A primary-sources web site which links to hand-selected pictures, documents, maps, and audio/visual clips from the world's leading libraries, archives and governmental web sites is now free to all libraries (public and academic), schools and educators.  It features the following stories for November dates/issues:

1.  FLIGHT OF "THE SPRUCE GOOSE."  November 2, 1947:  Howard Hughes flew an eight-engine plane (dubbed the "Spruce Goose" because it was made of wood) seventy feet above the water at Long Beach, California.  Flying only a few miles that day, the plane has been grounded ever since.  http://www.awesomestories.com/movies/aviator/aviator_ch1.htm 

2.  THE "GUNPOWDER PLOT."  November 5, 1605:  A group of conspirators planned to blow up the British Houses of Parliament on opening day.  The main objective of their plot was to kill the king, James I (son of the beheaded Mary Queen of Scots).  Instead, the plot was foiled and the conspirators were executed.  See, among other things, the signed confession of Guy Fawkes.  http://www.awesomestories.com/religion/king_james/james_story_ch5.htm

3.  THE VIETNAM WAR BEGINS.  November 14, 1965:  General Hal Moore memorialized the first battle of the Vietnam War (at the Ia Drang Valley) in his book "We Were Soldiers Once...and Young."  Years later, he and his battlefield opponent shared thoughts about what happened when many American soldiers were ambushed.  The story was made into a movie ("We Were Soldiers") starring Mel Gibson as Hal Moore. http://www.awesomestories.com/movies/we_were_soldiers/wewere_soldiers_ch1.htm

4.  DOSTOEVSKY SENTENCED TO DEATH.  November 16, 1849:  Sentenced to death, the famous Russian writer, Fyodor Dostoevsky, was reprieved while he stood in front of a firing squad.  That life-changing experience informed his writing thereafter.  http://www.awesomestories.com/movies/alex_emma/alex_emma_ch1.htm

5.  PRESIDENT KENNEDY ASSASSINATED.  November 22, 1963:  During a trip to Dallas, President Kennedy was assassinated.  View the pictures used by the Warren Commission as it investigated what happened.  http://www.awesomestories.com/history/john_kennedy/john_kennedy_ch1.htm  At nearly the same moment JFK was killed in Dallas, C.S. Lewis, creator of "The Chronicles of Narnia" (including "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe") died in England. http://www.awesomestories.com/biography/cslewis/cslewis_ch1.htm

6.  KING TUT'S TOMB.  November 26:  Archeologists entered King Tut's tomb on this day in 1922.  http://www.awesomestories.com/history/mummies/mummies_ch8.htm

Although this primary-sources website is subscription-based, it is free to all libraries, schools, educators and library media specialists.  Simply request an academic membership at the site's main URL:  http://www.awesomestories.com/ 

Carole Bos, J.D.
Grand Valley State University
Dean's Advisory Board
Editor, AwesomeStories