Welcome to the latest installment of our series exploring the fascinating people and stories behind legal research. In Part 1, we covered George Boole, the man behind the name “Boolean search”; Simon Greenleaf, the man first credited with creating a citator; and John B. West, the founder of the influential West Publishing Company. Today, we’re …
It’s easy for a research class to become too abstract. Among the swirl of resource types, database demos, and automated tools, individuals who have played major roles in the content we teach can be overshadowed. Working in colorful stories of the trials and tribulations of historical figures can help bring a change of pace, some …
As we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 28, 2024, it might seem like a well-established rule that Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November. But did you know that this hasn’t always been the case? In the past, Thanksgiving has been celebrated on different Thursdays in November, and in the early …
The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) ensures that government publications are available outside the federal government. Typically, access to these publications comes through “depository libraries,” which agree to house and make accessible these resources to the public. The groundwork for what is now the FDLP began with a Congressional Joint Resolution in 1813. However, the …
As Thanksgiving approaches, a peculiar and heartwarming tradition takes center stage in the United States: the presidential turkey pardoning. This annual event has become a symbol of both lighthearted holiday festivities and a welcome break from the usual partisan tomfoolery that comes out of government. But how did this tradition come about? In this blog …
October is upon us, and Halloween is right around the corner, a time when ghouls and goblins take center stage. While Law Libraries aren’t typically known for keeping collections of vampire romance novels or tales of ghostly apparitions, nonetheless we’ve taken it upon ourselves to unearth some spine-chilling treasures from our shelves. Read along as …
Sunday, October 16th was World Food Day. Created to commemorate the founding of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization in 1945, World Food Day is celebrated across 150 countries. In honor of World Food Day, this post is dedicated to learning more about food law and locating food law resources in the United States …
Happy Halloween Month, everyone! We don’t typically associate legal research with celebrating holidays, but did you know you can find information about Halloween on a number of different U.S. government websites? Resources cover everything from how to stay safe during the holiday, ghost towns and cryptids in North America, the history of Halloween and Día …
September 25th was First Amendment Day! Observed during National Banned Books Week, First Amendment Day is meant to commemorate the First Amendment and its promise of the freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. September 25th marks the day the First Federal Congress of the United States proposed the Bill of Rights to the …
April Fools’ Day is rapidly approaching and while most simple shenanigans go ignored on this day, quite a few also land the pranksters in hot water with the law. This blog post will share a few of those cases and point you in the direction of searching for more! While the history of April Fools’ …