From the Vaults: American History
Parents in the colonial period were eager to teach their children to read. The New England Primer taught children their ABCs, entertained them with illustrations, and taught them about the world around them. Explore the content and methods of this very popular early American teaching tool.
Contributor:
Coleburn, Jackie
Date:2025-08-05
Film, Video
Finding EnvironmenT for Collected Holdings (FETCH) Product Demo
The Finding EnvironmenT for Collected Holdings (FETCH) is result of a 2 year effort by the Library of Congress to develop an open source inventory management system for Library offsite storage facilities. Released in April 2025, the Library is currently using FETCH to track more than 10 million items at its offsite storage facilities. This product demo provides a brief overview of the primary…
Contributor:
Martin, Matthew
Date:2025-08-01
Film, Video
Ask the Ethicist: An Evening with Kwame Anthony Appiah
Enjoy a lively and thought-provoking evening with Kwame Anthony Appiah, the 2024 recipient of the John W. Kluge Prize for Achievement in the Study of Humanity and New York Times columnist behind “The Ethicist.” In this special live event, Appiah explored real-world moral dilemmas, the audience cast votes on what would be the best course of actionThoughtful, engaging and full of surprising moments, this…
Contributor:
Encina, Roswell - Appiah, Kwame Anthony
Date:2025-07-24
Film, Video
Early Baseball in Print
Baseball was a popular game from the very beginning of the United States, but it was played by local rules that varied across the country. However, the mid-19th century explosion of print culture allowed for standardized rules to turn a neighborhood game into a shared national pastime.
Contributor:
Hastings, Patrick
Date:2025-07-21
Film, Video
Introduction to U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze.
An interview with Arthur Sze, 25th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry at the Library of Congress. Interview conducted by Roswell Encina, former chief of the Office of Communications, Outreach and External Relations, on July 18, 2025 in the Thomas Jefferson Building.
Contributor:
Sze, Arthur
Date:2025-07-17
Film, Video
Black Literary Heroes with A’Lelia Bundles and Glory Edim
An evening celebrating Black women writers and literary heroes with A’Lelia Bundles (“Joy Goddess”), whose great-grandmother A’Lelia Walker was crucial to the Harlem Renaissance, and Glory Edim, whose new book is “Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me.” Marita Golden, novelist and co-founder of the Hurston/Wright Foundation, moderated.
The Ethiopic Book of Enoch
Ephraim Isaac discusses the Ethiopic Book of Enoch, an exceptional text only entirely preserved in its entirety within the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible in Ge’ez. Emerging between the 4th century BCE and 1st century CE, the Book of Enoch features the apocalyptic worldview of the Patriarch Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah. Renowned scholar and translator of this text, Professor Isaac will contextualize the Book of…
Contributor:
Isaac, Ephraim
Date:2025-07-17
Film, Video
A Look Behind the Book
A behind the scenes glimpse of Integrated Support Services and the work done to ensure the Library continues to meets its forward facing mission. Viewers have an opportunity to see the logistical operations of moving & storing items in the collection, maintaining the facility from interior design to water leaks to collections environmental needs and all the while ensuring employees health and safety are…
Contributor:
Kelts, David - Gorrell, Shannon - Ojegun, Milverton - Packer, Terrence - Iosefson, Ross - Nadzady, Joe - Price, Anthony - Slye, Derrick - Gunter, Tanesha - Studtmann, Naomi - Gibson, David
Date:2025-07-17
Film, Video
The Declaration in Print and Script with John Bidwell
Author and historian John Bidwell explained his use of Library collections in the process of researching and writing his new book, “The Declaration in Print and Script: A Visual History of America’s Founding Document,” which traces the history of 19th century artistic reproductions of the Declaration of Independence. This conversation-style event examined broadsides, prints and illustrations that represent the earliest celebrations of the historic…
Contributor:
Bidwell, John - Stillo, Stephanie - Hastings, Patrick
The Stephen Sondheim Collection
Famed lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim bequeathed thousands of rare and personal items to the Library of Congress — a staggering historic acquisition which covers decades of Sondheim’s work. The collection includes music and lyric sketches and final “fair copies” for virtually all of Sondheim’s songs. In addition, there are rare recordings, personal correspondences, drafts of plays, screenplays and teleplays Sondheim wrote (or co-wrote),…
Contributor:
Horowitz, Mark
Date:2025-06-25
Film, Video
El Motor: Coffee and the Heart of Puerto Rico
“El Motor: Coffee and the Heart of Puerto Rico” immerses viewers in the world of Puerto Rican coffee, revealing how this cherished crop serves as both economic lifeline and cultural heartbeat. Through intimate portraits of generational farmers, dedicated harvesters, and innovative processors, “El Motor” uncovers the profound relationship between the land, its people, and the coffee that has shaped Puerto Rico’s identity for centuries.…
Contributor:
Masini, Angela - Muñoz, Rafael - Morales, Bernardo - Atienza, Roberto - Rodriguez, Remy - Muñoz, Pablo - Roig, Luis - Pardue, Douglas - Giuliani, Joseph - Caraballo, Gessellie - Roig, Tato - Suárez, Mariana - Beauchamp, Gabriel - Arroyo, Gustavo - Pintado, Ignacio
Date:2025-06-25
Film, Video
Family Day: Juneteenth Author Program with Jewell Parker Rhodes
As part of Family Day, bestselling and award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes discussed her new middle grade novel, “Will’s Race for Home,” a thrilling adventure story about a boy and his father who set out to win land during the Oklahoma Land Rush – if they can survive the journey. Set in 1889, twenty-five years after the Emancipation Proclamation, this story will resonate with…
The Enduring Importance of Jazz Archiving
Willard Jenkins presents his research as the 2024-25 Library of Congress Jazz Scholar, focusing on the legacy of pianist, composer, broadcaster, educator, and tireless advocate Dr. Billy Taylor.
