On June 4, 1919 House Joint Resolution 1, proposing a Constitutional amendment extending the right to vote to women, passed the Senate. HJ Res 1 had passed in the House on May 21. Once the proposed amendment passed Congress, it was sent to states for ratification. On August 26, 1920 the amendment was ratified and became part of the U.S. Constitution.  House Joint Resolution 1, 5/19/1919, HR 66A-B6, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 1633885)
Pop-upView Separately

On June 4, 1919 House Joint Resolution 1, proposing a Constitutional amendment extending the right to vote to women, passed the Senate. HJ Res 1 had passed in the House on May 21. Once the proposed amendment passed Congress, it was sent to states for ratification. On August 26, 1920 the amendment was ratified and became part of the U.S. Constitution. 

House Joint Resolution 1, 5/19/1919, HR 66A-B6, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 1633885)

Did you know that Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day? Shortly after the Civil War, a group of Union veterans called for a day to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers on May 30. The date was perhaps selected because flowers were in bloom all across the U.S. by late May. In 1888, Congress declared Decoration Day a federal holiday in the District of Columbia so that veterans in federal employ could honor their fallen comrades and not lose a day’s pay. Decoration Day gradually became known as Memorial Day as the holiday expanded to commemorate veterans of all wars. In 1968, Congress passed a law that named and moved several federal holidays. Included in H.R. 15951 was the official declaration of Memorial Day as a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday of May. H.R. 15851, 05/10/1968, Records of the U.S. Senate
Pop-upView Separately

Did you know that Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day? Shortly after the Civil War, a group of Union veterans called for a day to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers on May 30. The date was perhaps selected because flowers were in bloom all across the U.S. by late May.

In 1888, Congress declared Decoration Day a federal holiday in the District of Columbia so that veterans in federal employ could honor their fallen comrades and not lose a day’s pay. Decoration Day gradually became known as Memorial Day as the holiday expanded to commemorate veterans of all wars.

In 1968, Congress passed a law that named and moved several federal holidays. Included in H.R. 15951 was the official declaration of Memorial Day as a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday of May.

H.R. 15851, 05/10/1968, Records of the U.S. Senate

Astronaut Scott Carpenter explains a phase of his Aurora 7 flight to Astronaut John Glenn on May 24, 1962. Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth and Carpenter was the second. Glenn and Carpenter are the last surviving members of Mercury Seven, the first group of American astronauts. This photograph was submitted to the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences.  Photograph of Astronaut Scott Carpenter explaining Phases of his Flight to Astronaut John Glenn, 5/24/1962, Records of the U.S. Senate
Pop-upView Separately

Astronaut Scott Carpenter explains a phase of his Aurora 7 flight to Astronaut John Glenn on May 24, 1962. Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth and Carpenter was the second. Glenn and Carpenter are the last surviving members of Mercury Seven, the first group of American astronauts. This photograph was submitted to the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences. 

Photograph of Astronaut Scott Carpenter explaining Phases of his Flight to Astronaut John Glenn, 5/24/1962, Records of the U.S. Senate

On May 20, 1797, President John Adams nominated his son, John Quincy Adams, to be Minister Plenipotentiary to the King of Prussia. JQA served in this position until 1801.  Nomination of John Quincy Adams to be Minister Plenipotentiary, 5/20/1797, McCormick Collection, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 306287)
Pop-upView Separately

On May 20, 1797, President John Adams nominated his son, John Quincy Adams, to be Minister Plenipotentiary to the King of Prussia. JQA served in this position until 1801.

 Nomination of John Quincy Adams to be Minister Plenipotentiary, 5/20/1797, McCormick Collection, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 306287)

Congress in the Archives will feature monthly staff posts on our blog. Today’s post comes from Center archivist Kristen Wilhelm. Forty years ago today self proclaimed “ol’ country lawyer” Senator Sam Ervin stepped onto center stage as chairman of the Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, better known as the Watergate Committee. Senator Ervin became a household name as an estimated 85% of U.S. households viewed at least some of the hearings broadcast that summer.  Attorney General John Mitchell, shown in the photo, was one of the high-level Nixon administration figures whose testimony was broadcast. For the committee, bringing the hearings directly to the people was vital. As stated in its Final Report: “The full import of the hearings could only be achieved observing the witnesses and hearing their testimony.” Photograph of Attorney General John Mitchell, 1973, Records of the U.S. Senate
Pop-upView Separately

Congress in the Archives will feature monthly staff posts on our blog. Today’s post comes from Center archivist Kristen Wilhelm.

