‘Purple Rain’ and a record number of female-directed films join National Film Registry
The films, chosen in consultation with the National Film Preservation Board and library specialists, also include Spike Lee's 1986 “She's Gotta Have It," the 1959 Disney classic “Sleeping Beauty” and the Disney-produced “Old Yeller” from 1957.
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How the autobiography of a Muslim slave is challenging an American narrative
Omar Ibn Said was 37 years old when he was taken from his West African home and transported to Charleston, South Carolina, as a slave in the 1800s. Now, his one-of-a-kind autobiographical manuscript has been translated from its original Arabic…
The Library of Congress opened its catalogs to the world. Here’s why it matters
Catalog data are a library's most important map to knowledge. What does it mean that the Library of Congress just released 25 million records to the public?…
4 poets you need to read, from new poet laureate Tracy K. Smith
Last week, the Library of Congress selected Tracy K. Smith as the new U.S. Poet Laureate. Here, Smith shares the poetry she recommends reading right now.
Bennett is the ninth recipient, following past honorees like Smokey Robinson, Willie Nelson, Carole King, among others.
Tracy K. Smith, the nation’s newest poet laureate, says writing is not just about expressing emotion but of the choices you make when putting words on the page. She reads two of her poems here.
As the Library of Congress celebrates disco for the first time, we asked music historian Bill Brewster to spotlight five revolutionary disco tracks.
It's the Library of Congress' tribute to significant sound recordings. Each year, 25 pieces of audio are selected to be inducted into the National Recording Registry. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden walks us through this year’s selections, from a 1888…
Recordings reflecting America’s diverse soundscape, from New York’s Polo Grounds, all the way to Compton, California, are included in this year’s inductions into the National Recording Registry.
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