Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Readex @readex.com · 2d

Vermont’s founding owes much to Ethan Allen’s audacity. His Green Mountain Boys not only seized Fort Ticonderoga but also shaped an independent republic before statehood: https://ow.ly/Fqts50X7jXT

#VermontHistory #RevolutionaryWar

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Readex @readex.com · 2d

👋 Enjoying #WHA2025? Stop by booth 13 and meet Karen from Readex!

Discover our newest primary source collections—spotlighting Native American studies, LGBTQ+ communities, and many other diverse voices shaping Western history research.

Let’s chat!

Readex booth at a conference featuring banners on Native American studies and historical research resources.

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Readex @readex.com · 5d

Historians find humanity in unexpected places. Our latest Readex blog uncovers a soldier’s “misadventure in comedy” — a 19th-century account that reveals how humor, discomfort, and duty intersected in military life: https://ow.ly/uoIC50XaF4F
🗃️ #PrimarySources #AmericanHistory

A black-and-white image of an 1800s newspaper titled Fort Garland Herald, edited by H. A. Ellis. The issue includes several short, humorous, and sarcastic local news items under headings such as “Local Intelligence,” “A Scurvy Bummer,” “Personal,” and “Miscellaneous.” Mentions include Captain Bean leaving for the East, a “snivelling brute” editor of another paper, a missing pigskin tippet, and local military figures like General John S. Mason and Chaplain La Tourette.

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Readex @readex.com · 6d

Mission Impossible: America at War with Itself in its Indian Policy: https://ow.ly/NZaC50X6hrV

#IndigenousPeoplesDay, #HonorNativeHistory #NationalIndigenousPeoplesDay

Image: Kansa tribe, KAW Indian camp, 1872. Library of Congress

Two Native American women in traditional clothing stand on a wooded path while three others sit near a large tree in a forest clearing.

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Readex @readex.com · 9d

How does 18th century genealogy reveal broader historical contexts?

▶️ https://youtu.be/cFl-jamtdqc

#VastEarlyAmerica #EarlyAmerica

Readex @readex.com · 10d

Ethan Allen was more than a Revolutionary hero — he was a philosopher, theologian, businessman, and land speculator. His life reminds us that the American founding was as much an intellectual and economic project as a military one: https://ow.ly/Pshm50X7j6b

#EarlyAmerica #IntellectualHistory

Black-and-white engraving depicting the Capture of Fort Ticonderoga (1775) during the American Revolution. In the foreground, Ethan Allen, dressed in military uniform with sword raised, confronts the British commander inside the stone fort. Allen is illuminated by a torch held by another figure, while a soldier carrying a lantern stands nearby. In the background, cannons and soldiers can be seen on the fort’s ramparts. The caption below reads: “Capture of Fort Ticonderoga. ‘By what authority?’ ‘In the name of the Great Jehovah & the Continental Congress.’”

Readex @readex.com · 12d

The Puritan's instituted the first [US] book ban in 1637 - New English Canaan by Thomas Morton. Despite its rarity, the title lived on as a 17th c. New England history, referenced by Thomas Jefferson in 1814, a Boston newspaper in 1840, and many other works.

#BannedBooksWeek #EarlyAmerica

Readex @readex.com · 13d

🎉🏆 Happy National Coaches Day! Stepping up for their players since the first contested slide into home base. ⚾

Image from American Broadsides and Ephemera, 1749-1900 https://ow.ly/pqGp50X6oza

#NationalCoachesDay #SportsHistory #BaseballHistory

Vintage illustration of a baseball game moment with players in late 19th-century attire at home plate, with a referee signaling a call.

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Readex @readex.com · 17d

In colonial America, the Quakers built communities to practice their faith free from government restraint. They embraced 'conscientious scrupulousness,' refusing to bear arms even during the #AmericanRevolution.

Early American Imprints: https://ow.ly/yT3M50X4Ai2

#NonViolenceDay #ChoosePeace

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Readex @readex.com · 19d

LGBTQ+ Life in America brings to light the voices and experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals throughout U.S. history.

Learn more about LGTBQ+ Life in America: https://ow.ly/qMc950X3KBy

#LesbianHistory #LGBTQHistory #lgbthistory #TransHistory #QueerHistory

Collage of newspaper clippings highlighting men in LGBTQ+ history. Headlines include: “Cecil Dreeme, by Winthrop” book notice (19th-century ad). “‘The Captive’ Boasts Cast of Stars” (theatrical news clipping). “Village Raid Stirs Melee: A police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a tavern frequented by homosexuals at 53 Christopher St., just east of Sheridan Square in Greenwich Village, triggered a near-riot early today” (news report on the Stonewall Riots). Inset photo: modern graphic reading “LGBTQ+ Life in America: The experience and impact of LGBTQ+ Americans as recorded by the news media.”

