British General Survey of North America, 1763-1782.

Who Speaks for Islam?

The Near East Section of the African and Middle Eastern Division presented, as part of the series "Beyond the Islamist Discourse: Muslims Look at Their Societies," John Esposito, who discussed "Who Speaks for Islam?"

Stephen King, Tabitha King and Owen King Speak at the Library

The PEN/Faulkner Writers in Schools program, in collaboration with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, hosted world-renowned author Stephen King, his wife, novelist Tabitha King, and son, writer Owen King, in a reading and discussion for students at the Library.

God and Gandhi: The Radical Spiritual Politics of the Reverend John Haynes Holmes

Though hardly remembered today, John Haynes Holmes was one of the most important American religious radicals of the 20th century. A socialist, antiracist and pacifist, he was also among the very first popularizers of Mohandas Gandhi's ideas in the United States. Kluge Fellow Joseph Kosek discusses Holmes.

Ruth Crawford Seeger, Modernist Composer in the Folk Revival: Biography as Music History

In the first of a Music Division lecture series presenting members of the American Musicological Society who have completed research in the division's unique collections, Judith Tick discusses aspects of her work on composer Ruth Crawford Seeger.

Women's History Month Celebration: Women's Art -- Women's Vision

To honor "the originality, beauty, imagination and multiple dimensions of women's lives," the National Women's History Project has chosen "Women's Art: Women's Vision" as the 2008 theme for National Women's History Month. In keeping with the theme, the Library of Congress invited Deborah L. Gaston, director of education at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, to deliver the keynote address.

The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food

Who writes those little messages in fortune cookies and how do fortune cookie makers get their lucky numbers? Did General Tso cook his own chicken, and why was there a lawsuit over who invented chop suey? The answers to these and other fascinating questions was explored by Jennifer 8. Lee, as she discussed her recent book.

Reformist Voices of Islam: Mediating Religion and Modernity

The Near East Section of the African Middle Eastern Division and the John W. Kluge Center hosted a talk by Shireen Hunter on her new book, "Reformist Voices of Islam: Mediating Religion and Modernity."

Electing FDR: The New Deal Campaign of 1932

With the landmark election of Franklin D. Roosevelt as U.S. President in 1932, decades of Republican ascendancy gave way to a half century of Democratic dominance. It was nothing less than a major political realignment as the direction of federal policy shifted from conservative to liberal--and liberalism itself was redefined in the process. In his new book, the first in many decades to examine in its entirety the 1932 presidential election that ushered in the New Deal, Donald A. Ritchie explains how the Democratic Party rebuilt itself after three successive Republican landslides; where the major shifts in party affiliation took place; what contingencies contributed to FDR's victory; and why the new coalition lasted as long as it did.

Classical Music of Persia: The Precious Heritage of Iranians

Honoring the arrival of Spring and celebrating the age old tradition of Nowruz, Roya Bahrami presented a lecture-recital based on her research to give historical and structural review of Persian Classical Music. The recital component was selections from her recently released album "Roya," inspired by the timeless wisdom of Persian poets Rumi, Hafez and Sepehri, as well as Persian roots of Spanish Flamenco.

Witter Bynner Poetry Reading

Poet Laureate Charles Simic has chosen two new voices in poetry, business-development writer Matthew Thorburn and attorney Monica Youn, for the 2008 Witter Bynner Fellowships. Thorburn and Youn each read at this special presentation.

The Anthropology of Digital Natives

Young people today born into a digital world are experiencing a far different environment of information-gathering and access to knowledge than a generation ago. Who are these "digital natives" and what are they thinking? How are they using the technology, and are IT experts adequately responding to them? This first lecture explores how young people think, learn and play. Speaker Edith Ackerman is particularly interested in helping shape the future of play and learning in a digital world.

The Second Great Migration: Religious Refugees and the Remaking of America, 1678-1690

Kluge Fellow Owen Stanwood discusses the emigration of thousands of Protestant radicals to England's American colonies during the latter part of the 17th century.

Michael Dirda Discusses "Classics for Pleasure"

Classics are classics not because they are educational, but because people have found them worth reading, generation after generation, century after century. More than anything else, great books speak to us of our own all-too-real feelings, confusions and daydreams.

