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Archive for March 2017 (24 posts)

James Madison Birthday Commemoration—Pics of the Week

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On Thursday, March 16, 2017, the Law Library of Congress and the Library Manuscript Division commemorated James Madison’s 266th birthday. The event was held in the James Madison Memorial Building, which is the United States’ official memorial to the fourth president.

The Law Librarian of Congress, Jane Sánchez, spoke about James Madison’s contributions to the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights. She also addressed his role as an author of the Federalist Papers, alongside Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, and as the first sponsor of a library for legislators while serving in the Continental Congress.

Nathan, Law Library rare book curator, and Julie, Manuscript Division historian, presented a display of rare collection items at the event. Many of the items, such as Madison’s 1771 diploma from the then College of New Jersey (later Princeton University), are part of the James Madison Papers collection.

Below is also a picture of the cake that was served at the event. Jane cut the first slice!

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Law Librarian of Congress Jane Sánchez provides remarks in James Madison Memorial Hall,  March 16, 2017. Photo by Shawn Miller.

 

Collection items are displayed during a celebration of President James Madison's 266th birthday in Madison Hall, March 16, 2017. Photo by Shawn Miller.

Collection items from the Manuscript Division and Law Library are displayed during the commemoration of President James Madison’s 266th birthday, March 16, 2017. Photo by Shawn Miller.

 

Collection items are displayed during a celebration of President James Madison's 266th birthday in Madison Hall, March 16, 2017. Photo by Shawn Miller.

James Madison’s diploma awarded to him by the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) on October 7, 1771 was displayed during the commemoration. Photo by Shawn Miller.

 

A cake from the Law Library commemorates President James Madison's 266th birthday in Madison Hall, March 16, 2017. Photo by Shawn Miller.

The cake to commemorate President James Madison’s 266th birthday, March 16, 2017. Photo by Shawn Miller.

 

Law Librarian Jane Sanchez celebrates President James Madison's 266th birthday with staff in Madison Hall, March 16, 2017. Photo by Shawn Miller.

Law Librarian of Congress Jane Sánchez celebrates President James Madison’s 266th birthday with cake, March 16, 2017. Photo by Shawn Miller.

The Administration of a Probate Estate: A Beginner’s Guide

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This post is coauthored by Barbara Bavis, instructional librarian, and Robert Brammer, senior legal information specialist We frequently receive reference requests for resources related to the administration of an estate. In this Beginner’s Guide, we will direct you to general and state-specific resources that concern probate administration. If you are interested in resources for drafting a will, please […]

An Interview with Sarah Cooper, Scholar-in-Residence

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This week’s interview is with Dr. Sarah Cooper, the Law Library scholar-in-residence.  Dr. Cooper made extensive use of the Law Library’s collection to conduct research for her next book.  During her short time here, Dr. Cooper significantly changed the structure of her book due to the materials she discovered at the Library. Describe your background. […]

The Saudi Arabian 2012 Arbitration Law

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The following is a guest post by Abdalrahman Alangari, a student from Saudi Arabia who was a foreign law intern at the Law Library of Congress for a few months in late 2016. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest economy among the Gulf countries. Developments in the Kingdom in recent years have transformed it into a new regional and global hub for […]

Happiness on the Shelf

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Are you happy today? If not today, are you happy with your life generally? If you’re wondering why that question matters, and you tend to think about pursuing happiness as a poetic flourish rather than a  mission statement, you might want to look at the United Nations’ (UN) declaration in support of its 4th International […]

60-Year Anniversary of the Rome Treaties

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On March 25, 1957 – 60 years ago tomorrow – the governments of France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed the “Treaties of Rome”, thereby establishing what would later become the European Union (EU). The “Treaties of Rome” consist of two different treaties: the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC Treaty) and the Treaty establishing the European […]

World Meteorological Day

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Today, March 23rd, is World Meteorological Day, as dubbed by the United Nations in WMO/EC-XII/Res. 6 and celebrated around the world. The United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization (WMO) provides the framework for international cooperation on weather issues that know no political boundaries. This year’s theme for the event is “Understanding Clouds,” and their website has […]

Elor Azaria and Alexander Blackman: Adjudication of Unlawful Military Shootings

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What impact do prolonged periods of stress and fear have on a soldier’s behavior? Do the horrors of war and terrorist acts justify conduct that would otherwise be unlawful? While such circumstances do not seem to amount to justification for violating the law, it is notable that “exceptional stressors” and constant threats faced by soldiers were recently considered […]