Forty years ago today self proclaimed “ol’ country lawyer” Senator Sam Ervin stepped onto center stage as chairman of the Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, better known as the Watergate Committee. Senator Ervin became a household name as an estimated 85% of U.S. households viewed at least some of the hearings broadcast that summer. 

Attorney General John Mitchell, shown in the photo, was one of the high-level Nixon administration figures whose testimony was broadcast. For the committee, bringing the hearings directly to the people was vital. As stated in its Final Report: “The full import of the hearings could only be achieved observing the witnesses and hearing their testimony.”

Photograph of Attorney General John Mitchell, 1973, Records of the U.S. Senate

Did you vote for a U.S. Senator last November? If you did, it’s thanks to the 17th Amendment. The U.S. Constitution originally called for each state legislature to choose two senators. After decades of controversy, scandal, and even William Randolph Hearst’s muckraking, S. J. Res. 39 passed both houses on May 13, 1912 and started its 11-month journey toward ratification. On April 8, 1913, Connecticut’s approval of the 17th Amendment made the direct election of senators the law of the land. Credentials of Joseph Taylor Robinson of Arkansas, the last Senator elected by a state legislature, 2/7/1913, Records of the U.S. Senate
Pop-upView Separately

Did you vote for a U.S. Senator last November? If you did, it’s thanks to the 17th Amendment. The U.S. Constitution originally called for each state legislature to choose two senators. After decades of controversy, scandal, and even William Randolph Hearst’s muckraking, S. J. Res. 39 passed both houses on May 13, 1912 and started its 11-month journey toward ratification. On April 8, 1913, Connecticut’s approval of the 17th Amendment made the direct election of senators the law of the land.

Credentials of Joseph Taylor Robinson of Arkansas, the last Senator elected by a state legislature, 2/7/1913, Records of the U.S. Senate

Newspaper publisher and multi-millionaire William Randolph Hearst was viewed as a strong candidate for the Democratic nomination for President in 1908. This illustration entitled, “Hearst’s New Make-up”, by cartoonist Clifford Berryman, appeared in the Washington Evening Star on June 5, 1907 and shows Hearst attempting to convince the common man that he is their friend. Hearst was born on April 29, 1863.  Hearst’s New Make-up by Clifford Berryman, 6/5/1907, U.S. Senate Collection (ARC 6010707)
Pop-upView Separately

Newspaper publisher and multi-millionaire William Randolph Hearst was viewed as a strong candidate for the Democratic nomination for President in 1908. This illustration entitled, “Hearst’s New Make-up”, by cartoonist Clifford Berryman, appeared in the Washington Evening Star on June 5, 1907 and shows Hearst attempting to convince the common man that he is their friend. Hearst was born on April 29, 1863. 

Hearst’s New Make-up by Clifford Berryman, 6/5/1907, U.S. Senate Collection (ARC 6010707)

Congress in the Archives will feature monthly staff posts on our blog. Today’s post comes from Center archivist Kristen Wilhelm.

Love it or hate it, it’s tax day! This year marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 16th Amendment, which allows Congress to collect a tax on income. Preparing my income tax return always brings out my archivist spidey senses – all those numbers in neat columns, tracking every receipt, having documentation for every entry — delightful!

The only thing as sure as death and taxes is that Congress in the Archives wouldn’t miss remembering the 16th Amendment!

Senate Joint Resolution 40, proposing a constitutional amendment, SEN 61A-B9, 6/28/1909, Records of the U.S. Senate

On September 18, 1975, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hosted a luncheon in honor of Margaret Thatcher. Her note thanking the committee for their hospitality spoke volumes of her courtesy as well as her political aspirations: “I hope we shall meet again soon.” In 1979 Thatcher was the first woman to be elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She served until 1990. Thatcher passed away on April 8, 2013.  Margaret Thatcher letter, 9/23/1975, Records of the U.S. Senate
Pop-upView Separately

On September 18, 1975, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hosted a luncheon in honor of Margaret Thatcher. Her note thanking the committee for their hospitality spoke volumes of her courtesy as well as her political aspirations: “I hope we shall meet again soon.” In 1979 Thatcher was the first woman to be elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She served until 1990. Thatcher passed away on April 8, 2013. 

Margaret Thatcher letter, 9/23/1975, Records of the U.S. Senate

Source: congressarchives

While we’re still reeling from the National’s Opening Day victory, we wanted to share this awesome new (free!) eBook from the National Archives. 

“Baseball: The National Pastime in the National Archives” tells the story of baseball in America through documents, photographs, audio, video, and other records preserved at the National Archives. Chapter 9 “Saving the Integrity of the Game” features records from congressional hearings during the steroid era. 

The book can be downloaded for free on your iPhone, Android, iPad, and eReaders, so check it out!