Month: December 2021

December News from the Library of Congress

December 2021

  • December 16, 2021  (21-080)

    Connecting Communities Digital Initiative Welcomes New Program Director The Library of Congress has welcomed Marya McQuirter as program director for the Connecting Communities Digital Initiative (CCDI). The Connecting Communities Digital Initiative is the key digital component of the Library’s Of the People: Widening the Path initiative, a multiyear, Library-wide effort funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Of the People: Widening the Path, connects the national library more deeply with Black, Indigenous…

    • Date: 2021-12-16

  • December 14, 2021  (21-078)

    ‘Return of the Jedi’ Among 25 Eclectic Films Joining National Film Registry Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced today the annual selection of 25 influential motion pictures to be inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. Selected for their cultural, historic or aesthetic importance to preserve the nation’s film heritage, the newest selections include epic trilogies, major roles for Jennifer Lopez and Cicely Tyson, extraordinary animated features, comedy and music, and films…

    • Date: 2021-12-14

  • December 9, 2021  (21-079)

    New Book Explores the Legacy of Dante Alighieri’s “The Divine Comedy” Dante Alighieri’s Italian narrative poem, “The Divine Comedy” has been one of the foundational texts of European literature for over 700 years. This richly layered literary work has been interpreted in many different ways over the centuries. Yet, many mysteries still remain about its symbolism.In the new book, “The Unexpected Dante: Perspectives on the Divine Comedy,” five leading scholars offer fresh perspectives on the…

    • Date: 2021-12-09

  • December 8, 2021  (21-076)

    Library of Congress Announces Music Commissions from the 2021 Koussevitzky Foundation The Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress has awarded commissions for new musical works to seven composers. The commissions are granted jointly by the foundation and the performing organizations that will present the world premiere performances of the newly composed works.Winning composers for 2021 and the groups co-sponsoring their commissions are Katherine Balch and Longleash; Helen Grime and the Boston Symphony…

    • Date: 2021-12-08

  • December 7, 2021  (PR 21-077)

    John W. Kluge Center Welcomes into Residence Experts on U.S. Relations with Russia and China The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress has welcomed two new scholars whose work deals with pressing topics in international relations. Andrew Weiss will begin his appointment as Library of Congress Chair in U.S.-Russia Relations in December 2021. Mary Lovely will begin her appointment as Library of Congress Chair in U.S.-China Relations in January 2022. Weiss and Lovely will make use…

    • Date: 2021-12-07

  • December 1, 2021  (21-073)

    Library of Congress, National Park Service Announce 2021 Holland Prize Winner The Library of Congress and the National Park Service announced today that the 2021 Leicester B. Holland Prize will be presented to a student at the University of Notre Dame for a drawing of the historic St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, the church’s original name, in Kendallville, Indiana. The Holland Prize honors an outstanding historic building, structure or landscape drawing.The prize was awarded to…

    • Date: 2021-12-01

  • December 1, 2021  (21-075)

    Leading Scientists and Clinicians Discuss Cancer Immunotherapy at Cancer Moonshot Symposium Leading scientists and clinicians will discuss the latest in cancer immunotherapy on Monday, Dec. 6, at the annual “Cancer Moonshot” symposium hosted by the Library of Congress Health Services Division and the Science, Technology and Business Division.Since December 2016, when Congress passed the groundbreaking bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act, championed by then-Vice President, Joe Biden, the Library of Congress has hosted a symposium on…

    • Date: 2021-12-01

November 2021

  • November 30, 2021  (21-074)

    Old Phone Books Teach New Lessons in Digital Scholarship Library of Congress innovation specialists examining the role of human expertise and experience in developing machine-powered research tools today released a report detailing their findings. The “Humans in the Loop” recommendation report from LC Labs details the potential and responsibility of the Library of Congress in its ongoing work to deepen access to its vast collections and share knowledge with other institutions.The Library’s digital…

    • Date: 2021-11-30

  • November 29, 2021  (21-072)

    Library of Congress Celebrates Successful Literacy Practices with New Video and Four-Part Webinar Series The 2021 Library of Congress Literacy Award Winners and Honorees are featured in a new video available on the Library’s website, and representatives from all of the selected organizations will participate in a four-part webinar series that will debut this winter. The Literacy Awards, originated by David M. Rubenstein in 2013, honor organizations working to promote literacy and reading in the United States and…

    • Date: 2021-11-29

  • November 15, 2021  (21-071)

    Library of Congress Opens Award Nominations for Outstanding Federal Libraries, Librarians and Library Technicians To honor the innovations and successes of federal libraries, librarians and library technicians in meeting the information demands of government, businesses, scholarly communities and the public, the Federal Library and Information Network (FEDLINK) in the Library of Congress has opened nominations for its national awards for federal librarianship in fiscal year 2021.For nomination materials, visit the Awards section of the FEDLINK website or send…