The New Science of Addiction and What It Means to Society

Advances in science in recent decades have revolutionized the understanding of the nature of drug abuse and addiction and what society needs to do about them. According to Alan Leshner, there is now a clear understanding that drug abuse and addiction are bio-behavioral phenomena with important biological, behavioral and social-context components. Those components must be recognized in developing prevention, treatment and social-policy responses to the problems.

Impact of IT Revolution on Youth of Tunisia

Oussama Romdhani, director general of the Tunisian External Communication Agency, commented on the TV viewing habits of the Tunisian public based on a recent Gallup poll, and discussed the impact of satellite dishes in bringing TV programs from Europe and the Middle East to every Tunisian home.

A Conversation with Leon Harris

The Library of Congress celebrated African American History Month with a presentation by Leon Harris, award-winning journalist and anchor for ABC 7/WJLA-TV. Harris presented a talk on "A Community-Focused Approach to Journalism."

Mickey Edwards Discusses Book on Conservatism

Former Representative Mickey Edwards (R-Okla.), a leading member of the American conservative movement for more than 40 years, believes that many conservatives today have abandoned their principles and have become champions of that which they once most feared--government intrusion.

Reflections from South Africa: Libraries and Society Change

Ellen R. Tise, president-elect (2007-2009) of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), gave an informative presentation on the transformation of libraries and the library profession in South Africa.

No Greater Challenge: Assessing Legal Responses to Terrorism

The Law Library of Congress presented a lecture by James Renwick. Renwick is an Australian barrister and visiting Fulbright Scholar. His lecture focused on the United Kingdom's and Australia's legislative response to terrorism since 9/11 and the supporting policy issues and how it compares to the response of the United States.

Shakespeare's Genealogies

William Shakespeare was fascinated with family dynamics, often using them to fuel his plots with familial jealousy, lust, murder, mistaken identity and long-lost siblings. Many of his works share characters that can be linked together by a common family history dating to pagan times. Vanessa James, professor of theater arts at Mount Holyoke College, unravels these lineages in a lecture.

Opening the Photo Vaults

Library of Congress staff and George Oates from Flickr, the popular photo-sharing site and Web 2.0 innovator -- describe the pilot project in which the Library has mounted photographs from its Farm Security Administration and George Grantham Bain collections on the Flickr Web site.

LIVE WEBCAST: Digital Natives, April 7

Young people today born into a digital world are experiencing a far different environment of information-gathering and access to knowledge than a generation ago. Who are these "digital natives" and what are they thinking? These questions will be addressed in a new Library of Congress series titled "Digital Natives." The first lecture, exploring how young people think, learn and play, will feature distinguished scholar and child-development expert Edith Ackerman on "The Anthropology of Digital Natives" at 4 p.m. EDT on Monday, April 7.

National Visionary Leadership Project Showcase

The Library of Congress celebrated African American History Month with its signature event--a showcase of the American Folklife Center's National Visionary Leadership Project (NVLP) Collection. The NVLP is a collection of oral life histories of extraordinary African American elders who have made significant contributions to American society, and the American Folklife Center is the official repository for these stories.

"America in the Middle East" by Michael Oren

America and the Middle East have been intertwined for more than 230 years -- the first war fought by the newly independent United States was against Arabic-speaking Muslims, George Washington had a Middle East policy and Thomas Jefferson listed America's relations with the region as his No. 1 international concern. Even iconic literary figures such as Herman Melville, Washington Irving and Mark Twain were singularly interested in the region. In his new book, Michael B. Oren argues that Americans today still have a poor understanding of their connection with the region.

Poetry Reading by Li-Young Lee and David Kirby

The Library of Congress literary season continued with poetry readings by Li-Young Lee and David Kirby sponsored by the Poetry and Literature Center.

Interview with Composer and Pianist Fred Hersch

Part of the series "American Creativity: The Composer-Performer," this interview with the composer and pianist Fred Hersch, one of a series of portraits of major jazz figures appearing at the Library of Congress, was presented by the Library's Music Division as a pre-concert presentation.

