Do you know who loved a good game of chess? Read what Ben Franklin had to say about the 'morals of chess' on NHPRC-supported Founders Online at founders.archives.gov/documents/Fran…

#ArchivesGames #ArchivesHashtagParty .

On this date in 1844, Whig Party delegates met at the Universalist Church on Calvert Street in Baltimore to begin their national nominating convention. They selected Henry Clay as their presidential nominee by acclimation, with 'a burst which shook the church to its foundations.'

Congratulations to our 4 finalists for the 2024 CPH Book Prize!
Sheyda Jahanbani *The Poverty of the World* (Winner!)
Una Bergmane *Politics of Uncertainty*
Stephanie Freeman *Dreams for a Decade*
Pete Millwood 米维德 *Improbable Diplomats*
Stand-out books among many more great submissions!

We'll be at the ADE conference in Millard Fillmore's hometown!

SPA's Interim Dean Alison Jacknowitz & First Ladies Association for Research & Education's Dir. Anita McBride at FLARE's first national conference! Today, we honor the lasting impact of America's first ladies, spotlighting former First Lady Betty Ford's remarkable contributions w/ GRF Foundation & Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. 🇺🇸

What a coincidence it is that the same date, 52 years earlier, the US had begun (but not yet declared) a war with Mexico.

On 4/25/1846, a partial solar eclipse was visible in Mexico & the United States. (It was total at points in the Caribbean.) The same day, violence broke out @ Carricitos Ranch by the Rio Grande. The Mexican-American War, with Zachary Taylor in command of the US forces, had begun.

Last reminder! Our fundraiser in honor of former UT Press Director Scot Danforth—Books, Beer, & Banjos—is next Thursday night in Knoxville's Old City. Buy your tickets today at the link below to secure your spot!

tiny.utk.edu/utpress.fundra…

The American University-based First Ladies Association for Research & Education just announced its first national conference.

From a colleague at the Van Buren Papers. Former president Martin Van Buren was one of two opponents whom Taylor defeated in the presidential election of 1848.

This 1898 envelope 'addressed' to Theodore Roosevelt by way of a sketch depicting him as Colonel of the Rough Riders was successfully delivered to his home in New York, Sagamore Hill.

Exciting!

Nearly 1,700 newly digitized records have just been added to LVA’s African American records database, #VaUntold ! This material includes records from the Richmond City Hustings Court, which we processed and indexed thanks to an NHPRC grant. Learn more at bit.ly/3vM2zi1

Americans got to see a partial solar eclipse on April 25, 1846—the same day the Mexican-American War began—as reported here in the Panola (MS) Lynx of that date. (Yeah, we had to get in on the #eclipse fever somehow.)

Project director @markrcheathem will be discussing Martin Van Buren and the Papers of Martin Van Buren Monday evening at 6:00 Clement Railroad Hotel Museum.

We are happy to share, 'Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn’s Impact on Education During Reconstruction,' by Alessandra Diaz, a CWRGM intern, who also just accepted a position to study history and political science at Columbia. Congrats Ale! cwrgmblog.org/mississippi-go…

New issue of NHPRC News is online at archives.gov/nhprc/newslett…

We at the TR Center wish a happy Easter to all who celebrate! In this 1891 letter, TR mentions to his sister Bamie that his children Alice and Ted were 'ecstatic' to hunt for eggs and toys left by the Easter Bunny in their home. Read the full letter here: theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Research/Digit…

We're delighted to celebrate, but sad to bid farewell to, retiring U of Tennessee Press director Scot Danforth. He's been wonderful to work with on publishing volumes of historical letters. On top of that, he's (like Mary Abigail Fillmore, Millard's daughter) a talented guitarist.

If you are interested in keeping up with the Papers of Martin Van Buren, feel free to subscribe to our newsletter mailing list by scanning the QR code below or visiting vanburenpapers.org and clicking Subscribe!