Thursday, September 17, 2009

Constitution Week at the U.S. Capitol

The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center announces If Documents and Objects Could Talk, a series of 15 minute talks by the staff of the National Archives and the Library of Congress for Constitution Week, to be held in the Exhibition Hall at the Center. No reservations or passes required.

Thursday, September 17
Noon — Ken Kato (Political Scientist, Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives) talks about constitutional government and the decision to start the Civil War.

1 p.m. — Gerry Gawalt (Curator of the Creating the United States Exhibition at the Library of Congress) discusses the creation of the Bill of Rights.

Friday, September 18
Noon — Richard Hunt (Director, Center for Legislative Archives, National Archives) explores Congress, the Bill of Rights, and amending the Constitution.

1 p.m. — Mark Dimunation (Chief of the Rare Book and Special Collections Division, the Library of Congress) focuses on stories about the burning of the Capitol and Thomas Jefferson’s library.

Monday, September 21
Noon — Richard McCulley (Historian, Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives) talks about the Constitution and the Civil War

1 p.m. — Daun van Ee, (Historical Specialist, Manuscript Division, the Library of Congress) explores the period when the United States became involved in Europe and in the Pacific declaring war on two fronts.

Tuesday, September 22
Noon — Ken Kato and Martha Grove (Archivist, Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives) talk about the Constitution, Congressional records and the War of 1812.

1 p.m. — Barbara Bair (Historical Specialist, Manuscript Division, the Library of Congress) looks at the first national parks and the conservationists and photographers who created support for the National Park Service.

Wednesday, September 23
Noon — Christine Blackerby (Educational Specialist, Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives) talks about Reconstruction and the Constitution.

1 p.m. — Julie Miller (Historical Specialist, Manuscript Division, the Library of Congress) explores stories about the drafting of the Constitution

Hat tip: Ruth Ernst!

Image Credit; The Swamp.