The second Monday of October traditionally marks the celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day in America. This tradition, however, is a fairly new one, and it isn’t officially recognized nationwide by that name. [Update: Joe Biden was the first U.S. President to officially recognize Indigenous People’s Day with a Presidential Proclamation in 2021.] Most… Read more »
During the hot, muggy summer of 1787, a Grand Convention was called together at the Pennsylvania State House (now called Independence Hall) in Philadelphia for the purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation, which had proved a highly unsatisfactory document for holding the United States together during the first 13 years of the young nation’s existence. While waiting… Read more »
One hundred years ago today, at 8:00 a.m. on August 26, 1920, without fanfare, in the privacy of his own home and unseen by the press or the public, Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby formally certified Tennessee’s ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, bringing to a culmination a 72-year, non-violent campaign to… Read more »
There is no doubt that 2020 has been a bumpy year. Current conditions, including the ongoing pandemic and an election looming on the horizon, ensure the year will go out with a bang. It is an opportune moment to pause and observe August 25th as National Kiss and Make Up Day. When relationships hit a… Read more »
June is national Soul Food month, so before we all fry our way into July, we thought we’d highlight a government document soul food source. The term soul food was apparently coined in the 1960s to describe an African American cuisine born in the rural areas of southern states. The distinction between soul food and… Read more »
As the weather warms up and the days become longer, many of us look forward to spending time outdoors in our gardens. Gardening provides opportunities to enjoy nature, sunshine, and exercise as we dig in the dirt. And there’s something so satisfying about caring for plants and watching them grow to reward us with… Read more »
Saturday was National Doughnut Day, and while the day has passed it’s never too late to break out the baking gear, knead some dough, and make some tasty homemade treats. I’ve been craving doughnuts for a while now, and having a day set aside for them was just the excuse I needed to dig up… Read more »
It’s Dead Week at UNT. Normally at this time of year, the Eagle Commons Library staff is busily gathering supplies and making plans for our traditional Coffee & Cookies event, during which we invite patrons to take a study break and enjoy free coffee and cookies in the library. But this semester, the coronavirus pandemic… Read more »
On April 22, 1970—the first Earth Day—a project conceived by Senator Gaylord Nelson and coordinated by 25-year-old Harvard University student Denis Hayes, sparked a grassroots environmental movement that continues with no loss of passion a half a century later. Every April 22 citizens of over 190 countries throughout the world now take the opportunity to… Read more »
Every year during the month of April, a Presidential Proclamation sets aside one week for Americans to shine a spotlight on our national parks, acknowledge the men and women entrusted with their care, and reaffirm the importance of investing in the stewardship of these national treasures for future generations. This year presents a special challenge…. Read more »
