From the Lincoln Online Conference website:

"Like photography today, photography during the Civil War had many functions, from private to public. The session, led by Shannon Thomas Perich, will examine a variety of Civil War-related photography from the Photographic History Collection with the goal of gaining a greater understanding of how photography was incorporated into everyday lives, and how we value those photographs today as historical objects. Objects will include the 1860 Rutgers college yearbook that belonged to Texan George McNeel; Alexander Gardner's Sketchbook of the War; glass-plate negatives by Brady's studio of Lincoln's Cabinet; the portrait of a Union washerwoman; and Lincoln portraits incorporated into cartes-de-visite albums."

Free registration is required to access the webcast.

From the Lincoln Online Conference website:

"Abraham Lincoln nursed a life-long fascination with technology. William Herndon, his friend and law partner, called attention to his 'decided bent toward machinery or mechanical appliances.' Lincoln is the only President to have been awarded a patent; handled several patent cases during his years as an attorney; and offered public lectures on invention and innovation. During the American Civil War President Lincoln seldom missed an opportunity to investigate new weapons, or to sponsor what seemed to him to be a useful innovation. In the summer of 1861, at the urging of Smithsonian Secretary Joseph Henry, Lincoln made the acquaintance of balloonist T.S.C. Lowe, and witnessed demonstrations of the role that observation balloons might play in providing improved reconnaissance for the Union Army. The President not only encouraged Lowe's plan to form a Balloon Corps to serve with the Army of the Potomac, but intervened on his behalf when military officials proved less than enthusiastic about the experiment. With the help of the President, Lowe was able to create and equip the Balloon Corps, which saw extensive service from 1861 to 1863. Students and teachers at a variety of levels will find something of interest and value in this session, which will explore the problems encountered in introducing a conservative military establishment to a new technology. In the process, we will shed new light on an unfamiliar side of Abraham Lincoln. The session will be led by Tom Crouch, Senior Curator, Aeronautics Division, National Air and Space Museum."

Free registration is required to access the webcast.

Donald L. Miller and Louis P. Masur follow the growth of American capitalism and industry from 1776 to 1861. They look at Samuel Slater's introduction of factories to the U.S.; the textile factory community of Lowell; transportation development and the creation of the Erie Canal; and the growth of Chicago, including quality of life and pollution issues it faced and its integration into the country's rail system.

Donald L. Miller, with Virginia Scharff, Douglas Brinkley, Stephen Ambrose, and Pauline Maier, follows American history from 1803 to 1861. Focusing on Westward Expansion, the presentation begins with the Louisiana Purchase and continues on to examine transportation available in this time and the development of a slave-based economy in the South.

In 47 short video clips, ranging in length from 43 seconds to over three minutes, 11 different scholars examine changes for the U.S. in the recent past and issues facing the country today, including the end of the Cold War, environmental concerns, international relations, terrorism and WMDs, and trade. Intended to accompany the Choices Program's curriculum The U.S. Role in a Changing World, these clips may still be used independently.

Registration is required, but free.

In 19 short video clips, ranging in length from 58 seconds to three and a half minutes, scholars Jim Blight, janet Lang, and Sergei Khrushchev examine the events that led up to the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Crisis itself, and the personalities involved. Intended to accompany the Choices Program's curriculum The Cuban Missile Crisis: Considering Its Place in Cold War History, these clips may still be used independently.

Registration is required, but free.

In 28 short video clips, ranging in length from 40 seconds to over three minutes, a range of experts, including both politicians and scholars, discuss the history of nuclear weapons, the present political and military global situation and views of nuclear weapons, and the future of nuclear weapons. Intended to accompany the Choices Program's curriculum The Challenge of Nuclear Weapons, these clips may still be used independently.

Registration is required, but free.

Carol Burger, associate professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies at Virginia Tech and coordinator of the university's Science and Gender Equity Program, heads up a panel at the Library of Congress on "Women in Science and Engineering," in celebration of Women's History Month. She discusses the historical place of women in science and possible role models for women studying science today.

Eighth-grade teacher Eric Langhorst discusses how he uses Twitter as an individual and as an educator.

In this Face-to-face Talk, Ann Shumard of the National Portrait Gallery details the life of Samuel Morse (1791-1872), including his early interest in portraiture and art, his career as an inventor and his work on the telegraph, and his support of Louis Daguerre's daguerreotype.