We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 56. Smallpox outbreaks were an ongoing concern of both the Continental Congress and the Continental Army. Members like Samuel Huntington of CT also contracted the disease while serving in Congress. https://loom.ly/Par4Kjo#America250

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 55. Delegates to the 1st Continental Congress often ate well. On John Adams's dinner on 9/8/1775, consisted of: "Curds and Creams, Jellies, Sweet meats of various sorts, 20 sorts of Tarts, [&] fools." https://loom.ly/shKScuQ

#HappyBirthday to the 1st #WomenInCongress, Rep Jeannette Rankin of #MT, #OTD in 1880. https://loom.ly/-1JTMeo#HappyBirthday

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 54. In November 1775, rations for the Continental Army were set by the Continental Congress. Some items, like beef and bread are familiar, and others, like salt fish and spruce beer, are less-seen today. https://loom.ly/Par4Kjo

Play ball! Congressional Baseball Game is tonight. #HouseCollection #CBG25 https://loom.ly/rdcBvrM

Don't save it for the 7th inning stretch. Catch up on your #CongressionalBaseball history. Play Ball! #CBG25 https://loom.ly/ZdVLPAg

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 53. As a Delegate to the First Continental Congress, George Washington brought one of his favorite hounds, a six-year-old dog named Sweetlips, with him to Philadelphia in 1774. https://loom.ly/Par4Kjo

Ahead of tomorrow's #CongressionalBaseballGame, look back on the history of the game with longtime team manager Mike Doyle of PA in a new #OralHistory interview. #HistoryBlog https://loom.ly/kQBRHQE

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 52. The Cont. and Confed. Congresses met in 9 different locations across 15 years. The shortest stay was at the Court House in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where the 2nd Cont. Congress met for only one day. https://loom.ly/bDGtM0s

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 51. The closing days of the Confederation Congress were a lonely affair, as only one Delegate, Philip Pell of New York, was in attendance to adjourn the body on March 2, 1789. https://loom.ly/odxN7J8

This week's #HistoryBlog spotlights our new 76 Revolutionary Facts feature in celebration of #America250. Check it out and keep counting down to America's birthday with the office every day! https://loom.ly/CaCQh-I

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 50. The Continental Congress was succeeded by the Confederation Congress (1781–1789). Delegates to the Confederation Congress were subject to a term limit of serving no more than three years out of any six. https://loom.ly/Par4Kjo

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 49. On 12/11/1776, the 2nd Cont. Congress recommended all states “appoint a Day of solemn Fasting and Humiliation, to implore of Almighty GOD the Forgiveness of the many Sins prevailing among all Ranks.” https://loom.ly/QpYfx9Y

"Some of our boys died last night…" Chaplain James Montgomery eulogized those lost on #DDay. #HistoryBlog https://loom.ly/1Mr5AvQ

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 48. Charles Humphreys of Pennsylvania, a Quaker whose beliefs were fundamentally opposed to war, voted against the Declaration of Independence. https://loom.ly/NAX79uY

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 47. The 2nd Continental Congress agreed to Rules and Regulations for the Continental Army on June 30, 1775. One rule imposed a fee of four shillings for every use of “profane oath or execration.” https://loom.ly/Par4Kjo

Quiet Capitol view in 1845. #HouseCollection https://loom.ly/19GXVDg#HouseCollection

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 46. In addition to preparing an address to Canadian citizens, the Second Continental Congress also drafted separate letters to the inhabitants of Great Britain, Ireland, and Jamaica. https://loom.ly/Par4Kjo

The House Administration Committee announced a pilot program for a "constituent electronic mail system" #OTD 1993…with a *single* e-mail address! https://loom.ly/eeCPyRo

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 45. May 29, 1775, the 2nd Continental Congress agreed to send a letter to Canadians, urging them to “join in imploring the attention of our sovereign." The letter was published in both English & French. https://loom.ly/Par4Kjo

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 44. On May 18, 1775, the Second Continental Congress agreed that its rules would remain unchanged from the rules established for the First Continental Congress. https://loom.ly/Par4Kjo

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 43. One of the earliest rules set for the First Continental Congress was that “the doors be kept shut during the time of business, and that the members. . . keep the proceedings secret." https://loom.ly/Par4Kjo

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 42. On September 5, 1774, before commencing the First Continental Congress at Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia, the Delegates met at 10 a.m. at City Tavern and walked over to the hall together. https://loom.ly/Par4Kjo

Hey, wait up! Rhode Island joined the Union #OTD 1790, after the First Congress had already convened and passed the constitutional amendments that would become the Bill of Rights. https://loom.ly/3AvRRuc

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 41. The Syng inkstand was likely used in the signing of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The U.S. House has its own famous inkstand, albeit one much younger. https://loom.ly/2FoorHo

#OTD 1936, a House committee reported favorably on a resolution to grant musician George M. Cohan a #CongressionalGoldMedal. He would become the first entertainer to receive the honor. https://loom.ly/JnIwLVc