    • Date: 2021-11-15

  • November 12, 2021  (21-069)

    Library of Congress Celebrates GIS Day Focused on the 2020 Census This year’s GIS Day at the Library of Congress, an event held annually during Geography Awareness Week, will focus on the 2020 Census, which provides a snapshot of American demographics like no other geospatial sources available. Geography is a cornerstone of the census and geographic information systems help map and analyze the spatial distribution of people, goods, programs and services. GIS offers real-world applications…

    • Date: 2021-11-12

  • November 10, 2021  (21-067)

    Librarian of Congress Appoints 44 Experts to National Film Preservation Board Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden today announced the latest appointments to the 44-member National Film Preservation Board. The board advises Hayden on annual selections to the National Film Registry as well as national film preservation policy.The National Film Preservation Board began work when President Ronald Reagan signed the National Film Preservation Act of 1988.The 44-person board represents many parts of the film community, including…

    • Date: 2021-11-10

  • November 9, 2021  (21-070)

    Danielle Allen to Receive Kluge Prize, Deliver Address on Educating for Democracy On Tuesday, Nov. 16, Danielle Allen, the James Bryant Conant University Professor and Director of the Democratic Knowledge Project at Harvard University, will accept the John W. Kluge Prize for the Study of Humanity in a livestreamed gala from the Great Hall of the Library of Congress.The livestream will begin at 6:30 p.m., and can be found at this link.Allen will deliver an address…

    • Date: 2021-11-09

  • November 9, 2021  (21-A01)

    Holiday Closure Schedule Nov. 2021 – Jan. 2022 The Library of Congress will be closed to the public and researchers on the following Federal holidays beginning November 2021 through January 2022. Thursday, November 11 (Veterans’ Day)Thursday, November 25 (Thanksgiving)Friday, December 24 (Christmas Eve/Christmas Day observed)Saturday, December 25 (Christmas Day)Friday December 31 (New Year’s Eve/ New Year’s Day observed)Saturday, January 1, 2022 (New Year’s Day)Monday, January 17, 2022 (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr….

    • Date: 2021-11-09

  • November 8, 2021  (21-068)

    Librarian of Congress Names Interim Chief Copyright Royalty Judge Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden today announced her selection of Judge Suzanne Barnett as interim Chief Copyright Royalty Judge and head of the Copyright Royalty Board effective today. Barnett is replacing Chief Judge Jesse Feder who is stepping down from the position which he has held since 2019. A vacancy announcement seeking applicants for the permanent position will be issued in the near future.”I…

    • Date: 2021-11-08

  • November 1, 2021  (21-066)

October 2021

  • October 28, 2021  (21-063)

    Library of Congress Acquires Rare Book Collection from American Foundation for the Blind The Library of Congress has acquired the M.C. Migel Memorial Rare Book Collection from the American Foundation for the Blind, comprised of more than 750 items dating from 1617 to the present, including books by and about Hellen Keller and other blind authors. The collection is a treasure trove of seminal books on blindness, maps, rare pamphlets and many volumes of poetry, biographies and…

    • Date: 2021-10-28

  • October 26, 2021  (21-065)

  • October 20, 2021  (21-064)

    Gems of Comic Art Collection Featured in New Library of Congress Exhibition A new exhibition at the Library of Congress explores how comic books have permeated popular entertainment and influenced U.S. culture, highlighting selections from the Stephen A. Geppi Collection that was generously donated to the national library in 2018.“Geppi Gems” is now open in the Library’s Graphic Arts Gallery through mid-March 2022. A second rotation with different items is planned for spring 2022. The exhibition…

    • Date: 2021-10-20

  • October 12, 2021  (21-061)

    Library Announces Teaching with Primary Sources Grant Recipients The Library of Congress has announced the selection of 85 organizations that will receive approximately $4.25 million in grants through its Teaching with Primary Sources program.These organizations will connect the Library to diverse learner communities across the United States by delivering educational programs, creating primary source-based educational materials and tools, conducting research, and convening gatherings of similar organizations to devise new strategies for furthering…

    • Date: 2021-10-12

  • October 7, 2021  (21-060)

    Library Seeks Applicants for the 2022 Junior Fellows Program The Library of Congress is seeking applicants for its next Junior Fellows Summer Internship Program, which will run from May 23, 2022, to July 29, 2022. This 10-week paid internship is open to undergraduate and graduate students interested in learning and conducting research at the largest library in the world. For the third year in a row, the internship will be conducted virtually. The…

