Government Document Depository

Did you know that Monmouth College is the oldest United States federal government document depository in the state of Illinois AND the fourth oldest in the nation? Monmouth College began collecting government publications in 1860, one hundred and ten years before Hewes Library even opened!

Hewes Library selects up to 16% of what the GPO (Government Printing Office) publishes from various government agencies. Most of the materials are now freely accessible online, but Monmouth still has many print sources dating back to the 1840s.

The age of this collection is uniquely useful as it allows researchers to trace the history and evolution of American governmental policies over the last 150 years. Some of the older volumes may be well-worn, but it’s the information inside them that counts.

Since many of the materials prior to 1994 are not in the online catalog, feel free explore the Hewes Library govdoc website, and ask a librarian for help finding materials!

~ written by Megan Horack ('17)

Pictured here, from top: Congressional Serials Set, Census publications, Atlas of the Union and Confederate Armies

Thanksgiving Facts from the US Census

Hewes Library is a Federal Depository Library of the US Government.  Every year, the US Census publishes Facts for Features articles which provide statistical snapshots for major US holidays.  A few of their Thanksgiving statistics are below and you can view the full article online.  Here's to getting in the Thanksgiving spirit!

A few of this year's Thanksgiving statistics:

254 million
The number of turkeys raised in the United States in 2012. That is up 2 percent from the number raised during 2011.
 Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service,
 <http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/TurkRaisSu/TurkRaisSu-09-28-2012.pdf>

$23.1 million
The value of U.S. imports of live turkeys for 2012, with 99.8 percent of them coming from Canada. When it comes to sweet potatoes, the Dominican Republic was the source of 51.1 percent ($4.6 million) of total imports ($9.1 million). The United States ran a $17.6 million trade deficit in live turkeys during the period but had a surplus of $71.2 million in sweet potatoes.
 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics
 <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/>

768 million pounds
The forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2012. Wisconsin was estimated to lead all states in the production of cranberries, with 450 million pounds, followed by Massachusetts (estimated at 210 million).
New Jersey, Oregon and Washington were also estimated to have substantial production, ranging from 14 to 54 million pounds.
 Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service,
 <http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/Cran/Cran-08-14-2012.pdf>

2.6 billion pounds
The total weight of sweet potatoes — another popular Thanksgiving side dish — produced by major sweet potato producing states in 2012. North Carolina (1.2 billion pounds) produced more sweet potatoes than any other state, followed by California, Mississippi and Louisiana.
 Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service,
 <http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProdSu/CropProdSu-01-11-2013.pdf>

4
Number of places in the United States named after the holiday's traditional main course. Turkey Creek, La., was the most populous in 2012, with 440 residents, followed by Turkey, Texas (415), Turkey, N.C. (295) and Turkey Creek, Ariz. (294). There are also two townships in Pennsylvania with "Turkey" in the name: Upper Turkeyfoot and Lower Turkeyfoot. (Please note that the Turkey Creek, Ariz., population total pertains to the 2010 Census).
 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Population Estimates and American FactFinder, Table DP-1, 2010 Census Summary File 1
 <http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012-3.html>
 <http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US0477415>

7
Number of places and townships in the United States that are named Cranberry or some spelling variation of the acidic red berry (e.g., Cranbury, N.J.), a popular side dish at Thanksgiving. Cranberry Township (Butler County), Pa., was the most populous of these places in 2012, with 28,832 residents. Cranberry township (Venango County), Pa., was next (6,608). (Please note that population totals for the two places on the list that are census designated places — Cranbury, N.J., with a population of 2,181, and Cranberry Lake, N.Y., with a population of 200 — pertain to 2010.).
 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Population Estimates and 2010 Census Summary File 1
 <http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/index.html>
 <http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?fpt=table>

Treasures of the Collection: Official War Records Part III (post-Civil War)

Official War Records Part III (post-Civil War)

After the Civil war the U.S. military engaged in a number of conflicts, among them; the Spanish-American War, various Caribbean military interventions in the early 20th century, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts.  Most, but not all, of these conflicts were the subject of official government histories.    For the Spanish American War and the Caribbean interventions, no “official” government histories were written.  However after World War I the Historical Section of the Army War College wrote a 17 volume official history of the conflict and the Army’s participation in it.   Published in 1948 and republished in 1988 by the Center for Military History (CMH), these 17 volumes comprise the official record of the Army Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in Europe in 1917-1918.   Hewes library has the 1988 republication found at D114.8:

In the middle of World War II, the Army created the General Staff historical branch in July 1943 which is now known as CMH.  This organization composed of historians, translators, editors, and cartographers began the publication of the Army’s official history of World War II.  Now comprising 79 volumes, the Green Books as they are called are a detailed accounting of all aspects of the Army’s participation in that war.   Go downstairs to the Ds and look for the green backed books.  These will all be volumes in the Army’s official history (but some of the titles are tan, not green).  There are also official Marine Corps histories of the conflict found in the same section. 

Subsequently, CMH wrote a series of books on the Army’s participation in the Korean and Vietnam Wars and is currently writing a history of the Cold War.  The Navy and Air Force historians have also written histories of those services’ participation in various conflicts.  

All of the more recent military histories, regardless of service are found in the D section of the basement.  Here is a breakdown of the areas to check for more these histories.
Air Force Histories: D 301
Army Histories: D 114.7
Marine Corps: D 214.13
Navy Histories:  D 207.10 and D 221.2

Irish-American Heritage Month: Stats from the Census

The US Census Bureau compiled a list of statistics in honor of Irish-American Heritage Month and St. Patrick's Day.  From their press release:

"Originally a religious holiday to honor St. Patrick, who introduced Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into a celebration for all things Irish. The world's first St. Patrick's Day parade occurred on March 17, 1762, in New York City, featuring Irish soldiers serving in the English military. This parade became an annual event, with President Truman attending in 1948. Congress proclaimed March as Irish-American Heritage Month in 1995, and the president issues a proclamation commemorating the occasion each year."

A few interesting statistics:

34.5 million
Number of U.S. residents who claimed Irish ancestry in 2011. This number was more than seven times the population of Ireland itself (4.68 million). Irish was the nation's second most frequently reported ancestry, trailing only German.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey

7
Number of places in the United States named Shamrock, the floral emblem of Ireland. Mount Gay-Shamrock, W.Va., and Shamrock, Texas, were the most populous, with 1,585 and 1,929 residents, respectively. Shamrock Lakes, Ind., had 228 residents and Shamrock, Okla., 101. Three Shamrock Townships in Minnesota, Nebraska and Missouri had populations of 1,273, 301 and 40, respectively.
Source: 2010 Demographic Profile

In the month of St. Patrick's Day, the value of U.S. imports of beer made from malt increased, going from $288,073,597 in February 2012 to $374,076,005 in March 2012; in April of that same year the value of beer imports went back down to $334,769,134.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau: Foreign Trade Division USA Trade ® Online U.S. Import and Export Merchandise trade

$2.8 billion and $28.6 million
Value of beef and cabbage imported to the U.S. in 2011. Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional St. Patrick's Day dish.
Source: Foreign Trade Division

African-American History Month: Stats from the Census

The US Census Bureau has compiled an extensive list of statistics relating to African American History Month.  Their feature says:

"To commemorate and celebrate the contributions to our nation made by people of African descent, American historian Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week. The first celebration occurred on Feb. 12, 1926. For many years, the second week of February was set aside for this celebration to coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist/editor Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, as part of the nation's bicentennial, the week was expanded into Black History Month. Each year, U.S. presidents proclaim February as National African-American History Month."

A few of the highlighted statistics are:

2.3 million
Number of black military veterans in the United States in 2011.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey

3.1 million
Number of blacks enrolled in college in 2011, a 74.0 percent increase since 2001.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey

11.1 million
The number of blacks who voted in the 2010 congressional election, an increase from 10 percent of the total electorate in 2006 to 12 percent in 2010.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of 2010

$135.7 billion
Receipts for black-owned businesses in 2007, up 53.1 percent from 2002. The number of black-owned businesses totaled 1.9 million in 2007, up 60.5 percent.
Source: 2007 Survey of Business Owners

Hurricane Season: Facts from the US Census Bureau

The north Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and lasts through November 30.  With a few weeks left, we thought we would highlight some interesting statistics compiled by the US Census Bureau. 

37.3 million
Population as of July 1, 2011, of the coastal portion of states stretching from North Carolina to Texas — the areas most threatened by Atlantic hurricanes. Approximately 12 percent of the nation’s population live in these areas.
Source: 2011 Population Estimates http://factfinder2.census.gov

179,034
Collective land area in square miles of the coastal areas from North Carolina to Texas.
Source: Population estimates http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.html

7
The number of hurricanes during the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, four of them Category 3-strength or higher. Irene was the only hurricane to make landfall in the U.S., though Subtropical Storm Lee and Tropical Storm Don both made landfall on the Gulf Coast.
Source: National Hurricane Center http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2011atlan.shtml

1950
The year the Weather Bureau officially began naming hurricanes.
Source: Atlantic Oceanography and Meteorological Laboratory http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/J6.html

Alberto
The name of the first Atlantic storm of 2012. Hurricane names rotate in a six-year cycle with the 2012 list being a repeat of the 2006 names.
Source: National Hurricane Center http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml

2005
In one of the busiest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record, 28 named storms formed, forcing use of the alternate Greek alphabet scheme for the first time. When the National Hurricane Center’s list of 21 approved names runs out for the year, hurricanes are named after Greek letters. Of the 28 named storms in 2005, 15 were hurricanes, with four storms reaching Category 5 status (Dennis, Katrina, Rita and Wilma) and three more being considered major.
Source: Atlantic Oceanography and Meteorological Laboratory  http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/J6.html

Statistics from the US Census Bureau.

Database Highlight: FDsys, Federal Digital System

Developed by the GPO, Government Printing Office, the FDsys, Federal Digital System database is a portal to U.S. Government information and publications.  FDsys allows you to search for documents and publications issued by the US Government or browse by collection or government agency to learn more about a specific resource.
Currently, the following government collections - plus more - are available in the FDsys database:

• Budget of the United States Government
• Code of Federal Regulations
• Compilation of Presidential Documents
• Congressional Bills
• Congressional Documents
• Congressional Hearings
• Congressional Record
• Congressional Record Index
• Congressional Reports
• Economic Indicators
• Economic Report of the President
• Education Reports from ERIC
• Federal Register
• History of Bills
• Journal of the House of Representatives
• Public and Private Laws
• Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States
• United States Code
• United States Courts Opinions
• United States Statutes at Large

Irish-American Heritage Month Statistics from the Census Bureau

From the US Census Bureau:

"Originally a religious holiday to honor St. Patrick, who introduced Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into a celebration for all things Irish. The world's first St. Patrick's Day parade occurred on March 17, 1762, in New York City, featuring Irish soldiers serving in the English military. This parade became an annual event, with President Truman attending in 1948. Congress proclaimed March as Irish-American Heritage Month in 1995, and the President issues a proclamation commemorating the occasion each year." (1)

A few of the highlighted statistics available:

34.7 million

Number of U.S. residents who claimed Irish ancestry in 2010. This number was more than seven times the population of Ireland itself (4.58 million). Irish was the nation's second most frequently reported ancestry, trailing only German.  Sources: 2010 American Community Survey.

144,588

Number of Irish-born naturalized U.S. residents in 2010.  Source: 2010 American Community Survey.

7
Number of places in the United States named Shamrock, the floral emblem of Ireland. Mount Gay-Shamrock, W.Va., and Shamrock, Texas, were the most populous, with 1,779 and 1,910 residents, respectively. Shamrock Lakes, Ind., had 231 residents and Shamrock, Okla., 101, and three Shamrock Townships in Minnesota, Nebraska and Missouri had populations of 1,272, 413 and 40, respectively.  Source: 2010 Demographic Profile.

16

Number of places in the United States that share the name of Ireland's capital, Dublin. The most populous of these places is Dublin, Calif., with a population of 46,036.  Source: 2010 Demographic Profile.

26.4 billion and 2.3 billion

U.S. beef and cabbage production, respectively, in pounds, in 2010. Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional St. Patrick's Day dish.  Sources: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

$24 million

Value of potted florist chrysanthemum sales at wholesale in 2010 for operations with $100,000 or more sales. Lime green chrysanthemums are often requested for St. Patrick's Day celebrations.  Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Valentines Day Statistics from the US Government

The U.S. Census Bureau has created a series of statistics relating to Valetines Day.  You can view the full list online at their website.  A few examples:

Candy

1,177

Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2009, employing 34,252 people. California led the nation in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments, with 135, followed by Pennsylvania, with 111.  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns: 2009.

$12.6 billion

Total value of shipments in 2009 for firms producing chocolate and cocoa products. Nonchocolate confectionery product manufacturing, meanwhile, was a $7.4 billion industry.  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 Annual Survey of Manufactures.

24.7 pounds

Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2010. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Industrial Reports, Confectionery: 2010.

Flowers

$375 million

The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut flowers in 2010 for all flower-producing operations with $100,000 or more in sales. Among states, California was the leading producer, alone accounting for more than three-quarters of this amount ($286 million). Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

17,124

The number of florists nationwide in 2009. These businesses employed 75,855 people. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns.

Jewelry

24,973
Number of jewelry stores in the United States in 2009. Jewelry stores offer engagement, wedding and other rings to couples of all ages. In February 2011, these stores sold $2.27 billion in merchandise. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns.

Read a few more...

African-American History Month: Statistics from the Census

Black History Week was established in February 1926 by African-American historian Carter G. Woodson, who founded the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History. It expanded in 1976 to a month-long observance, this celebration of the contributions and achievements of African Americans was initially designed to encompass the birthday of the abolitionist orator and journalist Frederick Douglass (1817–1895) on February 14 as well as Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. (From Credo Reference)

The U.S. Census Bureau has assembled a collection of statistics relating to African-American History Month.  A few highlights:

42 million

The number of people who identified as black, either alone or in combination with one or more other races, in the 2010 Census. They made up 13.6 percent of the total U.S. population. The black population grew by 15.4 percent from 2000 to 2010.  Source: The Black Population: 2010.

38%

Percent of Mississippi's total population that was black in 2010. Mississippi led the nation in this category followed by Louisiana (33 percent), Georgia (32 percent), Maryland (31 percent), South Carolina (29 percent) and Alabama (27 percent).  Source: The Black Population: 2010.

2.4 million

Number of black military veterans in the United States in 2010.  Source: 2010 American Community Survey.

82%

Among blacks 25 and older, the percentage with a high school diploma or higher in 2010.  Source: 2010 American Community Survey.

55%

Turnout rate in the 2008 presidential election for the 18- to 24-year-old citizen black population, an 8 percentage point increase from 2004. Blacks had the highest turnout rate in this age group.  Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of 2008.

$135.7 billion

Receipts for black-owned businesses in 2007, up 53.1 percent from 2002. The number of black-owned businesses totaled 1.9 million in 2007, up 60.5 percent.  Source: 2007 Survey of Business Owners.

Super Bowl XLVI Statistics from the Census

Super Bowl XLVI will be played Feb. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis  It is the first time the Super Bowl has been played in Indiana. The Census Bureau has assembled some interesteing statistics about New York (Giants), Boston (New England Patriots), and Indianapolis (host city).

New York

1st

Where New York ranked on the list of the nation's most populous cities. The population of New York in 2010 was 8,175,133.  Source: 2010 Demographic Profile.

38.7 minutes

Average amount of time it took New York residents to get to work — 22.7 percent of the city's workers drove to work alone, 5.0 percent carpooled and 55.7 percent took public transportation. Nationally, it took workers an average of 25.3 minutes to get to work. The percentage of New York workers who drove to work alone and the percentage taking public transportation were significantly different from the national average and Indianapolis.  Source: 2010 American Community Survey.

33.4%

Percentage of New York residents 25 and older who had a bachelor's degree or higher in 2010; 79.6 percent had at least graduated from high school. The respective national figures were 28.2 percent and 85.6 percent. The percentage in New York who have graduated from high school did not differ significantly from the percentage for Indianapolis.  Source: 2010 American Community Survey.

Boston

22nd

Where Boston ranked on the list of the nation's most populous cities. The population of Boston in 2010 was 617,594. The Patriots actually play in suburban Foxborough, Mass., which had a 2010 Census population of 16,865.  Source: 2010 Demographic Profile.

28.4 minutes

Average amount of time it took Boston residents to get to work — 38.3 percent of the city's workers drove to work alone, 7.3 percent carpooled and 32.8 percent took public transportation. Nationally, it took workers an average of 25.3 minutes to get to work. The percentage of Boston workers who drove to work alone and the percentage taking public transportation were significantly different from the national average and Indianapolis.  Source: 2010 American Community Survey.

44.3%

Percentage of Boston residents 25 and older who had a bachelor's degree or higher in 2010; 85.8 percent had at least graduated from high school. The respective national figures were 28.2 percent and 85.6 percent. The percentage in Boston who had at least a bachelor's degree was significantly higher from the percentage for Indianapolis.  Source: 2010 American Community Survey.

Indianapolis (host city)

12th

Where Indianapolis ranked on the list of the nation's most populous cities. The population of Indianapolis in 2010 was 820,445.  Source: 2010 Demographic Profile.

22.2 minutes

Average amount of time it took Indianapolis residents to get to work — 82.6 percent of the city's workers drove to work alone, 9.2 percent carpooled and 1.8 percent took public transportation. Nationally, it took workers an average of 25.3 minutes to get to work.  Source: 2010 American Community Survey.

26.7%

Percentage of Indianapolis residents 25 and older who had a bachelor's degree or higher in 2010; 83.8 percent had at least graduated from high school. The respective national figures were 28.2 percent and 85.6 percent.  Source: 2010 American Community Survey.

Bill of Rights Anniversary

Today, December 15, is Bill of Rights Day.  On December 15, 1791, the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, became effective following ratification by the state of Virginia.  Learn more about the Bill of Rights:

• US National Archives' Bill of Rights with full transcript.
• Library of Congress' Primary Documents in American History: The Bill of Rights.
• The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation from the Government Printing Office (GPO).
• National Constitution Center's Interactive Constitution & Bill of Rights.
• Bill of Rights from the Milestone Documents Collection.
• The Charters of Freedom from the US National Archives, which includes information on the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence.

US Government Resources for the Holidays

Interesting government resources from across the web:

• 2011 National Christmas Tree from the National Park Service
• Bureau of Transportation Statistics: Numbers on Holiday Travel
• Will we have a White Christmas?  Track weather and statistics with information from the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC).
• Keep your Christmas tree safe!  Read more on decorating safely for the holidays from the U.S. Fire Administration.

USA.gov writes: "Various ethnic and religious groups in America celebrate days with special meaning to them even though these are not national holidays. Jews, for example, observe their high holy days in September, Muslims celebrate Ramadan, African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa, Irish Americans celebrate the old country's patron saint, St. Patrick, on March 17, and Mardi Gras is the day before the Christian season of Lent begins and is a big occasion in New Orleans, Louisiana, where huge parades and wild revels take place. There are many other such religious and ethnic celebrations in the United States."

Access to electronic datbase resources are limited to the students, staff, and faculty of Monmouth College.

Holiday Retail Statistics from the US Govnt.

Want to wow your family with some great statistics over the holiday table?  Read the latest statistics on consumer spending this holiday season.  View the full set of statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau on the Holiday Season:

$27.2 billion

Retail sales by the nation's department stores (including leased departments) in December 2010. This represented a 44 percent jump from the previous month (when retail sales, many holiday-related, registered $18.8 billion). No other month-to-month increase in department store sales last year was as large.  Other U.S. retailers with sizable jumps in sales between November and December 2010 were clothing stores (33 percent); radio, TV and other electronics stores (44 percent); sporting goods stores (58 percent); bookstores (92 percent); and jewelry stores (113 percent).   Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Service Sector Statistics http://www.census.gov/retail

Note: Leased departments are separately owned businesses operated as departments or concessions of other service establishments or of retail businesses, such as a separately owned shoeshine parlor in a barber shop, or a beauty shop in a department store. Also, retail sales and inventory estimates have not been adjusted to account for seasonal or pricing variations.

