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Today, we celebrate Congressman Fred Schwengel, a visionary leader and the founding president of the United States Capitol Historical Society. Born May 28, 1906, on a farm near Sheffield, Iowa, Fred Schwengel's journey from humble beginnings to being the driving force behind preserving our nation's history is truly inspiring.


Fred Schwengel's passion for history can be traced back to his early days as a college student-athlete in Missouri. There he had the privilege of hearing the renowned poet and biographer Carl Sandburg speak about Abraham Lincoln, igniting a lifelong interest in Lincoln, Republican politics, and American history.


During his time as a businessman and later as a Congressman, Schwengel remained dedicated to preserving our nation's history. Fred Schwengel's passion for history naturally led him to seek like-minded colleagues, prompting him to search for a historical society upon his arrival in the House of Representatives, only to discover that no such organization existed within Congress. Research revealed a short-lived American Historical Society (1835-1840) on Capitol Hill, led by Congressman John Quincy Adams as its president. However, none had been organized since that time.

Recognizing the need for a historical society focused on the United States Capitol, he gathered fifteen like-minded individuals, and together on July 17, 1962, they established the United States Capitol Historical Society. The Society's purpose was clear—to foster an understanding of the founding, growth, and significance of the Capitol and to promote research, discussion, and publication of its history.


Fred Schwengel's contributions continue to guide our efforts to create impactful public history programs and inspire informed patriotism.


Happy Birthday, Fred Schwengel!


-This information is adapted from a USCHS article by Donald R. Kennon, Ph.D.

The U.S. Capitol Historical Society remains committed to ensuring that the sacrifices made by our military personnel are not forgotten. As we honor and remember the fallen, we also recognize the importance of preserving their stories and the historical context in which they unfolded. We invite you to join us in observing Memorial Day by exploring a collection of our programs available from the C-SPAN Archives and the Society's YouTube channel. These programs offer insights into the history of Congress, the significant milestones in American military history, and the remarkable stories of soldiers who defended our nation.

Rediscover These Compelling Stories

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial

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Native Warrior: A Conversation with One of the Last Living Navajo Code Talkers

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Victory or Death: How Washington Saved America on Christmas Night

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War Planning in 1861

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Black Soldiers in the Civil War

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Lincoln, Congress, Grant, and the Lieutenant General Act

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The Revolution of 1868: The 14th Amendment & a New Understanding of the Constitution


Video Available!

On May 18, the U.S. Capitol Historical Society hosted a webinar featuring two leading legal scholars, Georgetown Law Professor Randy E. Barnett and NIU Law Professor Evan Bernick, who co-authored the groundbreaking book "The Original Meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment: Its Letter and Spirit (Harvard University Press 2021)." As part of our ongoing Constitutional Amendments web series, we highlighted the key clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment, including the privileges and immunities of citizenship, due process of law, and equal protection under the law.

The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, marked a profound change in the Constitution, granting the federal judiciary and Congress new powers to safeguard the fundamental rights of individuals against state violations. These clauses cover the privileges and immunities of citizenship, due process of law, and equal protection under the law and were designed to ensure that all citizens are treated fairly. However, Barnett and Bernick argue that the Supreme Court has long misconstrued or ignored the original intent behind the amendment's key clauses.


Together, we learned about the history behind the Fourteenth Amendment and its impact on civil rights in America from the experts themselves. With their extensive knowledge and expertise, our featured guests discussed the arguments put forth by antislavery advocates, the formation of the Republican Party, and how the amendment went beyond abolition to incorporate the concept of Republican citizenship into the Constitution. They also described how Congress used its powers to pass Reconstruction-era civil rights laws, providing valuable insights into the original scope of the amendment.

Randy E. Barnett is a prominent legal scholar in constitutional law who serves as the Patrick Hotung Professor of Constitutional Law at the Georgetown University Law Center. He is also the Faculty Director of the Georgetown Center for the Constitution and has taught as a visiting professor at Penn, Northwestern, and Harvard Law School. Professor Barnett is a prolific author, having written 12 books, over 100 articles, and multiple op-eds. He argued high-profile cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including Gonzalez v. Raich (2004) and NFIB v. Sebelius (2012). He has also appeared in numerous documentaries and acted in a film.

Evan Bernick is a law professor who teaches constitutional law, criminal law, criminal procedure, administrative law, and legislation at NIU Law. He was previously a visiting professor and executive director at the Georgetown University Law Center and a resident fellow at the Georgetown Center for the Constitution. Professor Bernick clerked for Judge Diane S. Sykes of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He has also published extensively in prestigious law journals, including the Georgetown Law Journal and the William and Mary Law Review, among other journals.

