The Homestead Act of 1862 turns 150
Prospective Homesteaders try to stake their claims:
- “First train [and wagons] leaving the line north of Orlando For Perry [OkIa. Terr.], Sept. 16, 1893.”
- Anadarko Townsite, Okla. Terr., August 8, 1901. Tent city in the cornfield
- “Holding Down A Lot In Guthrie.” By C. P. Rich, ca. 1889
- “Looking For A Town Lot.” Guthrie, Ind. Terr. [Oklahoma], ca. 1889
Drawing for Kiowa, Comanche, Apache and Wichita Indian Lands: Oklahoma, 1901. The tops of the freighter cars furnished seats for some 30,000 people who witnessed this drawing
The Homestead Act of 1862, which provided the basis for land giveaways such as these, turns 150 years old on May 20.
While we may think of them as First Ladies, their kids know them as “mom.” In celebration of Mother’s Day this weekend, we’ve combed the archives for family photos of First Ladies with their children. It’s our way of saying thank you to all the moms out there for…well, everything!
Up first, Eleanor Roosevelt and her daughter Anna. 1906.
Age, Weight, and Measurements of the Northern Sledge Party, 04/27/1909
This document lists and describes Robert E. Peary’s main sledge party from his North Pole expedition; it consisted of Peary; Matthew Henson, who assisted Peary throughout nearly 20 years of polar explorations; and four Inuit, Ooqueah, Ootah, Egingwah, and Seegloo. It is dated April 27, 1909, the day Peary returned to the ship that brought him home.
Happy Arbor Day!
President Theodore Roosevelt replanting a Bahia tree originally planted in 1874 in Riverside, California., ca. 1904
Another product of yesterday’s Take your Child to Work Day at the National Archives, our 8-year-old junior curator has this to say for his choice:
“I just thought it looked cool because of Teddy Roosevelt and all the people.”
What kind of tree would you like to plant today?
The April 18, 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, estimated at 7.9 magnitude, was one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history, claiming more than 3,000 lives. Congress responded to the disaster in several ways. The House and the Senate Appropriations Committees enacted emergency appropriations. Other congressional action included the House Claims Committee handling claims from owners seeking reimbursement for destroyed property. The Senate also passed a resolution asking the Secretary of War to furnish the Senate with a copy of a report on the earthquake and fire. The report on the relief efforts and accompanying captioned photographs, prepared by the U.S. Army, are now housed with the records of the Senate Committee on Printing and include the above photos.
Visit our featured document article for more information on this tragic event and the congressional response.
Photograph of Union Street Car Line After the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 2127302)
Photograph of the Effect of Earthquake on Houses Built on Loose or Made Ground After the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 2127357)
Photograph of Souvenir Hunters After the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 2127316)
Photograph of St. Francis Hotel Showing the Clean Sweep of Fire in the Business Section of All Except Class A Steel Frame Buildings After the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 2127289)
Photograph of a Military Camp on the Fourth Day After the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 2127305)
Photograph of a Typical Bread Line in the Early Stages of Relief Distribution After the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 306190)
Considered one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history, the San Francisco Earthquake struck on the morning of April 18, 1906.
Recruits with their mattresses tied to them to serve as life preservers. Photo taken at Newport Naval Training Station, Rhode Island, 04/1917
Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were married on St. Patrick’s Day in 1905 in New York City. The wedding took place at the home of Eleanor’s aunt, Mrs. Henry Parrish Jr. The bride was given away by her uncle, President Theodore Roosevelt.
The newlyweds took their honeymoon over the summer and visited England, France, Germany, Italy, Scotland and Switzerland.
Here, Eleanor wears her wedding dress in a portrait from 1/20/05.
Petition from the Michigan State Federation of Women’s Clubs recommending a study of child labor, 03/16/1906
Take a look at photographer Lewis Hine’s tireless portfolio for a brief introduction to the issue of child labor in early industrial America.
FDR discovered hiding in the Brooklyn Navy Yard
Laying Keel of U.S.S. Battleship Number 39, Arrival of Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Others, 03/16/1914
While scanning a series of glass plate negatives from the Brooklyn Navy Yard, an alert staffer noticed the image of the future president in full stride during a visit to see the keel laying of Battleship #39 (aka the ill-fated USS Arizona) on March 16, 1914. Roosevelt would have been Assistant Secretary of the Navy at the time, and well before he was crippled by polio.
via NARAtions » Finding FDR in the Brooklyn Navy Yard »
*Update 3/15/2012 12:55pm - Date of the photo has been corrected to 3/16/1914
All these pick shrimp at the Peerless Oyster Co. I had to take photo while bosses were at dinner as they refused to permit the children to be in photos. Out of 60 workers, 15 were apparently under 12 years old. Bay St. Louis, Miss. 3/1/1911
From the series: National Child Labor Committee Photographs taken by Lewis Hine
Way of the future
An interurban electric railcar runs through Caldwell, Idaho, in 1910. This photograph was included with records of the Bureau of Reclamation’s Boise Project, a program to construct dams and irrigation systems in southwestern Idaho.
Photograph of Interurban Cars Running on Main Street in Caldwell, 02/21/1910
The Groundhog goes on strike in Clifford Berryman’s “The Ground Hog Up to Date” 02/02/1909
New Mexico turns 100!
Today marks the 100th Anniversary of New Mexico’s statehood. In honor of this monumental anniversary, we’ve selected a number of documents to feature on our website. Check them out!
Map of New Mexico, 1908, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives
