Library of Congress: talks and concerts
6,577–6,624 of 7,413 films, free to watch, from the world's open archives.
Where these films come from, and who sees what
Every film here plays from the archive that keeps it: the Internet Archive, Wikimedia Commons, the NASA Image and Video Library, the Library of Congress and Open Images (the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision). Nothing is copied to this site. Each film's page names its archive, links to its page there, and states its licence or status as the archive does.
Archive films carry no age ratings, so each is placed from the collections it sits in and the subjects the archive gives it, cautiously. Sexual content and nudity are left out altogether.
| Little Ones | Films for young children by name: nursery rhymes, lullabies, preschool. |
|---|---|
| Kids | Cartoons and animation, children's and family films, and educational films, unless they deal with war, propaganda, crime, horror or drugs, or carry racial caricature. |
| Tweens | Documentaries, science, nature and space, classic comedies, newsreels, commercials and lectures. |
| Teens | Everything else, including anything we cannot tell about; war, crime, horror and westerns go no lower. |
| Adult | Sexual themes (such as the old "sex hygiene" films), gore, surgery, slaughter, atrocity footage. |
Library of Congress
Poet Robyn Schiff with Ron Charles
Robyn Schiff talked with Washington Post book critic Ron Charles about her work. Schiff is the author of four poetry collections: “Worth,” “Revolver,” “A…
Library of Congress
Chasing Flavor’ with Chef Carla Hall
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden sits down with chef and best-selling author Carla Hall to talk about the new series “Chasing Flavor” and her latest work as…
Library of Congress
Collecting Survivals: Sapelo Island Georgia and the Search for Gullah Folk
Historian Melissa Cooper, associate professor of history at Rutgers University-Newark, who specializes in the study of African American cultural and…
Library of Congress
Conversation with Melissa Cooper
Nancy Groce and Douglas Peach of the American Folklife Center sit down with Melissa Cooper, associate professor of history at Rutgers University-Newark,…
Library of Congress
Ghosts’ with Richie Moriarty, Danielle Pinnock, Asher Grodman, Román Zaragoza and Rebecca Wisocky
Cast members from CBS’s hit comedy “Ghosts” came to the Library for a special episode screening and a panel discussion with series stars Richie Moriarty,…
Library of Congress
You Are Here’ Launch and Mary Oliver Event with Ada Limón
The kickoff event for the U.S. Poet Laureate’s signature project, including the publication of the new anthology “You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World,”…
Library of Congress
Journals from Solar Eclipse Expeditions in the 1800s and Early 1900s
Two Library specialists — head of science reference JJ Harbster and historian Joshua Levy — take a close look at personal journals and letters written by…
Library of Congress
What to Pack for a Solar Eclipse Expedition in the Late 1800s
Two Library specialists — head of science reference JJ Harbster and historian Joshua Levy — look at a photo album more than a century old, compiled during an…
Library of Congress
Conversation with Jordi Savall
Claudia Morales sits down with Jordi Savall, a world-renowned viol player, conductor, and musical scholar, has devoted his career to reviving and interpreting…
Library of Congress
Jordi Savall
Jordi Savall is one of the most versatile musical personalities of his generation. For more than 50 years, he has rescued musical gems from the obscurity of…
Library of Congress
Joel ben Simeon, the Washington Haggadah and the Ambivalent Feminine
The Talmud tells us “because of the merit of righteous women, our ancestors were redeemed from Egypt.” Thus women are often prominently featured in the…
Library of Congress
The Tame and the Wild: People and Animals After 1492
John W. Kluge Center and Jay I. Kislak chair Marcy Norton explores the historical roots of a contemporary paradox: Why do some animals become food and other…
Library of Congress
Múscraí Singing Tradition of County Cork, Ireland
Cormac Ó hAodha is the current Lomax Scholar and Lovelace Fellow at the Kluge Center and comes from Cúil Aodha, which is a village in the Múscraí Gaeltacht of…
Library of Congress
Conversation with Gershwin Honoree Bernie Taupin
In a conversation with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, 2024 Gershwin Prize honoree and award-winning lyricist Bernie Taupin talked about his life, his…
Library of Congress
Conversation with Sō Percussion
Claudia Morales sits down with members of Sō Percussion: Josh Quillen, Adam Sliwinski, Jason Treuting, and Eric Cha-Beach. They engage in conversation prior…
Library of Congress
First Ladies: Historical Fiction About Pioneering Black Women
In honor of Women’s History Month, three novelists who have written new historical fiction about pioneering Black women reveal their characters’ stories and…
Library of Congress
Conversation with American Bar Association President Mary Smith
American Bar Association President Mary Smith talks with Law Librarian of Congress Aslihan Bulut in celebration of Law Day 2024.
