100 Years after the Tulsa Race Massacre

American History, Bar Journals Library, Civil Rights and Social Justice, Law Journal Library, Session Laws
Stephanie Ruesch

On May 19, 2021, three survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre testified before a House Judiciary Subcommittee, recounting for the congressional record their memories of May 31 and June 1, 1921, when a white mob descended on the predominately Black neighborhood of Greenwood Avenue in Tulsa, OK, killing hundreds of Black people and leveling homes and businesses. The three survivors were all young children when the massacre occurred and are now all over one hundred years old. Through their testimony they urged Congress to act and give them and other survivors justice while they were still alive. Watch their testimony here.

The Tulsa Race Massacre…

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The Complicated History of Eugenics in the United States

American History, Human Rights, Immigration, Law Journal Library, Legal Classics, Session Laws
Tara Kibler

Most would agree that the future of the human race depends on the capability of its offspring. At the turn of the 20th century, with the rise of the eugenics movement, this premise was taken to a logical yet dismal conclusion: the human race could be improved if only the genetically superior were allowed to reproduce.

Though such talk may be repulsive to many in the modern era, it was surprisingly commonplace just a few generations ago. Even more shocking, you’ll find notable, well-respected names on the list of advocates for the practice. It was only when eugenics was taken to its extreme under Nazi Germany that the movement began to fall out of favor…

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Session Laws Indexing Project: February 2021 Update

Enhancements, HeinOnline Updates, Session Laws, What's New
Lauren Mattiuzzo

Back in March 2019, we blogged about the status of the Session Laws indexing project. All 50 states in the Session Law Library are indexed to the chapter or act level from 2000 to current. We are currently expanding this indexing for all states back to inception. Since our last update, we have been diligently working and have indexed 11 more states back to inception. Let’s take a look at where this project currently stands.

Status of the Project

The following states have been indexed back to inception thus far:

  1. Arkansas (1818-2019)
  2. California (1849-2020)
  3. Connecticut (1672-2018)
  4. Delaware (1700-2017)
  5. Florida (1822-2019)
  6. Georgia (1735-2019)
  7. Illinois (1809-2019)
  8. Indiana (1801-2020)
  9. Louisiana (1804-2018)
  10. Maryland (1692-2020)
  11. Massachusetts (1661-2019)
  12. Michigan (1806-2019)
  13. Minnesota (1850-2019)
  14. Mississippi (1799-2019)

15…

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The Elephant in the Room: Animal Welfare in the United States

Animal Law, Law Journal Library, Session Laws, Statutes at Large, The Environment, U.S. Congressional Documents
Tara Kibler

In 1948, the United Nations declared that freedom, justice, and peace rely on a respect for human rights. A few decades later, a global campaign surfaced, advocating that this respect be extended to other animals, as well. This fight for animal rights stems from the idea that, as sentient beings, animals are entitled to the consideration and protection that has been afforded to humans, particularly the right to avoid suffering.

Advocates for animal rights consider anything less than this basic protection to be speciesism, a prejudice as irrational as that of racism or sexism. Critics, however, argue that humans are fundamentally different from nonhuman animals—only humans have developed moral systems, possess self-awareness and purpose…

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Unpacking the History of American and International Child Rights

Human Rights, Law, Law Journal Library, Session Laws, Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, U.S. Congressional Serial Set, U.S. Federal Legislative History, U.S. Supreme Court, United Nations, World Treaty Library
Tara Kibler

What is a child? It may seem like a silly question, but the answer is more nuanced than one might think. In biology, the term refers to the state of the human being between birth and puberty. Legally, it refers to a person younger than a predetermined age of majority—the point in time when a person can take legal control over their actions and decisions. Symbolically, children have become much more. Over the past several hundred years, the child has become not only an allegory for innocence and the embodiment of freedom, but also a shining beacon of hope for future generations widely considered in need of adult protection.

Pre-20th Century Children

Though this view of the child is one we’re all familiar with now…

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A Fathers’ Day Investigation of the Fathers’ Rights Movement

Law, Law Journal Library, National Survey of State Laws, Session Laws, Subject Compilations of State Laws, World Treaty Library
Tara Kibler

Family law is an area of the legal field concerning matters relating to marriage and partnership, divorce, adoption, surrogacy, child protection from abuse and neglect, and other domestic issues. In the last century or so, the transformation of certain definitions (e.g. wife, marriage, gender) and the recognition of women’s rights have dramatically changed the practice. Over the past few decades, one group has made it their mission to reform family law and the family court system further—fathers. Join us as we use HeinOnline to investigate the history of family law and the relatively new fathers’ rights movement.

Before We Get Started

Don’t miss out! Make sure you have the databases we’ll be mentioning in this post…

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Tip of the Week: Session Law Locator Tool (and Project Update!)

HeinOnline Updates, Session Laws, Tip of the Week, Tips and Tricks, What's New
Lauren Mattiuzzo

Do you find yourself browsing through full volumes in the Session Laws Library to locate a specific chapter, act, or page? HeinOnline’s general indexing coverage of the session laws is from inception to current. Use the Session Laws Quick Locator tool to save time and energy! Today’s blog will explore how to utilize this advantageous tool, as well as provide an update to the Session Laws indexing project.

Using the Quick Locator Tool

Users can find the Session Laws Quick Locator Tool on the landing page of the Session Laws Library…

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Breathe a Little Easier: #BeatAirPollution This World Environment Day

Current Events, Foreign Affairs, Hot Topic News, Law, Law Journal Library, Session Laws, The Environment, Treaties and Agreements Library, United Nations
Tara Kibler

June 5th is World Environment Day, established by the United Nations in 1974. An international platform for environmental awareness, World Environment Day is officially celebrated in a different host city each year with activities centered around a particular theme. Discover more about World Environment Day, its origins, and the theme of the 2019 celebrations—air pollution—with HeinOnline.

Before We Get Started:

Don’t miss out! Make sure you have the databases we’ll be mentioning in this post. Follow the links below to start a trial today.

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Celebrating the 65th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education

American History, Current Events, Education, Highlights in History, History of Supreme Court Nominations, Human Rights, Law, Law Journal Library, Political Science, Session Laws, Slavery in America and the World, U.S. Supreme Court, World Constitutions Illustrated
Tara Kibler

May 17, 2019 marks 65 years since the ruling of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, the landmark decision in which the Supreme Court determined racial segregation in schools to be unconstitutional. Continue reading to discover more about the case, and then check out how Brown v. Board fits into the evolution of U.S. education.

Before We Get Started:

Don’t miss out! Make sure you have the databases we’ll be mentioning in this post. Follow the links below to start a trial today.

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Ride to Live for Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month (and Beyond)

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Law, National Survey of State Laws, Popular Culture, Session Laws, Subject Compilations of State Laws
Tara Kibler

We’re kicking off Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month with an overview of motorcycle safety laws in the U.S. Take a quick detour to learn about motorcycle history, then ride on to ensure you have the proper helmet and eye protection to stay safe and legal throughout the upcoming summer months.

Before We Get Started:

Don’t miss out! Make sure you have the databases we’ll be mentioning in this post. Follow the links below to start a trial today.

Motorcycles: A Brief History

The first iteration of the motorcycle can be traced back to the second half of the 19th century…

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