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With evenhanded attention to primary sources, this book is a must-read exploration of one of the most significant amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Learn how the Fourteenth Amendment changed the U.S. Constitution and enshrined the concept of Republican citizenship while granting Congress power to protect individual rights. Legal scholars Randy Barnett and Evan Bernick reveal how antislavery advocates drew on natural rights, the Declaration of Independence, and public-meaning originalism to advance their arguments, despite facing resistance in the courts.

Three Branches Institute


(Virtual) July 25th, 26th, and 27th, from 2-4pm ET

Are you a U.S. history and civics educator seeking Professional Development hours? Do you want to facilitate nuanced discussions on significant historical events and current issues in your classroom? If so, we invite you to join the 2023 Virtual Three Branches Institute! Join us for three days of immersive virtual learning. This free program is brought to you by the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, the White House Historical Association, the Supreme Court Historical Society, and the National Archives and Records Administration. At the Institute, you have the opportunity to explore a wealth of new educational resources and connect with fellow educators.

Our theme for this year's program is Voices During Conflict, which focuses on three key periods in U.S. history: the Civil War & Reconstruction, the internment of Americans of Japanese descent during World War II, and the Vietnam War.


Each day, one branch of government will lead a discussion exploring the checks and balances imposed upon it by the other two branches during times of strife and war. Additionally, the program will analyze how the grassroots voices and activism of "We The People" shape and respond to actions taken by the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches. By participating in this Institute, you gain fresh insights and teaching strategies for incorporating the three branches of government into your classroom curriculum.


The registration deadline is July 19th at 11:59 pm ET for live attendance. Session recordings and materials will be provided asynchronously to all registrants following the live program. Register for free or share this opportunity with a teacher you know.

Register Here!

Dive Deep into the Pages of History


Check out these incredible book recommendations!

The Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant 


By Charles W. Calhoun 

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The Crooked Path to Abolition: Abraham Lincoln and the Antislavery Constitution


By James Oakes

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America's First Plague 


By Dr. Robert Watson 

Buy the Book!

The Women's Fight: The Civil War's Battles for Home, Freedom, and Nation


By Dr. Thavolia Glymph

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Revisit Our Recent History Webinars

Original Sin:

Slavery, Abolition,

& America's Moral Awakening


On April 21, the U.S. Capitol Historical Society continued our series on the Constitution with a study of the 13th Amendment: the battle for its passage, its impact, and its legacy today. Dr. Thavolia Glymph, discussed the economic impact of slavery, both as a Southern institution and as a driver of Northern manufacturing, and discuss President Lincoln's views on the constitutionality of slavery, the legal basis for the Emancipation Proclamation, and why the 13th Amendment was still necessary. Finally, we detailed the immeasurable impact of the 13th Amendment on African Americans and our society, but also why we still grapple with the history of slavery in a nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

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Dr. Glymph is a Peabody Family Distinguished Professor of History and Professor of Law at Duke University. Her recent book, The Women's Fight: The Civil War's Battles for Home, Freedom, and Nation, won several awards, including the 2021 Beveridge Award as the best English-language book on the history of the United States.

America's First Plague: The Deadly 1793 Epidemic that Crippled a Young Nation


On May 3, Dr. Robert Watson discussed his upcoming book, "America's First Plague," which explores the heavily politicized 1793 yellow fever pandemic that ravaged Philadelphia, the interim capital city. We learned the responses of medical professionals and founding fathers like Washington, Hamilton, and Jefferson as they struggled to deal with the crisis. Our discussion also highlighted the tragic reality of how the yellow fever pandemic draws many parallels with the current COVID-19 crisis, making this topic that much more important.

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Dr. Robert Watson is an award-winning author, professor, historian, and media analyst with a passion for history and politics. He has published over forty books, five works of fiction, and hundreds of scholarly journal articles, book chapters, and reference essays.

In Case You Missed It:

Celebrating the Women of National Statuary Hall


Video Available on C-SPAN!

We invite you to watch C-SPAN's recording of our recent program honoring the Women of National Statuary Hall, now available online.

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Our speakers for this event included Dr. Michele Cohen, the Curator of the Architect of the Capitol, as well as Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV 1), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL 25), Lois Frankel (D-FL 22), and Laurel Lee (R-FL 15). Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) also shared her inspiring remarks via video. Together, they provided valuable insights into the growth and evolution of women's representation in the Capitol's National Statuary Hall Collection.

Join Today!

Join us in inspiring informed patriotism by becoming a Member!

If you appreciate our online history resources and believe in the importance of civic education, we kindly ask for your support through a donation to the U.S. Capitol Historical Society. Your contribution helps us continue our mission of providing public history programs to history enthusiasts of all ages, offering free educational tours to public school students in D.C., and ensuring that our online We The People civic education hub can continue to grow and be accessible for future generations.


Thank you!

U.S. Capitol Historical Society | CapitolHistory.org

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