Research on Magnetic Media Deterioration Before and After 1995

Since John van Bogart's seminal work "Magnetic Tape Storage and Handling" published by the Commission on Preservation and Access (now CLIR) in 1995, a variety of tools and techniques have been developed by the collections management community to identify magnetic media collections that are at risk and conduct conservation activities.

The Druze Heritage: Part IV

The Druze are a thousand-year-old religious community of the Middle East, whose members today live primarily in Lebanon, Syria and Israel, while others have emigrated to the United States, Europe and Africa. Their historical and intellectual legacy was examined by 10 scholars from the U.S. and Middle East who participated in a symposium at the Library of Congress.

The Druze Heritage: Part III

The Druze Heritage: Part II

The Druze Heritage: Part I

Contemporary Significance of Confucianism: Afternoon Session

Is a philosophical system born in China 2,500 years ago still relevant in the 21st century? A panel of scholars attempted to answer this question in a symposium titled "The Contemporary Significance of Confucianism"

Contemporary Significance of Confucianism: Morning Session

Gandydancer in Concert

Gandydancer performs traditional string band music from West Virginia as part of the American Folklife Center's Homegrown Concert Series.

Hoop Dances by Dallas Chief Eagle and Jasmine Pickner

Two first place World Hoop Dance Champions have joined together to model and dance a vision of male and female balance, harmony and respect as traditionally practiced by their ancestors. Dallas Chief Eagle, Rosebud Sioux tribal member, and Jasmine Pickner of the Crow Creek Sioux tribe are both world-traveled hoop dancers. They performed as part of the American Folklife Center's Homegrown Concert Series

Reverb in Concert

Gospel/inspirational harmony group Reverb performs as part of the Library's celebration of African American History Month. The concert was also part of the Homegrown Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center.

Globalization Through the Centuries

Economic globalization is a new word for an old process, according to economic historian Herman Van der Wee, holder of the Chair of the Countries and Cultures of the North in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.

Consuming Landscapes: Parkways in Germany and the United States, 1920-1970

This talk with Kluge Fellow Tom Zeller explores the way roads have been redesigned for the automobile as parkways since the 1920s in the United States and Germany, what meanings they acquired and how drivers and passengers experienced them.

I Will Wake the Dawn: Illuminated Psalms

The Book of Psalms is probably the best-known book of the Hebrew Bible. In her new book, "I Will Wake the Dawn: Illuminated Psalms," author and artist Debra Band has selected 36 of the most well-known of the 150 psalms to interpret and illustrate.

Which Chile, Allende? Henry Kissinger and the International Repercussions of the Portuguese Revolution

Kluge Scholar Mario del Poro discusses the Portuguese revolution of 1974, which lead to the downfall of one the last authoritarian regimes in Western Europe and opened a chaotic transition in Portugal.

Poetry Reading by James Tate and Jorie Graham

U.S. Poet Laureate Charles Simic introduced Pulitzer Prize-winning poets Jorie Graham and James Tate, who read from their works.

150th Anniversary of the J&R Lamb Studios (2)

Art and architectural historians and design community insiders assembled at the Library of Congress for a symposium celebrating 150 years of J&R Lamb Studios, America's oldest continuously-run decorative arts firm, which preceded and influenced the studios of both John LaFarge and Louis C. Tiffany (afternoon session).

150th Anniversary of the J&R Lamb Studios (1)

Docent Training Films Reveal Library Treasures

A series of webcasts designed to train Library docent and tour guides reveal little-known wonders of the magnificent Thomas Jefferson Building and the rich collections of the Library of Congress.

A Money Doctor from Japan: Megata Tanetaro in Korea, 1904-1907

It is by now established knowledge that Japanese colonialist policies versus Korea cannot have been motivated by economic profits. Literature on Japanese imperialism does, however, fail to address the role of a series of monetary and financial reforms the Japanese government sought to implement after the peninsula had been turned into a protectorate. In his lecture, Michael Schiltz demonstrates how the 'Megata reform', as it came to be called, factually turned Korea into a subsidiary of the Japanese economy.