14%
The percentage of total 2010 sales for department stores (including leased departments) in December. For jewelry stores, the percentage was 20 percent.  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Service Sector Statistics http://www.census.gov/retail

24%
The growth in inventories by our nation's department stores (excluding leased departments) from Aug. 31 to Nov. 30, 2010. Thanks to the holiday crowds, inventories plummeted by 22 percent in December.  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Service Sector Statistics http://www.census.gov/retail

$34 billion
Value of retail sales by electronic shopping and mail-order houses in December 2010 — the highest total for any month last year.  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Service Sector Statistics http://www.census.gov/retail

21,891
The number of electronic shopping and mail-order houses in business in 2009. These businesses, which employed 320,721 workers, are a popular source of holiday gifts (NAICS code 45411).

If you're not sure where to do your shopping, choices of retail establishments abound: In 2009, there were 150,205 clothing and clothing accessories stores (NAICS code 448); 8,663 department stores (NAICS code 4521); 8,424 hobby, toy and game shops (NAICS code 45112); 27,738 gift, novelty and souvenir shops (NAICS code 45322); 21,628 sporting goods stores (NAICS code 45111); 24,973 jewelry stores (NAICS code 44831); and 9,390 book stores (NAICS code 451211) across the nation. The figures shown are for locations with paid employees and do not include nonemployer firms (i.e. firms with no paid employees). NAICS — North American Industry Classification System  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/index.html

Holiday Season Statistics from the US Government

With the holiday season upon us, do you ever stop to wonder how busy the country gets?  Take a look at some of the statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau on the Holiday Season:

Christmas Trees and Decorations


$983 million:
The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China between January and September 2011. China was the leading country of origin for such items. Similarly, China was the leading foreign source of artificial Christmas trees shipped to the United States ($79.7 million worth) during the same period. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/

Where the Toys are ... Made

88:
Number of establishments around the country that primarily manufactured dolls and stuffed toys in 2009. California led the nation with 15 locations.  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code 339931, http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/index.html

579:
The number of locations that primarily produced games, toys and children's vehicles in 2009; they employed 7,858 workers. California led the nation with 98 establishments.  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code 339932, http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/index.html

$2.5 billion:
The value of U.S. toy imports including stuffed toys (including dolls), puzzles and electric trains from China between January and September 2011. China was the leading country of origin for stuffed toys coming into this country, as well as for a number of other popular holiday gifts. These include roller skates ($24.6 million), sports footwear ($253.8 million) and basketballs ($38.9 million). China leads Thailand as the leading supplier of ice skates ($17.7 million versus $9.8 million), with Canada ranking third ($4.2 million). Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/

Hanukkah and Kwanzaa

50%:
Proportion of the nation's spuds produced in Idaho and Washington in 2010. Potato latkes are always a crowd pleaser during Hanukkah.  Source: National Agriculture Statistics Service http://www.nass.usda.gov/
http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/Pota/Pota-09-29-2011.pdf

$1.5 billion:
The value of product shipments of candles in 2009 by the nation's manufacturers. Many of these candles are lit during Hanukkah and Kwanzaa celebrations.  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of Manufacturers, NAICS Code 3399995; http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DatasetMainPageServlet?_program=EAS&_submenuId=&_lang=en&_ts=

New Year's Eve and Day

More than 312 million
The nation's projected population as we ring in the New Year.  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.html

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Highligted on SAU.gov, each December 7 is "National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day." The Day honors the more than 2,400 military service personnel who died on December 7, 1941, during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by Japanese forces. The attack on Pearl Harbor caused the United States to enter World War II, which lasted until Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945.


The World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument is a national monument honoring several military engagements in World War II and is in three states.