    • Date: 2021-10-07

  • October 6, 2021  (21-062)

    Library of Congress National Book Festival Draws More Than 317,000 Views Book lovers joined the Library of Congress National Book Festival from across the country over 10 days this year, totaling more than 317,000 views to date across a variety of platforms, including virtual events with authors and videos on demand. The festival reached even more people through a national television special, new podcast interviews and events hosted by partners across the country.The festival, held…

    • Date: 2021-10-06

  • October 5, 2021  (21-058)

    Library of Congress Launches Season 2 of La Biblioteca Podcast As part of the celebrations for Hispanic Heritage Month, today the Library of Congress launched Season 2 of La Biblioteca podcast, a six-part series titled Exploring Latinx Civil Rights in the United States, which zeros in on seminal civil rights cases and events.The English-language series derives from A Latinx Resource Guide: Civil Rights Cases and Events in the United States, created by Hermán Luis…

    • Date: 2021-10-05

September 2021

  • September 30, 2021  (21-059)

    Library of Congress Rings in New School Year with Albert Einstein Fellows The Library of Congress has announced it will host two Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellows for the 2021-2022 school year. Fellows will work closely with the Library’s Professional Learning and Outreach Initiatives Office to make primary sources from the Library’s collections more accessible and useful for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) educators throughout the United States.Lesley Anderson, a high school science and mathematics…

    • Date: 2021-09-30

  • September 28, 2021  (21-057)

  • September 20, 2021  (21-056)

    Jason Reynolds to Serve Third Year as National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature The Library of Congress and Every Child a Reader have announced that Jason Reynolds’s term as National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature will be extended to include a third year — for the first time in the history of the program.Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Reynolds connected virtually with thousands of students in rural areas of the country to engage in meaningful discussions. In 2022,…

    • Date: 2021-09-20

  • September 15, 2021  (21-055)

    Connecting Communities Digital Initiative Announces Three New Grant Opportunities Individuals and educational and cultural institutions who seek to amplify the stories of communities of color are invited to apply to new grant opportunities through the Of the People: Widening the Path Connecting Communities Digital Initiative at the Library of Congress.Of the People is a new, multi-part initiative funded by a $15 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to enable the Library…

    • Date: 2021-09-15

  • September 13, 2021  (21-054)

    Library of Congress Names New IT Leadership Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden has appointed Judith Conklin as the chief information officer of the Library of Congress and John Rutledge the deputy chief information officer. The two executives will serve as the Library’s senior information technology experts, ensuring technology operations are aligned with the Library’s strategic plan. Conklin will also serve as the primary adviser to the Librarian of Congress on all…

    • Date: 2021-09-13

  • September 10, 2021  (21-053)

    Library of Congress National Book Festival Announces Children’s and Teens Author Lineup The 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival will include an extraordinary lineup of authors for children, teens and kids of all ages – all featured in videos on demand accessible from the start of the festival, which runs Sept. 17-26.Five children’s authors and five teen authors will also participate in live, online Q&A events Sept. 25 and 26. Subscribe to the National Book…

    • Date: 2021-09-10

  • September 9, 2021  (21-050)

  • September 9, 2021  (21-052)

    Fall Concerts from the Library Announced for the 2021-22 Season The Library of Congress has announced a full lineup of events for the fall series of the 2021-2022 “Concerts from the Library of Congress” season. The virtual events will be complemented by conversations, lectures, curator talks and educational programs that reflect the diversity of the nation’s musical heritage.Consistent with social distancing and safety protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fall series is…

    • Date: 2021-09-09

  • September 8, 2021  (21-049)

    Library of Congress Announces Winners of 2021 Literacy Awards on International Literacy Day Three organizations working to expand literacy and promote reading will be awarded the 2021 Library of Congress Literacy Awards, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced today. Top prizes are being awarded to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the Parents as Teachers National Center and the Luminos Fund.The Literacy Awards, originated by David M. Rubenstein in 2013, honor organizations doing exemplary, innovative and replicable work. The…

    • Date: 2021-09-08

  • September 7, 2021  (21-051)

    National Book Festival to Feature Two Programs on Washington Post Live The Washington Post and the Library of Congress today announced a collaboration to host two National Book Festival programs on Washington Post Live to kick off the festival on Sept. 17. The festival runs through Sept. 26.To mark the start of this year’s festival, audiences are invited to tune in to Washington Post Live for live-streamed conversations with two notable voices.Friday, Sept. 17 11…

    • Date: 2021-09-07

  • September 2, 2021  (21-048)

