Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library

Celebrating 100 Years
of
Depository Service

Our library - 1908

Our library - 2008

Our Designator
Federal Comic Books

Government Coloring & Activity Books
News & Headlines from June 1908

Where can you find:

Senate documents on the sinking of the Titanic (Serials 6167 & 6179)?
A commemorative program for the 1885 dedication of the Washington Monument (Y 7.2:W 27/2)?
The debates of Congress going back to the 1st Congress in 1789?
Documents relating to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy (Y 4.AS 7:K 38) and Martin Luther King, Jr. (Y 4.AS 7:K 58)?
Sprocket Man (Y 3.C 76/3:2 SP 8/994)

Are you stumped?

The answer is that all the items listed above represent just a mere taste of a special collection of materials available at the downtown branch of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library. The Government Documents Depository collection located on the second floor is estimated to number almost 600,000 items, including materials in print, microfilm, microfiche, disc, CD-ROM, DVD-Rom and video.

The year 2008 marks the 100th anniversary year of the library having the designation of being a federal depository library. We received this designation on May 16, 1908 when Congressman and Chattanoogan John Austin Moon appointed the library to be an official depository of materials from the federal government. (Click here for more information on Rep. John A. Moon)

The library will be celebrating this landmark occasion throughout 2008. A variety of government related materials will be made available in 2008 as displays in the Government Documents department and special topics on the library’s website. Please check in often to see what’s new!

Click here for a brief history and overview of our depository

John Austin Moon (1855 - 1921) - Our Designator

MOON, John Austin, a Representative from Tennessee; born near Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Va., April 22, 1855; moved with his parents to Bristol, Va., in 1857 and then to Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1870; attended private and public schools and King College, Bristol, Tenn.; studied law; was admitted to the bar in March 1874 and commenced practice in Chattanooga, Tenn.; city attorney of Chattanooga in 1881 and 1882; member of the State Democratic executive committee in 1888; was commissioned in May 1889 as special circuit judge, twice reappointed, and held the office until January 3, 1891; appointed regular judge for the fourth circuit and served until August 1892; elected circuit judge in 1892; reelected in 1894 for a term of eight years but resigned when elected to Congress; elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-fifth and to the eleven succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1897-March 3, 1921); chairman, Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads (Sixty-second through Sixty-fifth Congresses); delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1900; was re nominated for Congress in 1921, but before election was taken ill and died in Chattanooga, Tenn., June 26, 1921; interment in Forest Hill Cemetery.

Additional Tributes regarding John Austin Moon

Photo courtesy of CHCBL Chattanooga Photo Database
Biography taken from Biographical Dictionary of Congress
(available online at http://bioguide.congress.gov/

Federal Comic Books

Comic books are no longer used as just a vehicle to present a lengthier series or collection of comic strips. The genre has evolved to include stories had can be quite long and very serious. Because comics had become such a popular form of communication in the United States the federal government has chosen on numerous occasions to use this medium to present information to its citizens.

See more about our collection...

Children's Coloring and Activity Books within the Government Documents Collection

The library has close to 600,000 documents in the Government Documents area of the library. Often, these can be imposed books with a lot of technical information inside of them. However, some of the items, that are included in the government documents depository collection, are aimed specifically for children. Many agencies have produced coloring and activity books for children that are either teaching tools or are just for fun. These can make great activities to supplement teaching curriculums or great items to copy to keep buddy artists busy.

See more about our collection...