Learn more about Pearl Harbor:

• Library of Congress: Air Raid on Pearl Harbor
• U.S. Department of Defense: Remembering Pearl Harbor
• National Park Service's Remembering the USS Arizona
• U.S. National Archives collections of World War II Photographs
• World War II Memorial from the National Park Service
• Library of Congress Information for Researchers on World War II
• WWII teaching resources from Federal Resources for Educational Excellence
• "Man on the Street Interviews" after Pearl Harbor from the Library of Congress
• Presidential Proclamation--National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Foreign Relations of the United States Series: 150th Anniversary

The following is a message from the Historian, Special Projects Division, Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State and it was sent to all Federal depository libraries.  Monmouth College has been a FDLP Library since 1860.


December 3, 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) series, the largest and most comprehensive series of its type in the world. First published in 1861, the series has become a leading example of governmental openness and embodies the U.S. Government's commitment to responsible transparency. Over the past 150 years, FRUS evolved to become the official documentary history of U.S. foreign policy decision-making and major diplomatic activity. The series is prepared according to scholarly best practices under a 1991 Congressional mandate for "thorough, accurate, and reliable" coverage and timely release.

To mark the 150th anniversary of the FRUS series, the Office of the Historian at the U.S. Department of State has delved into the story of how the series evolved over time. This research engages many important themes in U.S. history, including the transformation of government institutions, changing conceptions of national security and transparency, and the increasingly important role that the United States has played in the world. Learn about the history of the series; research posts, videos, and original documents; as well as outreach efforts from the Office of the Historian.

The FRUS series now comprises more than 400 individual volumes. The current title, Foreign Relations of the United States, is distributed to Federal depository libraries in paper and electronic format.  You can view:

• Recently published and future publications
• Archived Volumes

Thanksgiving Resources from the US Government

The US Government has some wonderful resources on the Thanksgiving holidays, its history, and its traditions.  Check out some of the following resources to learn more information:

• Thanksgiving in North America: From Local Harvests to National Holiday from the Smithsonian Institution
• November is American Indian Heritage Month - learn more at the Smithsonian Institution.
• 2011 Presidential Thanksgiving Proclaimation.
• Traditional pardoning of the Presidential Thanksgiving Turkey.
• Learn more about Food Safety with the Turkey Preparation Fact Sheets from the Food Safety and Inspection Service, which is part of the USDA.
• American Recipe resources from USA.gov.
• Highlights from the American Memory Collection: Thanksgiving at the Library of Congress.
• The Pilgrims' Real First Thanksgiving from the Department of Defense.
• Kids.gov provides information on getting children involved in preparing a Thanksgiving meal.
• Reminder from the US Department of Health and Human Services that Thanksgiving is also National Family Health History Day.

Thanksgiving Statistics

Want to impress your family members over the dinner table this Thanksgiving?  Take a look at the Thanksgiving Day Statistics from the US Census Bureau.  You can find information such as:

• 248 million: The number of turkeys expected to be raised in the United States in 2011. That's up 2 percent from the number raised during 2010. The turkeys produced in 2010 together weighed 7.11 billion pounds and were valued at $4.37 billion.  Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.
• 750 million pounds: The forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2011. Wisconsin is expected to lead all states in the production of cranberries, with 430 million pounds, followed by Massachusetts (210 million). New Jersey, Oregon and Washington are also expected to have substantial production, ranging from 17 million to 54 million pounds. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.
• 2.4 billion pounds: The total weight of sweet potatoes — another popular Thanksgiving side dish — produced by major sweet potato producing states in 2010. North Carolina (972 million pounds) produced more sweet potatoes than any other state. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service .
• 1.1 billion pounds: Total production of pumpkins in the major pumpkin-producing states in 2010. Illinois led the country by producing 427 million pounds of the vined orange gourd. Pumpkin patches in California, New York and Ohio also provided lots of pumpkins: Each state produced at least 100 million pounds. The value of all pumpkins produced by major pumpkin-producing states was $117 million.  Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

On Display: Weather

Currently on display is a collection of library materials relating to weather and its history.  Many of the documents come from Hewes Library's Government Documents Collection.  A few government publications highlight, NOAA - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is responsible for many of our daily weather updates and hazardous weather warnings.

If you are interested in any of the titles on display, please see a library staff member at the Ciruclation Desk to check the item out.