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Explore with RHPL
About Explore Topics
RHPL provides materials, displays, and programming for a better understanding of our community and our world.
The identities, cultures, and heritages on display represent your neighbors, coworkers, classmates, congregation, community leaders, and the patrons who use this building and these collections every day.
If this month’s display is not what you’re looking for, please ask a librarian for a personalized recommendation.
January
Martin Luther King Jr National Day of Service
Martin Luther King Day was signed into law as a federal holiday in 1983 — 15 years after it was first proposed. It was not recognized as a holiday by all 50 states until 2000. The day is observed each year to recognize the accomplishments and contributions Dr. King made to American history and civil rights and to honor his life of service to the American people. Celebrated around the country as “a day on,” it is the only federal holiday officially designated as a call to all Americans to provide service to their communities.
February
March
Women's History Month
First designated a week-long celebration in 1981 by Congress, Women's History Month did not become a 30-day celebration until 1987 after a petition from the National Women's History Project. It was not until 1995 that annual presidential proclamations were issued to formally designate March as Women's History Month.
April
Arab American Heritage Month
President Biden declared the first Arab American Heritage Month in 2022, calling for the nation to learn more about the history and achievements of Arab Americans and to reflect on the contributions Arab Americans have made to our culture and country. Over 2.2 million Americans have Arab ancestry, tracing their roots back to the 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa that make up the Arab world.
July
September
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Encompassing the lineage of the entire Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, Asian Pacific American Heritage month covers a broad spectrum of experience and history in the United States. Originating in 1977, the annual celebration became a month-long event in 1990 and continues to highlight the important contributions Asian and Pacific Islander Americans have make to our culture and history.
May
October
November
Black History Month
In 1976, in honor of the nation's bicentennial, President Gerald R. Ford was the first to issue a proclamation marking Black History Month and encouraged all Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history." From 1976 to the present day, every US president has issued a proclamation each February in honor of Black History Month.
June
Juneteenth
The Emancipation Proclamation was legally put into effect on January 1, 1863. Because many southern states were still under confederate control, the proclamation could not be enforced everywhere and many black people remained enslaved. On June 19, 1865, two years after the 13th amendment abolishing slaverly was adopted, Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas and announced to over 250,000 enslaved people that they were free. The holiday known as Juneteenth was celebrated annully as early as 1866 and was made a federal holiday in 2021.
Pride Month
Pride Month is held in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, a demonstration in which people gathered to protest the harrassment and unfair treatment of LGBT Americans. Recognized annually since 1970, the month seeks to recognize the struggle, contributions, and history of LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Earth Day
First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day was created by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson and activist Denis Hayes to draw attention to the environment and our impact on it. The first annual observance drew 20 million Americans to events and demonstrations and led to the creation of the EPA, and creation of laws like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.
Disability Pride Month
July marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act which was signed into law on July 26, 1990.
Disability Pride Month celebrates the many achievements of the disability community and highlights the work that still needs to be done by all to support, honor, and remove barriers to access for people with disabilities.
National Poetry Month
Known as the "largest literary celebration in the world," National Poetry Month began in 1996 and continues today with observations from publishers, professors, librarians, writers, students, teachers, and individuals throughout the country. Read or share your favorite poem to celebrate, or write your own to celebrate the art and beauty of poetry.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans with roots in Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The unique span of dates over two months marks the independence days of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Chile , and includes Día de la Raza, a holiday that celebrates the cultural diversity of Latin America.
Jewish American Heritage Month
Established in 2006 by President George W. Bush, Jewish American Heritage Month recognizes and celebrates the history and cultural traditions of Jewish Americans. Highlighing diverse perspectives and achievements, the month seeks to celebrate nearly 400 years of lived experiences and honor the contributions made throughout American history.
Mental Health Awareness Month
Encompassing the lineage of the entire Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, Asian Pacific American Heritage month covers a broad spectrum of experience and history in the United States. Originating in 1977, the annual celebration became a month-long event in 1990 and continues to highlight the important contributions Asian and Pacific Islander Americans have make to our culture and history.
Veteran's Day
Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11 in honor of the 1918 armistice between Allied countries and Germany that effectively ended World War I. On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the fighting ceased, but it wasn’t until June 28, 1919, that the Treaty of Versailles was signed, officially ending “The Great War.”
President Woodrow Wilson first recognized Veterans Day in 1919. Today, the holiday not only reminds us of the significance of the date but calls our attention to the service and sacrifices of our veterans.