Collage of historical newspaper clippings featuring stories about women and gender identity in America. Headlines include: “From documents transmitted to Congress it appears that the whole number of Pensioners under the several acts of 1818, 1820, and 1823 is about 12961…” (Independent Chronicle & Boston Patriot, Jan. 31, 1824). “A Romance of the War—The Adventures of a Girl Soldier, who Fought in the Battle of Shiloh and Perryville” (San Francisco Bulletin, June 17, 1871). Campaign ad for Kathy Kozachenko and Beth Brunton of the Human Rights Party, April 1, 1974, Ann Arbor News.

Collage of historical newspaper clippings about transgender identity and gender transformation. Headlines include: “Woman Runner To Become Man: World Record Holder Has Option of Either Sex, Prague Reports” (Chester Times, Dec. 3, 1935). “Negro Masquerading: Another Frances Thompson Case in Memphis, Tenn.” (The World, Aug. 29, 1876). “A Strange Hallucination: Woman Transformed into a Man” (Sacramento Bee, June 25, 1915).

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Readex @readex.com · 23d

Genealogy = history, reimagined. 🌿📜

In her book Lineage, Dr. Wulf shows how tracing family stories in 18th-century America uncovers far more than ancestry—it reveals the broader contexts shaping society.

Curious about how personal roots connect to bigger histories? Watch her talk.

Histories at Scale: Genealogy, Digital Access, and Facilitating Local Research

Genealogy is about more than tracing family trees—it’s about uncovering history itself. From online databases and popular TV shows to 18th-century records, the search for one's roots has always been…

youtu.be

Readex @readex.com · 26d

Histories at Scale with @kawulf.bsky.social

▶️ Dr. Karin Wulf presents insights from her new book Lineage, connecting individual stories to the larger sweep of history.

🗃️ #VastEarlyAmerica #LineageTheBook #ALA25

Histories at Scale: Genealogy, Digital Access, and Facilitating Local Research

Genealogy is about more than tracing family trees—it’s about uncovering history itself. From online databases and popular TV shows to 18th-century records, the search for one's roots has always been…

youtu.be

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Readex @readex.com · 27d

🍂 Happy First Day of Fall! 🍁 As we bid farewell to summer's warmth, let's embrace the autumn!

Image from American Broadsides and Ephemera, 1749-1900.

#NineteenthCentury #19thCentury #FallFestivities #AutumnVibes

Colorful illustrated calendar from The Youth’s Companion, dated A.D. 1879, showing October, November, and December months. The central illustration depicts three children harvesting apples: one boy in a hat gathering apples into a large basket, another boy reaching up to pick fruit from the tree, and a girl in a long yellow dress holding a small pail. Decorative floral borders surround the scene. At the bottom, a motto reads: ‘Not by companionship alone, by what one reads, a man is known.’

Readex @readex.com · Sep 19

Hispanic history and American history are inextricably bound together. Discover the impact and experience of Hispanic Americans in this digital collection of primary source documents.

#HispanicHeritageMonth #PrimarySources #AmericanHistory

1-MINUTE VIDEO: Hispanic Life in America

Discover the impact and experience of Hispanic Americans in this digital collection of primary source documents. Hispanic history and American history are inextricably bound together. From the…

youtu.be

Readex @readex.com · Sep 17

📜 Although the 14th Amendment was ratified universally by the former Confederate states—it was required to regain Congressional representation—it was not observed consistently.

✒️ Read more on our blog: bit.ly/4l4zVgc

#ConstitutionDay #CivilWarHistory #USHistory #AmericanHistory

Excerpt from the U.S. Congressional Serial Set showing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The text states that no person who has previously taken an oath to support the Constitution and then engaged in insurrection, rebellion, or aided enemies of the United States may serve as a senator, representative, elector, or hold office, unless Congress removes the restriction by a two-thirds vote. Caption at the bottom reads: 'From: U.S. Congressional Serial Set, 1817–1994'.

Readex @readex.com · Sep 15

A guide to researching and understanding one chapter of Hispanic history in the U.S. - Zoot Suit Riots: Opportunities for Discovery using Suggested Searches.

🔎 On the Readex Blog: bit.ly/42tDPIt

#HispanicHeritageMonth #InfoLit

Zoot Suit Riots: Opportunities for Discovery using Suggested Searches in Hispanic Life in America | Readex

In many of its primary source collections, Readex provides a significant enhancement for the user by including Suggested Searches to jumpstart research. Created and curated by the Readex editorial…

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Readex @readex.com · Sep 9

Before #California became a state #OTD in 1850 it was in limbo during the Mexican-American War.

What happened in California during the Interregnum of 1846-1848?

🔎 Find out on our blog: bit.ly/3JV9Frh

#CaliforniaHistory #USHistory #AmericanHistory

Officers of Commodore John D. Sloat raising the American flag at Monterey, California, on July 7, 1846, marking the U.S. claim of California during the Mexican-American War. Several naval officers stand at attention as the flag is hoisted near the Custom House. Naval officers on a balcony raise the American flag in Monterey, California, on July 7, 1846, as three U.S. ships lie anchored offshore.

