We’re all familiar with the traditions and trappings of Thanksgiving Day in the United States and the popular narrative behind the reason for its celebration. 2021 marks the 400th anniversary of the harvest feast shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1621, the event many Americans consider to be the “first” Thanksgiving. However, the history of Thanksgiving as a national holiday on the fourth Thursday of November has historical significance for many reasons. Here is a brief history of the establishment of a national holiday of Thanksgiving in the United States.
Read moreWe Are Hiring: Seeking an Assistant Law Librarian to Join Our Team
The Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library is a center of innovation for public law library services and access to justice in the nation's third most populous county. We're looking for an Assistant Law Librarian to join our growing team to provide reference services at our physical and virtual reference desks to a diverse community of self-represented litigants, attorneys, judges and elected officials, and the public. If you are looking for a chance to make a difference, we look forward to receiving your application.
Read moreNational Adoption Day: Harris County Family District Courts Celebrate Forever Families
National Adoption Day is an annual event, celebrated since 2000, that has placed more than 75,000 children living in foster care with forever families. In 400 cities across the nation, policymakers, advocates, and key players in the family court system have collaborated to plan events in furtherance of the event’s shared goals: calling attention to the large number of children in the foster care system, reducing the backlog of adoption cases in family courts across the nation, and celebrating the successful adoption of foster children by loving parents. On November 19, 2021, four Harris County Judges will host private adoptions as well as adoptions with the Department of Famliy and Protective Services. Events start at 9:00 am.
Read moreThe Living Work of Poet Laureate Joy Harjo
In recognition of National Native American Heritage Month, we would like to highlight the life and work of the 23rd and current Poet Laureate, Joy Harjo. A prolific poet, musician, teacher, and activist, Harjo is also the first Native American to serve as Poet Laureate. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden first appointed Joy Harjo as the 23rd Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress on June 19, 2019. Harjo was reappointed to a second term on April 30, 2020, and to a rare third term on November 19, 2020. She is only the second Poet Laureate to be appointed to a third term.
Read moreNational Entrepreneurship Month Resources
November is National Entrepreneurship Month. In a 2021 Presidential Proclamation, we are called upon to recognize the occasion with “appropriate programs and activities.” As a law library, our best contribution to that effort is to provide you, our reader, with information and resources that (1.) support the business operations of solo attorneys and (2.) help aspiring entrepreneurs start small businesses. This blog has featured many such resources over the last few years, which you can revisit here and here. Additional links are shared within.
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