Extraordinary Rendition: Constitutional Issues

After 9/11, the Bush administration engaged in what is called "extraordinary rendition" -- the transfer of suspected terrorists to countries known to employ harsh interrogation techniques that may rise to the level of torture. The impact of these policies on constitutional principles, presidential power and congressional checks was the subject of this panel discussion.

T.E. Lawrence, Aaronsohn and the Seeds of the Arab-Israel Conflict

The Arab-Israeli conflict is often said to be biblical in its origins, with the children of Abraham contesting an ancient and eternal rivalry. But it can be argued that much of the conflict emerged less than a century ago in the turmoil of World War I. Historian and novelist Ronald Florence puts forth this argument in his new book.

Indian Religious Freedom, to Litigate or Legislate?

The Law Library and the Office of Workforce Diversity co-hosted a Law Panel on religious rights of Native Americans. The panel discussion served as the closing program of Native American Heritage Month.

Bankrupting the Enemy: The U.S. Financial Siege of Japan Before Pearl Harbor

Was the bombing of Pearl Harbor an unprovoked attack on the United States? According to a new book by Edward S. Miller, the Japanese motivation stemmed from U.S. plans to defeat Japan economically in the years before World War II. Miller discussed his book, "Bankrupting the Enemy: The U.S. Financial Siege of Japan Before Pearl Harbor" in a program sponsored by the Humanities and Social Sciences Division.

The Parking Garage and Its Impact on Urban Planning

The parking garage, often considered a dull and forgettable structure, is a crucial element of building design and urban planning. Architect Shannon Sanders McDonald discussed "Designing for Man, Machine and Movement: The Parking Garage."

An African Republic: Black and White Virginians in the Making of Liberia

Who supported the African colonization movement and settlement in Liberia in the 19th century and why? According to a new book by historian Marie Tyler-McGraw, no state was more involved than Virginia, where black Virginians sustained the early impetus for colonization and made up a majority of the emigrants who went to Liberia, and white Virginians provided much of the political and organizational leadership.

Pirates and Corsairs of the Americas in History and Literature (4)

An all-day symposium, "Pirates and Corsairs of the Americas in History and Literature," was ponsored by the Rare Book and Special Collections Division and the Hispanic Division in conjunction with the "Exploring the Early Americas" exhibition. (Panel 4 of 4)

Pirates and Corsairs of the Americas in History and Literature (3)

Pirates and Corsairs of the Americas in History and Literature (2)

An all-day symposium, "Pirates and Corsairs of the Americas in History and Literature," was sponsored by the Rare Book and Special Collections Division and the Hispanic Division in conjunction with the "Exploring the Early Americas" exhibition. (Panel 2 of 4)

Pirates and Corsairs of the Americas in History and Literature (1)

Discovery! The Search for Arabian Oil

The world was forever changed when American geologists and engineers in the 1930s and 1940s discovered oil in Saudi Arabia and developed the Middle Eastern oil industry. Timothy J. Barger and Thomas W. Lippman examined this significant period in history when they discussed a book by the late, award-winning author Wallace Stegner titled "Discovery! The Search for Arabian Oil."

Containing Runaway Fear in Foreign Policy

William F. May discussed the religious apprehensions, such as good versus evil, embedded in American politics. He looked at American foreign policy during the last 60 years, as political anxieties in the West shifted from the mind-set during the Cold War (the West vs. tyranny) to the current apprehensions (the West vs. anarchy).

Can You Guard My Stuff? LC Data Tests with the San Diego Supercomputer Center

Over the last twelve months, the Library of Congress has been conducting data transfer and storage tests with one of the world's largest supercomputing data centers, the San Diego Supercomputer Center. SDSC Division Director for Production Services Richard Moore and Project Manager David Minor recount details of the project and lessons learned, and discuss implications for the future of digital storage and preservation.

The Origins of FBI Counterintelligence

Foreign spies and the theft of military and industrial secrets were real threats during the 1930s as the United States faced the impending war. The nation's lack of security on those fronts was also a problem. Enter J. Edgar Hoover and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Raymond J. Batvinis, former FBI special agent, presents an early history of the FBI.