Readex @readex.com · Sep 8

📖 Happy International Literacy Day! Today, we celebrate the joy of reading and the power of knowledge...throughout American history. ✒️

On our blog, read more about the primers early 19th century children used to learn "Sublime and Important Subjects": bit.ly/4lVlNWt

#LiteracyMatters #ReadToLead

‘Sublime and Important Subjects’: Highlights from an American Antiquarian Supplement to Early American Imprints, 1801-1819 | Readex

The April [2017] release of Early American Imprints, Series II: Supplement 2 from the American Antiquarian Society includes an extremely rare speller “for the improvement of youth,” an official…

bit.ly

Readex @readex.com · Sep 6

📚🎉 Happy Read a Book Day, book lovers!

🌟📜 Igniting imaginations for more than 6 centuries.

18th and 19th century publisher advertisements found in Readex's American Broadsides and Ephemera, 1749-1900.

#ReadABookDay #BookwormsUnite

Readex @readex.com · Sep 3

In Sept. 1901, Theodore Roosevelt coined “speak softly and carry a big stick.”

⚓ He urged a strong Navy, but by 1904 Democrats attacked him as a warmonger.

📰 Explore the debate in Early American Newspapers, 1690–1922: bit.ly/3Vc3did

#History #20thCentury #PoliticalCartoons

A political cartoon featuring Uncle Sam carrying a large, spiked club labeled “Monroe Doctrine.” Behind him, Theodore Roosevelt stands with a hand on his shoulder. A sign quotes Roosevelt: “We wish a powerful and efficient Navy, not for the purposes of war, but as the surest guarantee of peace.” The caption reads: “Speak softly and carry a big stick!” The imagery underscores Roosevelt’s foreign policy.

A political cartoon titled “The Real Roosevelt.” It caricatures Theodore Roosevelt with exaggerated, snarling features, wearing a Rough Rider hat with a skull-and-crossbones insignia and the word “Militarism.” He is draped in banners labeled “United States” and “For President!” The tone is hostile, portraying him as aggressive and dangerous.

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Readex @readex.com · Sep 2

Alexander Hamilton built the first U.S. monetary system in the late 1700s. 💵

#PrimarySources —debates, reports, newspapers—help students see how early Americans argued over money & power.

How would you use these sources to study the nation’s financial beginnings? Start on our blog: bit.ly/4g7TTW7

The U.S. Treasury building with white columns against a clear blue sky. A text overlay reads: ‘Alexander Hamilton didn’t just make it onto the $10 bill—he crafted the very system it symbolizes.’

Readex @readex.com · Sep 1

🎉 Happy Labor Day! 🌟

Why is Labor Day celebrated in September, while International Workers' Day is in May?

Answer: The Haymarket Riot of May 4, 1886. Read more: bit.ly/3JvdLq3

#LaborDay2025 #19thCentury #EconomicHistory

Casting Light on the Bomb-Throwers: Revisiting Chicago’s 1886 Haymarket Riot and Its Social Fallout | Readex

“Chicago Rioting. Picturesque and Pathetic Illustrations of the Occurrence. Scenes of the French Revolution Repeated”; Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, New Jersey), 05-16-1886. From Early American…

www.readex.com

Readex @readex.com · Aug 29

📜 On Jan 25, 1787, Daniel Shays petitioned Gen. Lincoln to disband troops & pardon rebels. But violent clashes soon ended in defeat. Shays’ Rebellion exposed flaws in the Articles of Confederation & helped spark calls for a stronger Constitution.

📰 Early American Newspapers: bit.ly/3Vc3did

An excerpt from the Salem Mercury (Feb. 3, 1787) showing Daniel Shays’ petition to Major General Benjamin Lincoln. The petition requests that government troops be disbanded, rebels indemnified, and prisoners released. Signed by Daniel Shays and Daniel Gray, dated Jan. 25, 1787. The background is a textured parchment-style paper.

Readex @readex.com · Aug 26

🎉💪 Happy National Women’s Equality Day!

🥾 Read stories about the sheros that tread upon expectations to forge a path toward equality.

#WomensEqualityDay #EmpowerWomen #CelebrateUnity

"Moving Forward Together!": Amplifying Women's History and Experiences | Readex

Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations-National Women’s History Alliance 2025 Women’s History Month themeResearchers will uncover diverse voices to build historical…

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Readex @readex.com · Aug 25

"These are not parks in the common meaning of the word...They are, on the contrary, large areas which nature, not man, has made beautiful..." (1916)

The National Park Service was established #OTD in 1916.

From American Pamphlets, 1820-1922: www.readex.com/products/ame...

#EnvironmentalHistory

A collage of vintage illustrations and photographs related to U.S. national parks. Top left shows a historical map of the United States highlighting major cities and early national park locations. Top right displays a black-and-white photo of a deer beneath the title "Glimpses of our National Parks." Bottom left features a photo of Yosemite National Park's Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls cascading between granite cliffs. Bottom right is a detailed bird’s-eye drawing of Yosemite Valley looking eastward toward the Sierra Nevada, with numbered geological features and a winding river through the valley.