The U.S.S. Franklin training ship (which looks like a two story apartment building)

By Jack Brummet, History Ed.


From 1916, a photograph of the U.S.S. Franklin, used as a training ship. From a 5'x7" glass negative held by the Library of Congress.

This image comes from the Harris & Ewing Collection of photographic negatives of people, events, and architecture, during the period 1905-1945. Harris & Ewing, Inc., gave its collection of negatives to the Library in 1955.

click to enlarge

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The contents of Abraham Lincoln's pockets the night he was assassinated

By Jack Brummet, Presidents Editor

Courtesy of the Library of Congress digital archives. . .a photo of the items that were in Abraham Lincoln's pockets the night he was assassinated.  Interestingly, the contents include a pocket knife and a confederate five dollar bill.

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The National Jukebox

By Jack Brummet, American Music Editor

A fantastic resource for the school, teacher, researcher, writer, student, and blogger is The Library of Congress digital archives.  The LoC has now mounted The National Jukebox, which makes historical sound recordings available to the public free of charge. The Jukebox includes recordings from the amazing collections of the Library of Congress, Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation, and other contributing libraries and archives, including an amazing treasure trove of ten thousand old 78 RPM recordings from the R.C.A. Victor catalog, all digitized and available for streaming (but not downloading).  Check it out.

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Alan Lomax portraits of Stavin' Chain and Wayne Perry performing, Lafayette, La.

Courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints and

Photographs Division, Alan Lomax Collection

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Breakin' rocks in the hot sun: two photographs from Alan Lomax

click to enlarge - photos courtesy of

the Library of Congress, Alan Lomax Collection

click to enlarge - photos courtesy of

the Library of Congress, Alan Lomax Collection

Prisoners breaking rocks at a prison camp. The exact date of these photographs is unknown, but  they were taken between 1934 and 1950.  From Alan Lomax, the national treasure and incredible ethnomusicologist and folklorist. 

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Photograph: Leadbelly in Prison, Angola, Louisiana

By Jack Brummet, Music Editor

click to enlarge

photograph courtesy of the Library of Congress

Prints and Photographs Division

This photograph, by the great ethno-musicologist Alan Lomax, shows Leadbelly a/k/a Hudie Ledbetter in prison in Angola, Louisiana.  That is Leadbelly in the foreground.  The picture was shot in 1934.  On the back of the photo, in Lomax's hand, is written:   "Prison compound No 1. Angola, La. Leadbelly in foreground."  This photograph is included in the Lomax collection of photographs, mostly depicting folk (country, blues, bluegrass).  The photos of musicians were taken as he traveled the south and recorded local musicians.  This music changed modern American music, and inspired several generations of roots, folk, country, and rock musicians.

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