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This Week In History, Library Style! Nov. 10: Chess

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Libraries are places where we connect people to information that may be useful or interesting to them. Looking at some history, and connecting it to the materials we may have in our libraries, can be a good way to convince patrons to use and enjoy all the things we provide!

This week we are looking at November 10. Of course a lot of things have happened on this date – news and the big stories are the unusual things that are going on around us. One interesting thing that has happened today in 1857: “First American Chess Congress is won by Paul Morphy; beats Louis Paulson, 6-2 for a tournament record of 14 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss.”

“He received an invitation to participate in the First American Chess Congress, to be held in New York from October 6 to November 10, 1857. He at first declined, but at the urging of his uncle eventually decided to play. He defeated each of his rivals, including James Thompson, Alexander Beaufort Meek, and two strong German masters, Theodor Lichtenhein and Louis Paulsen, the latter two in the semifinal and final rounds. Morphy was hailed as the chess champion of the United States, but he appeared unaffected by his sudden fame. According to the December 1857 issue of Chess Monthly, “his genial disposition, his unaffected modesty and gentlemanly courtesy have endeared him to all his acquaintances.””

Bring this historical fact to your library! You can do this with a variety of program and display ideas. We will help you to get started with a few ideas: set up a life-size chess board in the library with students/patrons as the assorted chess pieces – let them make costumes to go with their roles, organize a regular game night in the library, distribute some principles of gamification and let patrons gamify some aspect of their lives, set up a display of chess books, draw a chessboard, look at chess in different fictional settings.

Here are a few books you might add to your collection or share with your patrons – or just enjoy yourself!