Guiding Our Destiny: Loriene Roy

n honor of Native American Heritage Month, American Library Association (ALA) President Loriene Roy delivered a lecture, which was sponsored jointly by the Office of Workforce Diversity, the Law Library and the Center for the Book.

Quick to the Party: Southern Jews and the Americanization of Hanukkah

Registrants attending the 32nd annual conference of the Southern Jewish Historical Society came to the Library as guests of the Hebraic Section, African and Middle Eastern Division, to learn about Judaic treasures in the Library's collections.

Print Culture Studies After Elizabeth Eisenstein: Panel Discussion

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and the University of Massachusetts Press has published "Agent of Change: Print Culture Studies After Elizabeth L. Eisenstein."

Print Culture Studies After Elizabeth Eisenstein: Presentation of Papers

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and the University of Massachusetts Press has published "Agent of Change: Print Culture Studies After Elizabeth L. Eisenstein."

MacDowell Colony Poets

Six poets who served residencies at the MacDowell Colony are featured in readings by Stephen Dunn, Peter Klappert and Kathy Mangan.

Writers from Iowa's International Writer's Program

Writers from the distinguished International Writing Program at the University of Iowa read from their works at the Library of Congress in a program jointly sponsored by the Library's John W. Kluge Center.

The History and Curse of the Hope Diamond

Richard Kurin uncovered the mystery and the true story of the world's most infamous bauble and discussed and signed his book "Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem."

Rep. Tom Cole: Native American Heritage Month Keynote

Five years to the day after being elected to represent Oklahoma's 4th congressional district, Rep. Tom Cole delivered the keynote address for the Library's 2007 celebration of Native American Heritage Month.

M.S. Merwin Reads From His Works

Celebrated poet W.S. Merwin received the 2006 Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry and read selections of his work.

Aeronautics at the Library of Congress

A nationally known aviation historian and biographer of the Wright brothers, Tom Crouch has been mining the treasures of the Library of Congress for more than four decades.

Concert: Aubrey Ghent and Friends

Aubrey Ghent with friends performed sacred lap steel guitar for the Library's annual Homegrown Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center.

The African Colonial State and the Encounter with Decolonization

Crawford Young, a distinguished scholar on Africa and professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin, discussed the final phase of the African colonial state, its confrontation with African nationalism and the terms of power transfer.

Judith Jones on Cookbooks

Judith Jones was the first to espouse the kind of cookbook in which the author encourages and enables the ordinary home cook to create the extraordinary by defining culinary terms, demonstrating techniques, whether it be boning or braising, and by providing explicit directions and detailed explanations.

Observing, Fighting and Mitigating Damage from Wildfires

Compton J. Tucker discussed "Observing, Fighting and Mitigating Damage from Wildfires" in a program sponsored by the Science, Technology and Business Division.

A Place for the Arts: The MacDowell Colony, 1907-2007

Robin Rausch, the curator of "A Century of Creativity: The MacDowell Colony 1907-2007" at the Library, discussed the colony, the first artists' residency program in America and the model for hundreds of others.

The Nuts and Bolts of Historical Fiction

The construction of historical fiction requires the attributes of good story telling plus some important additional components. Novelist David L. Robbins discussed the building blocks of historical novels.

Cartographia: Library's Map Treasures

Vincent Virga and co-author Ron Grim discussed "Cartographia," a new book featuring maps from the Library's extensive collections.

Jewish Washington: Scrapbook of an American Community

Laura Cohen Apelbaum and Wendy Turman of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington spoke about the history of the Jewish community in Washington, D.C.

Diamonds, Gold and War

British historian and journalist Martin Meredith discussed his new book, "Diamonds, Gold, and War: The British, the Boers, and the Making of South Africa."

Holy Moses! A Cultural History of the Ten Commandments in Modern America

Jenna Weissman Joselit, a Princeton University professor who spent the summer as a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the John W. Kluge Center, wrapped up her research with a lecture titled "Holy Moses! A Cultural History of the Ten Commandments in Modern America."

2006 Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature

Authors Margarita Engle and Jennifer Riesmeyer Elvgren and illustrators Sean Qualls and Nicole Tadgell received the 2006 Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature.

