# Slumbering Thunder in His Soul: Exploring the Life and Death of James A. Garfield Through His Papers

The Netflix series “Death By Lightning” brough popular attention to the life and death of James Garfield – but what was the reality of his short but bright life? This webinar will tell the story of the 20th president through his own letters and diaries, as well as those of his wife Lucretia, and context from other Library of Congress collections. The presentation will also explain how the Garfield Papers came to the Library of Congress and share insights gained through volunteer transcription of the collection, as well as how you can get involved as a volunteer transcriber. Speakers will include Manuscript Division Historian Michelle Krowl and the By the People team.

Since 2021, By the People volunteers have completed transcriptions for 50,000 pages of the Garfield Papers. See the transcription campaign and learn how you can get involved at crowd.loc.gov

- Kind: Talk
- Year: 2026
- Runtime: 58 min
- By: Osborn, Carlyn Grace
- Archive: [Library of Congress](https://www.loc.gov/item/video-12981/)
- Licence or status: Rights statement at the Library of Congress (as the archive states it)
- Credit: Library of Congress
- Who can watch: Tweens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/loc/video-12981?play=1)