    Library of Congress and NPR Announce National Book Festival Podcast Series NPR and the Library of Congress are proud to announce a collaboration between the National Book Festival and several of NPR’s most popular podcasts. NPR journalists always interview authors at the Festival and will continue to do so, but this year for the first time, there will be an interview series with National Book Festival authors publishing across NPR’s podcast feeds as part of…

    • Date: 2021-09-02

  • September 1, 2021  (21-047)

    Library of Congress Releases Data for Free Download and Discovery The Library of Congress announced today its third release of records in its online catalog for free bulk download for research and discovery. The release supports the Library’s effort to continuously expand open access to its vast collections.This MARC (Machine Readable Cataloging Records) release surpasses previous releases and adds more than 200,000 new records to the existing 25 million record database.Releases of MARC data…

    • Date: 2021-09-01

August 2021

  • August 30, 2021  (21-046)

    Library of Congress Appoints New Chief of Latin American, Caribbean and European Division The Library of Congress has appointed Suzanne Schadl as the chief of the Latin American, Caribbean and European Division. Schadl brings more than 25 years of experience as a scholar, educator, and librarian in library leadership and international studies.Since 2018, Schadl has served as Chief of the Hispanic Division at the Library of Congress, where she led efforts to successfully rebrand the Archive of…

    • Date: 2021-08-30

  • August 25, 2021  (21-043)

    Library of Congress and Harvard University Form Historic Collaboration on Islamic Law Collections The Library of Congress and Harvard Law School have initiated an unprecedented, multifaceted joint collaboration to identify, select and assess the copyright status of materials focusing on national legal gazettes.The effort, initially set for three years, will coordinate access to, knowledge-sharing, and legal analysis of Library of Congress’ collections related to Islamic law, including national legal gazettes, manuscripts and other materials. It will also…

    • Date: 2021-08-25

  • August 24, 2021  (21-045)

    Library of Congress National Book Festival Announces Schedule of Events The 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival will feature more than 100 authors, poets and writers in a range of formats — all celebrating the festival theme, “Open a Book, Open the World.” The 2021 virtual festival programs will roll out over 10 days in an extended schedule Sept. 17-26.The schedule of programs is now available on loc.gov/bookfest. The 2021 festival will invite…

    • Date: 2021-08-24

  • August 17, 2021  (21-044)

    LeVar Burton to Host TV Special Featuring Library of Congress National Book Festival on PBS Television viewers can see an inspiring introduction to the 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival and its exciting lineup of authors, poets and writers in a one-hour special this September on PBS.“Open a Book, Open the World: The Library of Congress National Book Festival,” hosted by LeVar Burton, will premiere Sunday, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org…

    • Date: 2021-08-17

  • August 12, 2021  (21-042)

    Librarian of Congress Announces Three Executive Appointments Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden today announced three top leadership appointments that together bring decades of experience in the field of library advocacy, services, management, and planning.Jason Broughton will serve as Director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Aslihan Bulut has been appointed as Law Librarian of Congress, and Robin Dale has been named Deputy Librarian for Library Collections…

    • Date: 2021-08-12

  • August 3, 2021  (21-041)

    Library of Congress to Host Congress.gov Public Forum On Thursday, Sept. 2, the Library of Congress will host a virtual public forum to provide an update on the latest enhancements to Congress.gov and to gather feedback about the site, which serves as the official, authoritative source for federal legislative information.Building on the public forum hosted in September 2020, participants will hear from Library technology specialists, legislative information experts and data partners from…

    • Date: 2021-08-03

July 2021

  • July 29, 2021  (21-040)

    Speculative Annotation Invites Public to Interact with Digitized Collections at the Library of Congress Students, educators and learners of all ages are invited to interact with select items in the Library’s collections with the launch of Speculative Annotation, the latest experiment from LC Labs.Created by artist and 2021 Innovator in Residence Courtney McClellan, Speculative Annotation is an open-source dynamic web application and public art project. The app presents a unique mini collection of free-to-use items from the Library…

    • Date: 2021-07-29

  • July 23, 2021  (21-039)

    Library of Congress Offers Grants to Support Contemporary Cultural Field Research within Diverse Communities The Library of Congress is offering a new series of grants to individuals and organizations working to document cultures and traditions of Black, Indigenous, and communities of color traditionally underrepresented in the United States. The Community Collections grants from the Library’s American Folklife Center will enable many to document their cultural life and experiences from their own perspectives, while enriching the Library’s holdings with…

    • Date: 2021-07-23

  • July 6, 2021  (21-037)