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 40. The Continental Congress did not have a library of its own and initially borrowed books from the Library Company of Philadelphia. https://loom.ly/Par4Kjo

As we celebrate #AANHPIMonth, this month's Edition for Educators #HistoryBlog highlights the life and career of Dalip Singh "Judge" Saund of California, the first Asian-American Representative elected to Congress. https://loom.ly/mYAYOEI

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 39. The Journals of the Continental Congress are not an exact record of the debates, and much of the information on the Delegates’ speeches and positions comes from diaries of other Delegates in attendance. https://loom.ly/Par4Kjo

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 38. Irish-born Charles Thomson served as the Secretary (modern-day Clerk) for both the Continental and Confederation Congresses. https://loom.ly/Par4Kjo

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 37. Two men served terms as both President of the Continental Congress and President of Congress under the Confederation: John Hancock of Massachusetts and Samuel Huntington of Connecticut. https://loom.ly/Par4Kjo

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 36. Robert Livingston of NY was one of the “Committee of Five” that drafted the Declaration of Independence. But NY recalled Livingston to assist in forming a new state government before he could sign. https://loom.ly/m7W04W4

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 35. Appointed by the Continental Congress to serve as minister to Russia in 1780, Francis Dana of Massachusetts hired future President John Qunicy Adams—then a teenager—to serve as his secretary. https://loom.ly/0RojAEs#America250

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 34. Henry Laurens of SC was elected minister to Holland by the 2nd Cont. Cong. but was captured by the British in 1780. He was held in the Tower of London & later exchanged for Lord Cornwallis in 1781. https://loom.ly/qjRhedE

“Somebody was going to be first. It was going to happen, and I was psyched it was me.” Felda Looper became the first female House Page #OTD 1973. https://loom.ly/4dUroEc

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 33. When Jacob Duché, first chaplain of the Cont. Cong., resigned in October 1776, the Cont. Cong. selected two men to serve as co-chaplains. Duché later abandoned the colonial cause and fled the country. https://loom.ly/Par4Kjo

Score one for history! The House passed a resolution #OTD 1848 to purchase the papers of James Madison from his widow, Dolley Madison. They now reside at the @LibraryCongress. https://loom.ly/WhERgRw

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 32. After Peyton Randolph resigned as Pres. of the 1st Cont. Congress on October 22, 1774, lawmakers chose Henry Middleton to succeed him. He served for only 4 days until the 1st Cont. Congress adjourned. https://loom.ly/p3BfaKY

#OTD in 1919, Rep James Mann of IL introduced H. J. Res. 1 to extend the right of suffrage to women. Following passage in the Senate and ratification by 3/4ths of the states, it became the #19thAmendment. #HouseRecords https://loom.ly/XcBauC0

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 31. A Delegate to the Confed. Congress, Robert Barnwell of SC served in the military before serving as a lawmaker. When Charleston fell to the British, Barnwell was sent aboard the prison ship Pack Horse. https://loom.ly/12T5_Hc

During the Civil War, Robert Smalls of #SC, who was born into slavery, commandeered the Confederate ship Planter, carrying his family and other escaped slaves to Union lines. Nearly 40 years later, the House voted to reward him for the act #OTD 1900. https://loom.ly/b53Z4po

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 30. Not all Delegates remained committed to the American cause. Joseph Galloway and Andrew Allen, both of Pennsylvania, later joined the British army and had their estates confiscated by colonial officials. https://loom.ly/vK1SLtw

Before #HouseRecords got the attention they deserved… #PackRatDay @USNatArchives

As we celebrate #AANHPIMonth, this month's Edition for Educators #HistoryBlog highlights the life and career of Dalip Singh "Judge" Saund of California, the first Asian-American Representative elected to Congress. https://loom.ly/mYAYOEI

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 28. Washington’s aide-de-camp, Lt. Col. George Baylor, presented the news of the victory at Trenton to the Cont. Cong. on 1/1/1777. Baylor was awarded “a horse properly [decorated] for service" in return. https://loom.ly/Par4Kjo

#HI Rep Patsy Mink announced the founding of the Asian Pacific American Caucus #OTD in 1994. #AsianPacificHeritageMonth #CAPAC https://loom.ly/sbKWxFc

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 27. In 1776, the Continental Congress sent Samuel Chase of Maryland on a special mission to Canada to persuade the Canadians to join the Revolution against Great Britain. He was unsuccessful. https://loom.ly/f1IP6QE

The House passed this bill to fund NASA #OTD 1959. #RecordsSearch #HouseRecords https://loom.ly/-chiGX0

We're counting down to #America250 with 76 facts to celebrate 1776! 26. On December 13, 1775, the 2nd Continental Congress voted to outfit the Continental Navy with 13 ships. Some bore the names of lawmakers, including the Washington and the Hancock. https://loom.ly/tdoqwjQ

A ton of #teachers 113 years ago #OTD. #HouseCollection https://loom.ly/HDFdSE8