Interesting Headlines and News from May 1908

June 1	Yaqui war is at an end - has been continued intermittently for 120 years: Nation is now in throes of dissolution; Mexico to care for them until work can be provided - American play great part in bringing about new conditions	CT, p,3
	Peary all ready for polar dash: Ship overhauled and equipped but funds for the expedition still needed, expects to sail July 1.	NYT, p.6
June 2	Lookout Inn deal is off: Mr. James declines to exercise his option, encouragement lacking from mountain people.	CT, p,10
	Chamberlain Field will open: Captain H.S. Chamberlain to pitch first ball.	CN, p.8
	Memorial exercises: Confederate graves will be decorated. March to the cemetery Wednesday afternoon will be participated in by veterans, daughters and officials	CN, p.7
June 3	No peace with Yaquis: Mexico insists that matter is not yet settled.	CT, p.1
	First meeting in St. Elmo: Annexation to be discussed next Tuesday night.	CT, p.7
	University's great even: "Chamberlain Field: thrown open this afternoon; elaborate ceremonies preceded by parade.	CT, p.10
	Decoration of graves of the brave dead coincident with the celebration of the hundredth birth of Jefferson Davis.	CN, p.1
	The fall of Roosevelt: President tries a young untried horse which give the head of nation a ducking	CN, p.2
June 4	Degrees for forty-seven: Large class graduated by University of Chattanooga.	CT, p.7
	Memory of loved Davis: Anniversary of birth of Confederacy's president; ceremony combined with Memorial Day. Entire South joins in honoring memory of their dead chieftain and the men who aided in struggle for Confederacy.	CT, p.7
June 6	Why not in Hill City? D.B. Loveman advances new public park idea. Believes chattanooga needs not little spots.	CT, p.8
June 7	Panic never touched us: Bowdre Brown comments on Chattanooga finances. City banks to the rescue in day of money famine	CT, Sec.2, p.1
	World's records at Olympian events: Pole vault and free style discus throw marks smashed at Philadelphia, six other new records.	NYT, Part 4, p.1
June 9	American athletes for Olympic Games: Seventy-six men selected to represent the United states, more men may be picked.	NYT, p.8
	Grand reunion of Confederate veterans at Birmingham: Large and enthusiastic gathering of old soldiers at their eighteenth annual meeting - one of the biggest yet held - many prominent men distinguished in war and peace present.	CN, p.1
June 10	War time at Chickamauga: Preparations now on for the summer maneuvers, War Department order detailing the forces. Particulars of how camp of instruction will be maintained with list of organizations who are under orders.	CT, p.5
	"Not for us" says St. Elmo: Annexation gets black eye at public meeting. Three hundred residents of suburb vote No. Not one voice of all St. Elmo's citizens raised to second city's motion to make it the tenth ward.	CT, p.8
	Lights on new depot: Chattanooga's million dollar station complete, will be occupied within next sixty days.	CN, p.6
	Talking pictures at [Bijou and] Opera House: Manager Jack Youngs arrives and is busy installing new device.	CN, p.7
June 14	Heart disease occurring here: Dr. Darlington blames conditions of modern life for greater mortality shown, whole country affected. Health Commissioner has just completed investigation of disease, covering all parts of United States	NYTM, p.1
	Bubonic plague, the menace of centuries: Although long familiar to Europe and Asia it has only within a decade that science has traced it to its origin and found effective means to check its ravages.	NYTM, p.2
	The growing problem of the American Tramp: Although laws in various states are supposed to check vagrancy, expert analysis shows that they often work the other way.	NYTM, p.10
June 17	Many claim to be Indians' heirs: Local people want to share in Cherokee funds - testimony will be taken tomorrow.	CN, p.9
June 19	Taft of Ohio for President and Sherman of New York his running mate: Work of the sixteenth National Republican Convention is over.	CN, p.1
June 20	Tennessee Central [railroad] reverts to owners: Illinois Central abandons its control over the line and the Southern will not exercise its option.	CN, p.1
June 22	Electric wonders shown in a hotel: Elevators lifted, ice frozen, some linen washed, and refuse burned by electricity.	NYT, p.12
June 23	In a generous gesture, the U.S. Congress remits half of its indemnity from the Boxer Rebellion, applying the balance to establish Tsing Hua University in Peking and to endow a scholarship allowing chinese students to study in America.	#1
June 24	The U.S. Army abolished its Military Information Division, and redesignates the War College as GS, - the army strips itself of its intelligence capability.	#1
	Ex-President Cleveland dead: The great statesman dies suddenly at home in Princeton, N. J., today. Mrs. Cleveland and three physicians at his bedside when the end came at 8:40 this morning.	CN, p.1
June 25	Death of Cleveland: Country shocked at sudden end of President: No hint was given of approaching death - seized with attack of heart failure - last illness of but a few hours duration.	CT, p.1
	Mr. Cleveland is dead at 71: Succumbs to a heart attack in his Princeton home after seeming to rally; Mrs. Cleveland at his side.	NYT, p.1
June 26	Cleveland funeral to be free of pomp: The service will be a simple one with no eulogy, sermon or singing.	NYT, p.1
June 27	$25,000 more for schools: County Board continues on to build new ones. Sunnyside, Sale Creek and Alton Part to benefit	CT, p.5
June 28	Sun will be in eclipse: Chattanooga may look out for phenomenon today. Will be visible here three hours this morning.	CT, p.13
	Regulars and militia to form one grand army: At nine different points throughout the country government and state troops will be encamped together this summer. This plan forms the first step toward the formation of a military organization of 250,000 soldiers for national defense.	NYTM, p.1
	What Austria's change will mean to Europe: With the accession of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, described as an "Enigma", it is predicted that the empire will rival Russia as centre of Pan-Slavism.	NYTM, p.2
	Aeroplanes to be put to a government test: Crucial trials of airships to be held at Fort Myers for high stakes and an official determination of their practicability and value in time of war.	NYTM, p.8
	Louisiana winning her fight with leprosy: Some remarkable results from the state leper camp give promise to ultimate cure of the disease	NYTM, p.10
June 30	Cornerstone laid with ceremony: Y.M.C.A. officers, members and friends gather in large number to witness the impressive exercises - Bishop Anderson and other deliver strong addresses.	CN, p.10

Sources for Headlines

NYT - New York Times
NYTM - New York Times Magazine
CN - Chattanooga News
CT - Chattanooga Times
#1 - Early Twentieth Century Timelines [http://cnparm.home.texas.net/Nat/USA/USA02.htm]

Last Updated: May 24, 2008

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Celebrating 100 Years of Depository Service