    Library of Congress Adds ‘A Century of Lawmaking’ to Congress.gov The Library of Congress announced today that U.S. congressional records dating back to the days of printing presses and the telegraph are now easily accessible on mobile devices. With this latest update of Congress.gov — the official website for U.S. federal legislative information — the Library has transitioned over 33,000 bills and resolutions crafted by Congress between 1799 and 1873 (the 6th to 42nd…

    • Date: 2021-07-06

June 2021

  • June 30, 2021  (21-035)

    Joy Williams to Receive 2021 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced today that the 2021 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction will be awarded to Joy Williams, who is receiving the prize for a lifetime of outstanding work.One of the Library’s most prestigious awards, the annual Prize for American Fiction honors an American literary writer whose body of work is distinguished not only for its mastery of the…

    • Date: 2021-06-30

  • June 24, 2021  (21-036)

    Library of Congress to Celebrate the Return of Visitors to the Thomas Jefferson Building in July The Library of Congress will re-open its doors to visitors with free but limited timed and ticketed entry three days a week, starting on Thursday, July 15. Guests will be able to explore the spectacular Thomas Jefferson Building and several exhibits, including Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words, Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight For the Vote, Thomas Jefferson’s Library, Exploring the Early Americas,…

    • Date: 2021-06-24

  • June 22, 2021  (21-034)

    Library of Congress Announces Copyright Public Modernization Committee The Library of Congress announced today the membership of the new Copyright Public Modernization Committee (CPMC), which is being convened to enhance communication and provide a public forum for the technology-related aspects of the U.S. Copyright Office’s modernization initiative. The first CPMC meeting will be hosted by the Library on July 22, 2021.As announced in the Federal Register in February 2021, the CPMC is…

    • Date: 2021-06-22

  • June 21, 2021  (21-030)

    New Book Explores Views of Japan Over Time through American Children’s Books Beginning in the 19th century, children’s books provided American readers with their first impressions of Japan. Packed with fascinating details about daily life in a distant land, these publications often presented a mixture of facts, stereotypes and complete fabrications.“Japan and American Children’s Books: A Journey” documents the evolving portrayal of Japan in American children’s books over nearly 200 years, highlighting the shift from fanciful…

    • Date: 2021-06-21

  • June 21, 2021  (21-033)

    Library to Present 4th Annual Summer Movies on the Lawn The Library of Congress will host its fourth annual “Summer Movies on the Lawn” outdoor film festival this summer, starting on July 15. The series of five movies, which showcases iconic films from the Library’s National Film Registry, will be presented on Thursday evenings at sundown between July 15 and Aug. 12 on the north lawn of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building, across the…

    • Date: 2021-06-21

  • June 17, 2021  (21-032)

    Renowned Digital Humanities Researchers Begin Computing Cultural Heritage in the Cloud Three renowned researchers in digital humanities and computer science are joining forces with the Library of Congress on three inaugural Computing Cultural Heritage in the Cloud projects, exploring how biblical quotations, photographic styles and “fuzzy searches” reveal more about the collections in the world’s largest Library than first meets the eye.Supported by a $1 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded in…

    • Date: 2021-06-17

Source

Broward County School Board Approves the 2022/23 School Calendar

Broward County School Board Approves the 2022/23 School CalendarMark your calendar! The School Board of Broward County, Florida approved the 2022/23 school calendar at its Tuesday, December 14, School Board meeting. The first day of school for the 2022/23 school year is Tuesday, August 16, 2022. The last day of school is Thursday, June 8, 2023.  

The approved calendar includes a week-long Thanksgiving break, includes two full weeks for Winter Break and incorporates additional days off that reflect the diversity of the District.  

The Superintendent’s Calendar Committee began the rigorous process of developing the school calendar in April 2021. In October 2021, the committee developed a survey asking parents, teachers, staff and community members to provide feedback regarding four proposed calendar options for the 2022/23 school calendar. The majority of stakeholders preferred the calendar option amended and approved by the School Board. 

The 2022/23 School Calendar highlights include:  

First Day for Teachers’ Planning – Tuesday, August 9, 2022 

First Day of School of School for Students – Tuesday, August 16, 2022 

Thanksgiving Break – Monday, November 21 – Friday, November 25, 2022 

Winter Break – Monday, December 26, 2022 – Friday, January 6, 2023

Early Release Day – Tuesday, February 14, 2023, “A Day of Service and Love” 

Spring Break – Monday, March 20 – Friday, March 24, 2023 

Last Day of School for Students – Thursday, June 8, 2023 

Last Day of School for Teachers – Friday, June 9, 2023 

The approved calendar also includes 10 teacher planning days, six early release days and days designated for interim report cards, report cards, holidays and contingencies for up to six hurricane makeup days, if needed.  

View the 2022/23 Calendar Synopsis at https://bit.ly/3oWNt31. 

