May 6, 1937: Hindenburg disaster

Today is the 75th anniversary of the Hindenburg disaster.  The German zeppelin Hindenburg catches fire and is destroyed while attempting to dock in Lakehurst, NJ. Thirty-six people are killed.  Here are more resources on the Hindenburg...

Herb Morrison - Hindenburg Disaster, 1937, National Archives

Hindenburg, FBI Vault

The Zeppelin, U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission

Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Urban and Transportation Studies, Engineering

February 20, 1792: The Postal Service Act is signed by President George Washington

Today is the 220th anniversary of President George Washington signing the Postal Service Act, defining the character of the young Post Office Department. For more information about this very important government entity (that we often take for granted), check out these resources...


U.S. Postal Service


U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission


National Postal Museum, Smithsonian Institution


Records of the Post Office Department, National Archives


1792 Postal Act, National Postal Museum


Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Urban and Transportation Studies, Engineering

October 15, 1966: Black Panther Party is created

Today is the 45th anniversary of the founding of the Black Panther Party (originally called the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense) by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale.

Here is more information on the Black Panther Party...

Black Panther Party, FBI

Black Panther, ca. 1966 - ca. 1969, National Archives (video)


Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Urban Studies, Engineering

August 26, 1971: U.S. Congress declares August 26th as an annual Women's Equality Day

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the first annual Women's Equality Day. In 1971, August 26th was proclaimed Women's Equality Day in honor of the day that the 19th Amendment (giving women the right to vote) was certified in 1920.

For more information, check out these resources...

What is Women's Equality Day, National Women's History Project

19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Women's Right to Vote (1920), Our Documents

The Constitution: The 19th Amendment, National Archives

Woman Suffrage and the 19th Amendment, Teaching with Documents, National Archives

Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Urban Studies, Engineering

August 10, 1776: Word of the Declaration of Independence reaches London

Today is the 235th anniversary of word of the Declaration of Independence reaching London. The Declaration would be met with a published Answer.

For more information, check out these resources...

An Answer to the Declaration of the American Congress, Internet Archive

Can also be accessed freely through Google Books

Declaration of Independence, Charters of Freedom, National Archives

Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Urban Studies, Engineering

June 13, 1971: The Pentagon Papers

Today, the National Archives has posted all 7,000 pages of the infamous, once-secret Pentagon Papers. This marks the 40th anniversary of the New York Times' disclosure of the Pentagon Papers. Now, they can be seen in their entirety here: http://www.archives.gov/research/pentagon-papers/

Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Urban Studies, Engineering