Contributor:
Jenkins, Willard
Date:2025-06-18
Film, Video
Bayou, Buddha, and Padaek: Southern Louisiana’s Lao Foodways
“Bayou, Buddha, and Padaek: Southern Louisiana’s Lao Foodways” is a two-part documentary that delves into the rich culinary traditions of the Lao Buddhist immigrant community in Louisiana. Through vibrant storytelling and intimate interviews with first, second and third generations, the film uncovers how these unique foodways are woven into the fabric of an existing Cajun and Creole culture, highlighting the fusion of flavors and…
America’s First Cookbook
This video explores a formative moment in the early development of American culture: the publication of the first printed cookbook written by an American specifically for an American audience.
Contributor:
Zimmerman, Amanda
Date:2025-06-16
Film, Video
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” was not always considered so great at all. Unflattering reviews and disappointing sales had confined the novel to obscurity for decades before it re-entered the public consciousness during World War II.
Contributor:
Hastings, Patrick
Date:2025-06-16
Film, Video
The Bay Psalm Book
The first book produced in what becomes the United States was the “Bay Psalm Book,” printed in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1640.
Contributor:
Butterfield, Kevin
Date:2025-06-16
Film, Video
Poetry from Afghanistan: A Conversation with Lina Rozbih
Join us for a poetry reading and conversation with Lina Rozbih, an Afghan-born novelist, poet, and journalist. As an acclaimed and award-winning writer, Rozbih’s work addresses contemporary life and issues of human suffering. Her poignant writings capture the tragic experiences of the Afghan people, with a particular focus on the struggles faced by women and girls. The program will focus on a selection of…
Contributor:
Weeks, Joan - Rozbih, Lina - Dinavari, Hirad
Date:2025-06-12
Film, Video
The First American Math Textbook
In 1729, the first American mathematics textbook, “Arithmetic Vulgar and Decimal,” was published anonymously in Boston. The story of its author, Isaac Greenwood, and his little book, with its shortcuts and blank space for calculations, is one of home-grown American industry, innovation, and tragedy.
Contributor:
Pantozzi, Ralph
Date:2025-06-09
Film, Video
Phillis Wheatley
One of America’s first great poets to achieve international acclaim, Phillis Wheatley wrote about key events and figures of the American Revolution, such as the Boston Massacre and General George Washington. She was also an enslaved woman who had to prove her abilities time and time again.
Contributor:
Hastings, Patrick
Date:2025-06-09
Film, Video
Marvin Gaye: Melancholy and Genius in Black Culture and Media
In celebration of Black Music Month, the Music Division in partnership with Live! at the Library welcomed Dr. I. Augustus Durham for a lecture followed by conversation with Music Reference Specialist Morgan Davis. Durham’s lecture entitled “Marvin Gaye: Melancholy and Genius in Black Culture and Media” charted a path through history to discuss the influence of George Gershwin on Marvin Gaye’s film score to…
Contributor:
Durham, I. Augustus - Davis, Morgan
Date:2025-06-05
Film, Video
Thomas Mallon on the Early Days of the HIV/AIDS Crisis
Novelist Thomas Mallon talked about his recently-published book,”The Very Heart of It: New York Diaries, 1983-1994″ with Clay Smith. In 2022, The New Yorker published a selection of Mallon’s diaries from the early days of the HIV/AIDS crisis. The response was immense. The Library holds Mallon’s personal archives, including his diaries, book and article drafts, research files, and correspondence.
