George Washington was born on February 22nd, 1732. His birthday became a federal holiday in 1879 to celebrate his accomplishments as America's first president. Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Act of 1968 that commemorates Washington's birthday on the third Monday of February. Lincoln's birthday falls on February 12th, so many citizens thought it was celebrating both birthdays. The Library of Congress states, "neither the Uniform Holidays Act nor any subsequent law changed the name from Washington's Birthday to Presidents' Day." Since the new date fell between both presidents' birthdays, many thought it was a holiday to commemorate all presidents. According to the National Park Service, "the name Presidents' Day never became the permanent name of the holiday, and the day is still properly called Washington's Birthday on all official federal government calendars and writings." Ironically, the third Monday of February can never fall on the 22nd, so Washington's Birthday can never be celebrated on his actual day of birth (Washington.gov). Now the holiday remembers all the past presidents and their contributions to our nation.
For resources and more information:
Public Papers of the Presidents
The Public Papers include Presidential writings, addresses, and remarks from President Reagan to President Obama. The Library's papers are on 5th floor in FG33 NA11 FE9 P976. They are also in microfilm in reels D153 - D 171. The indexes to the papers are in FL58 MA5 I38.
Presidential Executive Orders 1826-2018
Directives issued by the President of the United States that manages operations of the federal government and have the force of law. The collection includes Executive Orders from President Harry S. Truman through Donald Trump.
Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents
Official publications of materials released by the White House Press Secretary. Publications include "Acts Approved by the President, Checklist of the White House Press Releases, Digest of other White House Announcements, and Nominations Submitted to the Senate."
Official publications of materials released by the White House Press Secretary. Publications include "Acts Approved by the President, Checklist of the White House Press Releases, Digest of other White House Announcements, and Nominations Submitted to the Senate."
The Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents
The Avalon Project includes digital documents relevant to the fields of Law, History, Economics, Politics, Diplomacy and Government.
The Avalon Project includes digital documents relevant to the fields of Law, History, Economics, Politics, Diplomacy and Government.
Presidential Inaugurations
The Library of Congress includes "diaries and letters written by presidents and those who witnessed the inaugurations, handwritten drafts of inaugural addresses, broadsides, inaugural tickets and programs, prints, photographs, and sheet music.
The Library of Congress includes "diaries and letters written by presidents and those who witnessed the inaugurations, handwritten drafts of inaugural addresses, broadsides, inaugural tickets and programs, prints, photographs, and sheet music.
Presidential Libraries
"The Presidential Libraries and Museums promote understanding of the presidency and the American experience."
"The Presidential Libraries and Museums promote understanding of the presidency and the American experience."
American’s Presidents, Smithsonian Institution
"This is the nation's only complete set of presidential portraits outside of the White House."
"This is the nation's only complete set of presidential portraits outside of the White House."
The American Presidency Project, UC Santa Barbara
The American Presidency Project is a non-profit and non-partisan organization that organizes many presidential documents on the internet.
The American Presidency Project is a non-profit and non-partisan organization that organizes many presidential documents on the internet.
~Emily Hancz
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