William McKinley: First Inauguration, March 4, 1897
Library of Congress historian Marvin Kranz describes the Pension Building in Washington, DC, used as the site for McKinley's First Inaugural Ball.
Library of Congress historian Marvin Kranz describes the Pension Building in Washington, DC, used as the site for McKinley's First Inaugural Ball.
Smithsonian National Museum of American History curators share secrets of how they develop the individual stories presented in exhibitions such as "America on the Move." They then help students who are creating their own family stories by analyzing objects, documents, and other resources. This presentation continues from the presentation "America on the Move, Part One: Migrations, Immigrations, and How We Got Here."
To view this electronic field trip, select "America on the Move, Part Two: Creating Stories" under the heading "Electronic Field Trips."
Historian Mark P. Leone looks at the hoodoo artifacts found at the Annapolis home of Charles Carroll, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and to the coming-together of the lives of the Founding Fathers and their African and African American slaves that the artifacts represent. Leone discusses the significance of the artifacts, as the first discovery of a hoodoo cache in the area, and the later discovery of caches elsewhere dating up to the 1920s.
To view this video, select "Scholars," followed by "Mark P. Leone." Choose one of the two Windows Media options.
Cultural resources manager of the Anacostia Museum Portia James displays and discusses a tool box painted in 1891, depicting a plantation owner and his family riding down into Hell and their slaves ascending to Heaven.
To view this video, select "Scholars," followed by "Portia James." From there, select one of the Windows Media viewing options.
Cultural resources manager of the Anacostia Museum Portia James displays and discusses a tourist's map from post-World War I or -World War II which specified hotels, restaurants, and other businesses where African Americans could receive service free of discrimination and segregation.
To view this clip, select "Scholars," followed by "Portia James." Next, select one of the two Windows Media options.
For much of the 20th century, African Americans in the South were barred from the voting booth, sent to the back of the bus, and walled off from many of the rights they deserved as American citizens. Until well into the 1960s, segregation was legal. The system was called Jim Crow. In this radio documentary, Americans—black and white—remember life in the Jim Crow times. The documentary is divided into three downloadable sections.
To listen to this documentary, select "Part One," "Part Two," or "Part Three" under "Listen."
Aircraft restorer Karl Heinzel and curator Dorothy Cochrane look at Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega aircraft, discussing its construction and the technological developments it represents. They discuss why aircraft are selected and restored for museum collections as examples of specific moments in history and technological advancement.
Former Congresswoman Lindy Boggs and her daughter, noted journalist Cokie Roberts, join archivist Allen Weinstein for a conversation about their mother/daughter relationship in an influential political family. Mrs. Boggs served nine terms in the House of Representatives—the first woman elected to the House from that state. She was the first woman to chair a national political convention and the first woman to serve as Ambassador to the Vatican. Mrs. Boggs is the author of Washington Through a Purple Veil.
Cokie Roberts is a political commentator for ABC News covering Congress, politics, and public policy. She has won countless journalistic awards and has been inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame. Her books include We Are Our Mothers' Daughters and Founding Mothers.
To listen to this interview, scroll to "Lindy Boggs and Cokie Roberts," and select "Watch the Video."
Professor Shirley Moore details the stories of several African-American women in the West in the 1800s and early 1900s, including abolitionist Mary Ellen Pleasant (?-1904) and nurse and businesswoman Bridget "Biddy" Mason (1818-1891). Moore looks at the history of African Americans in the West more generally, as well.
Professor Lauren Coodley reviews the life of writer and activist Upton Sinclair. She focuses on the details of his life not commonly included in his popular image as a "muckraker."