 

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ABOUT BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS   

“Committed to educating all students to reach their highest potential.”    

Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is the sixth-largest school district in the nation and the second-largest in the state of Florida. BCPS is Florida’s first fully accredited school system since 1962. BCPS has nearly 261,500 students and approximately 110,000 adult students in 241 schools, centers and technical colleges, and 93 charter schools. BCPS serves a diverse student population, with students representing 170 different countries and 147 different languages. To connect with BCPS, visit browardschools.com, follow us on Twitter @browardschools, on Facebook at facebook.com/browardschools and download the free BCPS mobile app. 

Source

Lee Elder becomes first Black golfer to play in Masters

On April 10, 1975, 41-year-old Lee Elder becomes the first Black golfer to play in the Masters, considered the most prestigious event in the sport. Elder shoots 37 on the front and back nine for a 74 at the Augusta (Georgia) National Golf Club and trails leader Bobby Nichols by seven strokes. “I didn’t have any nervousness whatsoever,” Elder says after the round.

In Round 2, Elder shot a 78 and missed the cut in the tournament, won by Jack Nicklaus. Elder had qualified for the Masters by winning the 1974 Monsanto Open.

Many considered Elder’s historic achievement long overdue for the Masters and Augusta National and for a sport that had never been known for racial tolerance. The Professional Golfers Association, the organizer of the main professional tours played by men in North America, didn’t approve participation of African Americans in events it co-sponsored until 1952.

Augusta National didn’t have a Black member until 1990 (businessman Ron Townsend) or female member until 2012 (former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice).

“[Elder] was greeted with applause 31 times during his round,” wrote New York Times columnist Dave Anderson. “But it was polite applause, not really enthusiastic, not the emotional bursts that greet Ahnuld Palma, for example. And at no time was Elder’s name on the leader board where he belonged because of his historic round.”

Elder returned to play the Masters from 1977-81. His best finish was a tie for 17th in 1979.

Twenty-two years after Elder’s groundbreaking achievement, Tiger Woods became the first Black golfer to capture the green jacket, launching one of the greatest careers in golf history.

At the 2021 Masters, Elder was given the honor of hitting the ceremonial opening tee shot alongside six-time champion Nicklaus and three-time winner Gary Player. But he was not well enough to hit a shot.

Elder died on November 28, 2021. He was 87. “The game of golf lost a hero,” Nicklaus said.

Source

Effa Manley becomes first woman elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

On February 27, 2006, baseball pioneer Effa Manley becomes the first woman elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Manley, who died in 1981, was co-owner of the Newark (New Jersey) Eagles, a Negro League powerhouse, and a huge advocate for Black ballplayers and civil rights causes. 

“She’s deserving; she did a lot for the game,” said Hall of Famer Monte Irvin, who played for the Eagles in the 1940s. Irvin, who starred for the New York Giants in the big leagues, was among MLB’s first Black players. 

“This is a historic day at the Hall of Fame,” HOF president Dale Petroskey said. “I hoped that someday there would be a woman in the Hall.”

READ MORE: How the Only Woman in Baseball Hall of Fame Challenged Convention—and MLB

Manley, who co-owned the Eagles with her husband, Abe, ran the business side for the team—Abe had little interest in that role. She eventually assumed many other duties. 

“Little by little, I found myself doing more and more, and I finally just ended up completely involved,” Manley said in a 1977 interview.  

In the 1940s, Manley feuded with the management from big-league teams, who pursued Negro League stars after Jackie Robinson’s signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers broke MLB’s color line in 1947. General manager Branch Rickey, who signed Robinson, was among her adversaries.

As baseball owner, Manley held an Anti-Lynching Day at the ballpark.

“She did a lot for the Newark community,” Irvin said. “She was a well-rounded, influential person.” 

Source

NCAA adopts controversial Proposition 48

On January 13, 1986, NCAA schools vote to adopt Proposition 48, a controversial regulation that mandates minimum high school grades and scores on standardized college entrance exames for student-athletes to participate in sports as freshmen. The proposition, which passes by a large margin, has a disproportional impact on Black male athletes.

According to NCAA statistics, only 51 percent of Black male athletes would have qualified for the 1982 season had the bylaw already been in effect, the Hartford Courant reported. “There is no question that some of the most highly skilled athletes will not be competing as freshman,” said Wilford Bailey, NCAA secretary-treasurer, of Proposition 48.

The historically Black schools, led by Grambling State president Joseph Johnson, adamantly objected to the bylaw. “This rule will deny Blacks equal protection and opportunity. Those who proposed it, knew it,” he said.