Library of Congress
Chelsea Clinton, Rita Williams-Garcia and Meg Medina
The library hosted an event with Chelsea Clinton, author of the picture book “She Persisted” and the related “She Persisted” chapter book series, Rita…
Library of Congress
Conversation with Jean and Marcus Baylor
Claudia Morales sits down with songwriter, producer and vocalist Jean Baylor and percussionist, songwriter, bandleader and producer Marcus Baylor of the…
Library of Congress
Northern Resonance: Scandinavian Roots Music
Northern Resonance is a Scandinavian string trio rooted in traditional folk music. The trio performs traditional and newly composed roots music on a…
Library of Congress
Conversation with Northern Resonance
The three members of Northern Resonance speak with Stephen Winick of the American Folklife Center. The trio performs traditional and newly composed roots…
Library of Congress
Introduction to ‘The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith’
2024 Library of Congress jazz scholar Sam Stephenson speaks about his involvement in the study of photographer W. Eugene Smith, which resulted in a book and a…
Library of Congress
Conversation with Arturo O’Farrill
Arturo O’Farrill, multi-Grammy award winner, pianist, composer, bandleader, and founder and artistic director of the Afro-Latin Jazz Alliance, sits down with…
Library of Congress
Conversation with Le Consort
Members of Le Consort speak with Anne McLean about their program presented at the Library of Congress. Topics include the ensemble’s projects and thoughts…
Library of Congress
Saving Ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action
Former Kluge Scholar Dana Fisher discussed her new book, “Saving Ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action.” In it, she argues there is a realistic…
Library of Congress
Elias Alexander: Always Been a Rambler
Oregon producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Elias Alexander performing the song “Always Been a Rambler” from a field recording of unaccompanied…
Library of Congress
Alicia Blue: Song of the Deportees
California singer/songwriter Alicia Blue performing “Song of the Deportees” from a mimeographed chord chart / lyric sheet used by Bess Lomax Hawes for…
Library of Congress
Calling Cadence: Faded Coat of Blue
Los Angeles-based duo Calling Cadence performing the song “Faded Coat of Blue” from a field recording of unaccompanied singer Hamilton Lobdell, recorded by…
Library of Congress
Eliza Doyle: Naomi Wise
Canadian clawhammer banjo player and singer Eliza Doyle performing the song “Naomi Wise” from a field recording of Minnie Floyd, recorded by John Lomax at the…
Library of Congress
Tim Easton: I’m Troubled
Nashville-based singer/songwriter Tim Easton performing the song “I’m Troubled” from a field recording of Doc Watson on voice and guitar (with Arnold Watson…
Library of Congress
Alice Hasen, Josh Threlkeld, and Rachel Maxann: Poor Wayfaring Stranger
Memphis musicians Alice Hasen, Josh Threlkeld, and Rachel Maxann performing the song “Poor Wayfaring Stranger” from a field recording of unaccompanied singer…
Library of Congress
The Heart Collectors: Shenandoah
Australian group “The Heart Collectors” performing the song “Shenandoah” from a field recording of Captain Richard Maitland, recorded by Alan Lomax at…
Library of Congress
Ismay: Oh, Love is Teasing
Ismay (the music project of California singer/songwriter Avery Hellman) performing the song “Oh, Love is Teasing,” from a field recording of unaccompanied…
Library of Congress
Rachel Maxann: Hard Time Killing Floor Blues
Memphis singer and guitarist Rachel Maxann performing the song “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues,” from a field recording of Nehemiah “Skip” James, recorded by…
Library of Congress
Rakish: I Have a Little Sheep on a Tether / The Fairy’s Reel
East Coast duo Rakish performing the tunes “I Have a Little Sheep on a Tether / The Fairy’s Reel” from a field recording of unaccompanied fiddler Mickey…
Library of Congress
Jessica Rhaye with Bill Preeper and Sandy Mackay: The Old Blackbird
Canadian singer/songwriter Jessica Rhaye with Bill Preeper and Sandy Mackay performing the song “The Old Blackbird” from a field recording of Johannah O’Brien…
Library of Congress
The Weeping Willows: C.C. Rider
Australian country music duo The Weeping Willows performing the song “C.C. Rider” from two different field recordings: Field recording of Huddie “Lead Belly”…
Library of Congress
Alana Wilkinson and Kerryn Fields: Give Me Your Love and I’ll Give You Mine
Australian singer/songwriter Alana Wilkinson and New Zealand singer/songwriter Kerryn Fields performing the song “Give Me Your Love and I’ll Give You Mine”…
Library of Congress
Kerri Greenidge on the Grimkes Family
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden talks with historian Kerri Greenidge about her new book, “The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family.” The…
Library of Congress
Black Film Archive: Tenderness in Black Film
Maya Cade is the creator and curator of Black Film Archive, a living register of Black films from 1915 to 1979, and explored the place of tenderness in…
Library of Congress
The Azevedo Collection: Musical and Cultural Exchange Between Brazil and the U.S.
Luiz Heitor Corrêa de Azevedo was a Brazilian musicologist/ethnomusicologist/folklorist who collaborated with U.S. scholars, producing field recordings of…
Library of Congress
Major Jackson with Ron Charles
Major Jackson, the prizewinning author of “Razzle Dazzle: New & Selected Poems” and host of “The Slowdown,” talks with Washington Post book critic Ron Charles…
Library of Congress
Rev. Robert B. Jones Sr. Concert
Rev. Robert B. Jones Sr. is an inspirational musician and storyteller celebrating the history, humor and power of American roots music. His deep love for…
Library of Congress
Conversation with Rev. Robert B. Jones Sr
Rev. Robert B. Jones Sr. speaks with Stephen Winick of the American Folklife Center. Jones is an inspirational musician and storyteller celebrating the…
Library of Congress
Charting New Discoveries of the Manuscript Map of the Dagua River Region
The Manuscript Map of the Dagua River Region, created in 1764, depicts a remote gold mining frontier in today’s Colombia. Art historian Juliet Wiersema and…
Library of Congress
Rhapsody in Blue at 100 with Simone Dinnerstein and the US Air Force Band
On February 12, 1924, George Gershwin appeared at the piano with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra for the premiere of his freshly-minted “Rhapsody in Blue.” The…
Library of Congress
Rhapsody in Blue at 100: Ryan Raul Bañagale
Scholar Ryan Raul Bañagale offered a lecture on the occasion of the 100th birthday of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” celebrated at the Library with a…
Library of Congress
Rhapsody in Blue at 100
George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” turned 100 on Feb. 12, 2024. First performed in New York, it has become a motif of the nation’s creative spirit. The…