Contributor:
Encina, Roswell - Mallon, Thomas - Smith, Clay
Date:2025-06-05
Film, Video
Jonathan Capehart in Conversation with Michele Norris
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jonathan Capehart came to the Library to talk about his memoir, “Yet Here I Am: Lessons from a Black Man’s Search for Home.” Capehart was in conversation with journalist Michele Norris.
Contributor:
Capehart, Jonathan - Encina, Roswell - Norris, Michele
Date:2025-06-05
Film, Video
Conversation with Judy Collins
Famed singer, songwriter and author Judy Collins speaks with the Library’s Susan Vita about her life and work in advance of a performance at the Library of Congress. Topics include her songwriting process, her early performances of Mozart, her introduction to Sondheim’s music, her new book of poetry, “Sometimes It’s Heaven,” and more.
Film, VideoFrom the Vaults: American History Parents in the colonial period were eager to teach their children to read. The New England Primer taught children their ABCs, entertained them with illustrations, and taught them about the world around them. Explore the content and methods of this very popular early American teaching tool.
Film, VideoFinding EnvironmenT for Collected Holdings (FETCH) Product Demo The Finding EnvironmenT for Collected Holdings (FETCH) is result of a 2 year effort by the Library of Congress to develop an open source inventory management system for Library offsite storage facilities. Released in April 2025, the Library is currently using FETCH to track more than 10 million items at its offsite storage facilities. This product demo provides a brief overview of the primary…
Film, VideoAsk the Ethicist: An Evening with Kwame Anthony Appiah Enjoy a lively and thought-provoking evening with Kwame Anthony Appiah, the 2024 recipient of the John W. Kluge Prize for Achievement in the Study of Humanity and New York Times columnist behind “The Ethicist.” In this special live event, Appiah explored real-world moral dilemmas, the audience cast votes on what would be the best course of actionThoughtful, engaging and full of surprising moments, this…
Film, VideoEarly Baseball in Print Baseball was a popular game from the very beginning of the United States, but it was played by local rules that varied across the country. However, the mid-19th century explosion of print culture allowed for standardized rules to turn a neighborhood game into a shared national pastime.
Film, VideoIntroduction to U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze. An interview with Arthur Sze, 25th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry at the Library of Congress. Interview conducted by Roswell Encina, former chief of the Office of Communications, Outreach and External Relations, on July 18, 2025 in the Thomas Jefferson Building.
Film, VideoBlack Literary Heroes with A’Lelia Bundles and Glory Edim An evening celebrating Black women writers and literary heroes with A’Lelia Bundles (“Joy Goddess”), whose great-grandmother A’Lelia Walker was crucial to the Harlem Renaissance, and Glory Edim, whose new book is “Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me.” Marita Golden, novelist and co-founder of the Hurston/Wright Foundation, moderated.
Film, VideoThe Ethiopic Book of Enoch Ephraim Isaac discusses the Ethiopic Book of Enoch, an exceptional text only entirely preserved in its entirety within the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible in Ge’ez. Emerging between the 4th century BCE and 1st century CE, the Book of Enoch features the apocalyptic worldview of the Patriarch Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah. Renowned scholar and translator of this text, Professor Isaac will contextualize the Book of…
Film, VideoA Look Behind the Book A behind the scenes glimpse of Integrated Support Services and the work done to ensure the Library continues to meets its forward facing mission. Viewers have an opportunity to see the logistical operations of moving & storing items in the collection, maintaining the facility from interior design to water leaks to collections environmental needs and all the while ensuring employees health and safety are…
Film, VideoThe Declaration in Print and Script with John Bidwell Author and historian John Bidwell explained his use of Library collections in the process of researching and writing his new book, “The Declaration in Print and Script: A Visual History of America’s Founding Document,” which traces the history of 19th century artistic reproductions of the Declaration of Independence. This conversation-style event examined broadsides, prints and illustrations that represent the earliest celebrations of the historic…
Film, Video2025 Junior Fellows Summer Intern Program The 2025 Junior Fellows Class reflects on their experiences at the Library as both in person and virtual interns.