Proposition 48 required incoming freshmen to maintain a 2.0 grade-point average n the core curriculum of 11 courses in English, math and sciences as well as score 700 or more on the SAT or a 15 on the ACT. The SAT and ACT are standardized college entrance exams. 

The day after Proposition 48 was passed, Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson walked off the court in protest before a game against Boston College.

“I’ve done this because, out of frustration, you’re limited in your options of what you can do in response to something I felt was very wrong,” Thompson said.

The NCAA has adjusted the regulation over the years, but it has remained in effect since 1986.

Source

All-female team competes in America’s Cup sailing for first time

On January 13, 1995, America3, an all-female sailing team, wins the first race of the America’s Cup defender trials, easily beating Team Dennis Conner by a little more than a minute. The team is the sport’s first all-women team to compete in the 144-year history of the America’s Cup, the world’s oldest continually contested sporting trophy. The Cup represents the pinnacle of international sailing yacht competition.

America3 (pronounced “America Cubed”) was the brainchild of Bill Koch, a millionaire businessman and skipper of the 1992 America’s Cup-winning vessel. Koch wanted to pique American interest in the sport and field a competitive sailing team. So, he assembled a 23-member team that included female sailors, rowers and professional weightlifters to take on Conner’s team in the defender trials.

The navigator aboard Koch’s boat was 26-year racing veteran Ann Nelson, who had won more than 50 championships as part of the U.S. Women’s World Sailing team. The silver medalist in the 1984 Olympic board sailing exhibition didn’t shy from confrontation with Conner, who reportedly made crude comments to Nelson and her teammates the summer before the race.

The pre-race controversy made for great theater leading up to the race, which was expected to be an easy victory for Conner’s newer boat and more experienced team. However, Conner’s team made a critical prestart gaffe by not allowing America3 right of way, resulting in his boat having to take a penalty turn. That swung the race.

“In essence, the race was over at that point,” Conner said. “America3 had a 600- to 700-foot lead and did a good job with it through the rest of the race.”

However, America3 team lost the defender trials to Conner’s team. 

At the end of the trials, Koch was proud of what his team had accomplished, saying, “We had a top team that can compete with anyone… Next time an all-women’s team sails in the top of the competition, they can go all the way. That’s what this team has meant to the sport.”

No all-female team has won the America’s Cup.

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MLB commissioner suspends players in drug scandal

On February 28, 1986, Major League Baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth suspends 11 players. including some of the sport’s biggest names, for their involvement with illegal drugs. The suspensions are the most severe in the baseball since the infamous “Black Sox Scandal” in 1919. The commissioner doles out lesser penalties to 14 other players for their use of drugs.

Among those to receive the stiffest penalty, a conditional one-year suspension, were: Dave Parker (Cincinnati Reds), Keith Hernandez (New York Mets), Joaquin Andujar (Oakland Athletics), Lonnie Smith (Kansas City Royals), Enos Cabell (Los Angeles Dodgers), Jeff Leonard (San Francisco Giants) and Dale Berra (New York Yankees), son of Hall of Famer Yogi Berra.

All 21 players played in 1986 after meeting conditions set by the commissioner.

The penalities, the result of an investigation conducted by Ueberroth, came after players testified before a federal grand jury leading up to the September 1985 trials in Pittsburgh of drug traffickers. The scandal, known as the “Pittsburgh Drug Trials,” was one of the biggest in the sport’s history.

While under oath, Hernandez estimated 40 percent of MLB players used cocaine. Even the Pittsburgh Pirates’ mascot, the Pirate Parrott, was implicated for buying cocaine.

By the mid-1980s, major sports leagues realized cocaine use was a major problem.  The same week MLB announced the conditional suspensions, the NBA suspended Micheal Ray Richardson of the New Jersey Nets for life after he failed a third drug test for cocaine.

Ueberroth’s suspensions were much less severe because none of the players had failed drug tests and the abuse seemed to be a thing of the past. “Each player I met with maintains he is currently not using any drugs. I have no reason to doubt this,” he said in a statement following the suspensions.

In 1986, Parker and Hernandez played in the All-Star Game. 

However, several of the players involved in the scandal continued to struggle with substance abuse. Willie Aikens, who played for the Angels, Royals and Blue Jays, served time in prison for cocaine distribution.

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PGA approves participation of Black golfers

On January 19, 1952, Professional Golfers Association president Horton Smith announces that a seven-man committee “almost unanimously” votes to allow Black golfers to compete in PGA co-sponsored events. With the announcement, Smith hopes that Black golfers participate in the next two events, the Phoenix Open and Tucson Open. “I shall feel our efforts here will have gone for little if the plan doesn’t work out the next two events,” he says.