A New Challenge to the Congressional Black Caucus

Congressman Major Owens hosted a distinguished panel of U.S. representatives and political scientists in a discussion of his book, "The Peacock Elite: A Subjective Case Study of the Congressional Black Caucus and Its Impact on National Politics."

History of School Gardens in Amercia

Constance Carter, head of the Science Reference Section, describes the history of the school garden in America and offers reasons why school gardens are making a comeback.

Cynthia Leitich Smith: National Book Festival 2007

Cynthia Leitich Smith in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Kevin Young: National Book Festival 2007

Kevin Young in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Gene Luen Yang: National Book Festival 2007

Gene Luen Yang in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Jacqueline Wilson: National Book Festival 2007

Jacqueline Wilson in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Douglas L. Wilson: National Book Festival 2007

Douglas L. Wilson in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

David Wiesner: National Book Festival 2007

David Wiesner in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Rosemary Wells: National Book Festival 2007

Rosemary Wells in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Geoffrey Ward: National Book Festival 2007

Geoffrey Ward in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Susan Vreeland: National Book Festival 2007

Susan Vreeland in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Diane Thiel: National Book Festival 2007

Diane Thiel in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Megan McDonald: National Book Festival 2007

Megan McDonald in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Thomas Mallon: National Book Festival 2007

Thomas Mallon in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Arnold Rampersad: National Book Festival 2007

Arnold Rampersad in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Sena Jeter Naslund: National Book Festival 2007

Sena Jeter Naslund in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Nancy Pearl: National Book Festival 2007

Nancy Pearl in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Terry Pratchett: National Book Festival 2007

Terry Pratchett in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Kevin Prufer: National Book Festival 2007

Kevin Prufer in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Jack Prelutsky: National Book Festival 2007

Jack Prelutsky in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Jodi Picoult: National Book Festival 2007

Jodi Picoult in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Michael B. Oren: National Book Festival 2007

Michael B. Oren in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Joyce Carol Oates: National Book Festival 2007

Joyce Carol Oates in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Joan Nathan: National Book Festival 2007

Joan Nathan in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Draft Report: Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control

A Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control has examined the future of bibliographic description in the 21st century in light of advances in search engine technology, the popularity of the Internet and the influx of electronic information resources.

Judith Martin: National Book Festival 2007

Judith Martin ("Miss Manners") in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Patricia MacLachlan: National Book Festival 2007

Patricia MacLachlan in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Martha Raddatz: National Book Festival 2007

Martha Raddatz in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Patricia McCormick: National Book Festival 2007

Patricia McCormick in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Lalita Tademy: National Book Festival 2007

Lalita Tademy in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Harry Turtledove: National Book Festival 2007

Harry Turtledove in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Steven Raichlen: National Book Festival 2007

Steven Raichlen in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Mercer Mayer: National Book Festival 2007

Illustrator Mercer Mayer in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Gail Carson Levine: National Book Festival 2007

Gail Carson Levine in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Daniel Silva: National Book Festival 2007

Daniel Silva in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Jeff Shaara: National Book Festival 2007

Jeff Shaara in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Meryle Secrest: National Book Festival 2007

Meryle Secrest in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Lisa Scottoline: National Book Festival 2007

Lisa Scottoline in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Patricia Schultz: National Book Festival 2007

Patricia Schultz in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Judy Schachner: National Book Festival 2007

Judy Schachner in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Victoria Rowell: National Book Festival 2007

Victoria Rowell in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

LIVE WEBCAST: Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control

The Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control presents its draft report of recommendations to Library of Congress managers and staff at 1:30 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Nov. 13. Tune in to the live webcast.

Charles Simic: National Book Festival 2007

Poet Laureate Charles Simic in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

James Swanson: National Book Festival 2007

James Swanson in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Jon Stallworthy: National Book Festival 2007

Jon Stallworthy in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Anne Stevenson: National Book Festival 2007

Anne Stevenson in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Library Accessibility

The Library hosted a panel discussion, "Library Accessibility: Facilities, Programs and Services," as part of its celebration of Disability Employment Awareness Month.