Film, VideoThe Stephen Sondheim Collection Famed lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim bequeathed thousands of rare and personal items to the Library of Congress — a staggering historic acquisition which covers decades of Sondheim’s work. The collection includes music and lyric sketches and final “fair copies” for virtually all of Sondheim’s songs. In addition, there are rare recordings, personal correspondences, drafts of plays, screenplays and teleplays Sondheim wrote (or co-wrote),…
Film, VideoEl Motor: Coffee and the Heart of Puerto Rico “El Motor: Coffee and the Heart of Puerto Rico” immerses viewers in the world of Puerto Rican coffee, revealing how this cherished crop serves as both economic lifeline and cultural heartbeat. Through intimate portraits of generational farmers, dedicated harvesters, and innovative processors, “El Motor” uncovers the profound relationship between the land, its people, and the coffee that has shaped Puerto Rico’s identity for centuries.…
Film, VideoFamily Day: Juneteenth Author Program with Jewell Parker Rhodes As part of Family Day, bestselling and award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes discussed her new middle grade novel, “Will’s Race for Home,” a thrilling adventure story about a boy and his father who set out to win land during the Oklahoma Land Rush – if they can survive the journey. Set in 1889, twenty-five years after the Emancipation Proclamation, this story will resonate with…
Film, VideoThe Enduring Importance of Jazz Archiving Willard Jenkins presents his research as the 2024-25 Library of Congress Jazz Scholar, focusing on the legacy of pianist, composer, broadcaster, educator, and tireless advocate Dr. Billy Taylor.
Film, VideoBayou, Buddha, and Padaek: Southern Louisiana’s Lao Foodways “Bayou, Buddha, and Padaek: Southern Louisiana’s Lao Foodways” is a two-part documentary that delves into the rich culinary traditions of the Lao Buddhist immigrant community in Louisiana. Through vibrant storytelling and intimate interviews with first, second and third generations, the film uncovers how these unique foodways are woven into the fabric of an existing Cajun and Creole culture, highlighting the fusion of flavors and…
Film, VideoAmerica’s First Cookbook This video explores a formative moment in the early development of American culture: the publication of the first printed cookbook written by an American specifically for an American audience.
Film, VideoThe Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” was not always considered so great at all. Unflattering reviews and disappointing sales had confined the novel to obscurity for decades before it re-entered the public consciousness during World War II.
Film, VideoThe Bay Psalm Book The first book produced in what becomes the United States was the “Bay Psalm Book,” printed in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1640.
Film, VideoPoetry from Afghanistan: A Conversation with Lina Rozbih Join us for a poetry reading and conversation with Lina Rozbih, an Afghan-born novelist, poet, and journalist. As an acclaimed and award-winning writer, Rozbih’s work addresses contemporary life and issues of human suffering. Her poignant writings capture the tragic experiences of the Afghan people, with a particular focus on the struggles faced by women and girls. The program will focus on a selection of…
Film, VideoThe First American Math Textbook In 1729, the first American mathematics textbook, “Arithmetic Vulgar and Decimal,” was published anonymously in Boston. The story of its author, Isaac Greenwood, and his little book, with its shortcuts and blank space for calculations, is one of home-grown American industry, innovation, and tragedy.
Film, VideoPhillis Wheatley One of America’s first great poets to achieve international acclaim, Phillis Wheatley wrote about key events and figures of the American Revolution, such as the Boston Massacre and General George Washington. She was also an enslaved woman who had to prove her abilities time and time again.
Film, VideoMarvin Gaye: Melancholy and Genius in Black Culture and Media In celebration of Black Music Month, the Music Division in partnership with Live! at the Library welcomed Dr. I. Augustus Durham for a lecture followed by conversation with Music Reference Specialist Morgan Davis. Durham’s lecture entitled “Marvin Gaye: Melancholy and Genius in Black Culture and Media” charted a path through history to discuss the influence of George Gershwin on Marvin Gaye’s film score to…
Film, VideoThomas Mallon on the Early Days of the HIV/AIDS Crisis Novelist Thomas Mallon talked about his recently-published book,”The Very Heart of It: New York Diaries, 1983-1994″ with Clay Smith. In 2022, The New Yorker published a selection of Mallon’s diaries from the early days of the HIV/AIDS crisis. The response was immense. The Library holds Mallon’s personal archives, including his diaries, book and article drafts, research files, and correspondence.
Film, VideoJonathan Capehart in Conversation with Michele Norris Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jonathan Capehart came to the Library to talk about his memoir, “Yet Here I Am: Lessons from a Black Man’s Search for Home.” Capehart was in conversation with journalist Michele Norris.
Film, VideoConversation with Judy Collins Famed singer, songwriter and author Judy Collins speaks with the Library’s Susan Vita about her life and work in advance of a performance at the Library of Congress. Topics include her songwriting process, her early performances of Mozart, her introduction to Sondheim’s music, her new book of poetry, “Sometimes It’s Heaven,” and more.