The push for inclusion into a sport dominated by whites came after pressure from former boxing champion Joe Louis, a talented amateur golfer. At the San Diego Open on January 17, 1952, Louis competed in the PGA-sanctioned event as an invited amateur. (As an amateur golfer, Louis wasn’t governed by PGA rules.) But professional Bill Spiller, a Black golfer, was denied entry in the tournament.

In response, Louis criticized the PGA, telling the New York Times, “I want people to know what the PGA is… We’ve got another Hitler to get by.” Louis told the Los Angeles Sentinel, “This is the last major sport in America in which Negroes are barred.”

The pressure from Louis worked, and Louis, Spiller, Ted Rhodes and Eural Clark would go onto break the PGA’s color barrier at the Phoenix Open.

But it would take years for the sport to approach full integration. In 1961, Charles Sifford became the first Black golfer to earn a PGA Tour card. He won the 1967 Greater Hartford Open Invitational and 1969 Los Angeles Open.

In 1975, Lee Elder became the first Black golfer to compete in the Masters—considered the sport’s most prestigious tournament—at famed Augusta National Golf Club. The club didn’t have a Black member until 1990 (businessman Ron Townsend) or female member until 2012 (former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice).

READ MORE: When Joe Louis Boxed Nazi Favorite Max Schmeling

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Jason Collins, first openly gay athlete to play in NBA, makes U.S. sports history

On February 23, 2014, Brooklyn Nets center Jason Collins becomes the first openly gay athlete to play in a game in the United States’ four major professional leagues. The 35-year-old journeyman plays 10 scoreless minutes, recording two rebounds and five fouls in the Nets’ 108-102 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

In May 2013, Collins revealed he is gay in a first-person essay in Sports Illustrated. “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m Black. And I’m gay,” he wrote. “I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation.”

READ MORE: LGBT History

Before his revelation, the seven-foot, 255-pound big man was primarily known as a solid defender and rebounder and the identical twin brother of NBA veteran Jarron Collins. 

Collins, unsigned through the first half of the 2013-14 season, got an opportunity with the Nets after Brooklyn made a trade to open a roster spot. He had played with the Nets for the first seven years of his NBA career. 

“The decision to sign Jason was a basketball decision,” Nets general manager Billy King said in a statement. “We needed to increase our depth inside, and with his experience and size, we felt he was the right choice for a 10-day contract.”

The reception for Collins, who played collegiately at Stanford, was mostly positive. Outspoken TV commentator and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley told the New York Daily News’ Mike Lupica: “This is a good day in terms of breaking another barrier, but we gotta get to the point where people stop worrying about this.”

Collins appeared in 22 games for the Nets in 2014, the final season of his 13-year career. 

In 2021, Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Carl Nassib became the first active NFL player to announce he is gay. No active NHL or Major League Baseball Player has  announced he is gay.

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Broward County Public Schools Receives Meritorious Budget Award

Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is proud to be recognized by the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) for excellence in school budget presentation with the Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) for the 2021/22 budget year.  

The BCPS Budget Office was awarded this honor for the preparation and issuance of the District’s 2021/22 operating budget. This prestigious award is conferred only on school districts that have met or exceeded the program’s stringent criteria, following a rigorous review by professional auditors. 

“Broward County Public Schools is proud of this recognition providing an in-depth budget document that ensures our budget information is accessible and clearly reflects the academic and operational priorities essential for our schools,” said BCPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Vickie L. Cartwright. “It acknowledges our commitment to engage the community in discussions about funding necessary to best support our students and schools.”  

The award represents a significant achievement in adhering to the principles and standards of ASBO International’s Meritorious Budget Award criteria and reflects a commitment to fiscal integrity and high-quality financial reporting. 

“Districts that apply to the MBA or Pathway to the MBA programs recognize the importance of presenting a high-quality, easy-to-understand budget internally and to the community,” ASBO International Executive Director David J. Lewis explains. “By participating in the programs, not only do districts have access to the tools and resources they need to communicate the district’s goals and objectives clearly, they demonstrate their commitment to upholding nationally recognized budget presentation standards.” 

 

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ABOUT BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS  a

“Committed to educating all students to reach their highest potential.”   

Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is the sixth-largest school district in the nation and the second-largest in the state of Florida. BCPS is Florida’s first fully accredited school system since 1962. BCPS has nearly 261,500 students and approximately 110,000 adult students in 241 schools, centers and technical colleges, and 93 charter schools. BCPS serves a diverse student population, with students representing 170 different countries and 147 different languages. To connect with BCPS, visit browardschools.com, follow us on Twitter @browardschools, on Facebook at facebook.com/browardschools and download the free BCPS mobile app.

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