2007 Disability Awareness Keynote Address

Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) delivers the keynote address for the Library's celebration of Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Gala: National Book Festival 2007

Prior to the annual Library of Congress National Book Festival, the Library hosts a gala event featuring and honoring authors and storytellers who have come to Washington for the Festival.

Breakfast: National Book Festival 2007

The 2007 National Book Festival Authors' Breakfast and Opening Ceremony hosted by First Lady Laura Bush, took place at the White House early on Saturday morning, Sept. 29.

United States-Armenian Relations, 1991-2007

Ambassadors Harry J. Gilmore (1993-1995), Peter Tomsen (1995-1998), Michael C. Lemmon (1998-2001), John M. Ordway (2001-2004) and John M. Evans (2004-2007) converse as part of the Near East Section's 13th Annual Vardanants Day Armenian Lecture.

Doro Bush Koch: National Book Festival 2007

Doro Bush Koch in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Edward P. Jones: National Book Festival 2007

Edward P. Jones in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

J.A. Jance: National Book Festival 2007

J.A. Jance in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

David Ignatius: National Book Festival 2007

David Ignatius in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Stephen Hunter: National Book Festival 2007

Stephen Hunter in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Jennifer L. Holm: National Book Festival 2007

Jennifer L. Holm in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Francisco Hernández: National Book Festival 2007

Francisco Hernández in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Carolyn Hart: National Book Festival 2007

Mystery writer Carolyn Hart in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Brian Haig: National Book Festival 2007

Brian Haig in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta: National Book Festival 2007

Sanjay Gupta in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Jan Crawford Greenburg: National Book Festival 2007

Journalist Jan Crawford Greenburg in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Jan Spivey Gilchrist: National Book Festival 2007

Author and illustrator Jan Spivey Gilchrist in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Carmen Agra Deedy: National Book Festival 2007

Children's book author and storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Cat Cora: National Book Festival 2007

Iron Chef Cat Cora in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Deborah Crombie: National Book Festival 2007

Mystery author Deborah Crombie in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Stephen L. Carter: National Book Festival 2007

Stephen L. Carter in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Diane Ackerman: National Book Festival 2007

Diane Ackerman appears at the 2007 National Book Festival.

Ann Amernick: National Book Festival 2007

Chef Ann Amernick in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival.

M.T. Anderson: National Book Festival 2007

Children's author M.T. Anderson in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival.

Maria Celeste Arrarás: National Book Festival 2007

Author and journalist Maria Celeste Arrarás in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

David Baldacci: National Book Festival 2007

Thriller author David Baldacci in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Michael Beschloss: National Book Festival 2007

Historian Michael Beschloss in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Holly Black: National Book Festival 2007

Fantasy author Holly Black in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Ashley Bryan: National Book Festival 2007

Ashley Bryan in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Ken Burns: National Book Festival 2007

Director Ken Burns in a presentation at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Dead Center: The Collapse of Bipartisanship

Americans are living in an era marked by political partisanship and polarization. What happened to the bipartisanship of previous decades, and how does this political climate affect U.S. engagement in global affairs? Charles Kupchan discusses these implications in a presentation at the Library's Kluge Center.

Laborlore: Keynote Address

The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress hosted a symposium on the history of documenting laborlore/occupational folklife. In the keynote address, Nick Spitzer presents a talk titled "In Katrina's Wake: The Building Trades in New Orleans." This presentation focuses on the historical and contemporary relationships of skilled building trades workers in New Orleans to the musical and visual culture of their place.

Laborlore: Collecting and Contextualizing Laborlore

The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress hosted a symposium on the history of documenting laborlore/occupational folklife. Through a case study approach, these panelists focus on a range of issues confronting documentary fieldworkers and their community collaborators in the arena of documenting and representing occupational lore and traditions.

Laborlore: Social Justice, the Environment and the Ethics of Collaboration

The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress hosted a symposium on the history of documenting laborlore/occupational folklife. This panel examines the work that the participants have done in mining communities in the US South and West by beginning with a consideration of pioneer scholar George Korson, one of the most prolific collectors and publishers of mining folksong, folklore and cultural history.