Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education
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The Congressional Report Card: What Grade Would You Give Congress?

2/23/2016

 
By Ray Smock
Each year political scientists, historians, and other Congress watchers participate in “grading” Congress in a number of key areas. This survey is conducted by the Center on Congress at Indiana University, under the directorship of the distinguished former Congressman and congressional scholar Lee Hamilton.  It will not surprise readers to learn that Congress’s grades are pretty low.  But this study goes into institutional differences between the House and Senate and also includes a grade for “we the people,” the citizens who elect Congress.  Overall the public does not fare much better in the grading.  Perhaps we do get the Congress we deserve and we will only get a better House and Senate if more citizens engage in the process of voting and understanding in basic ways just what Congress is and does in our system of government. 
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Howard Koslow –Stamp Artist

2/9/2016

 
By Ray Smock

The Washington Post contained a fascinating obituary in its Feb. 3, 2016 edition, that of Howard Koslow a distinguished illustrator, painter and postage stamp artist who died at age 91. I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Koslow on commemorative postage stamps in honor of the bicentennial of the U. S. Congress in the late 1980s. He designed more than 60 stamps, including a very popular series on American lighthouses.


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Ray Smock poses with large posters of the House and Senate commemorative stamps that were used in a joint session of Congress on March 2, 1989. The artist Howard Koslow signed the House poster at the end of the ceremony. The posters are part of the Robert C. Byrd Archives.

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Welcome to our new website!

2/2/2016

 
 By Jody Brumage

Over the past few weeks, our blog has covered a number of exciting changes taking place at the Byrd Center. We have announced our official renaming and new mission and vision. The news of our soon-to-be-released traveling exhibit, "Robert C. Byrd: Senator, Statesman, West Virginian," has made its way across the state of West Virginia and beyond. Several of these projects have been the result of over a year of work to redevelop the brand and image of the Byrd Center as we prepare for the commemoration of the centennial of Senator Robert C. Byrd's birthday. You can read more about these exciting developments in our latest issue of The Byrd Call, released earlier this week. Now, we are excited to welcome you to our new website! 
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    Welcome to the Byrd Center Blog! We share content here including research from our archival collections, articles from our director, and information on upcoming events. 

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213 North King Street
PO Box 5000
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
(304) 876 - 5702

Our Mission:

The Byrd Center advances representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens.
© 2021 Robert C. Byrd Center for
​Congressional History and Education
  • Home
  • About
    • Latest News
    • Statement on Systemic Racism
    • Leadership
    • Our Partners
    • Parking and Directions
  • Education
    • People Powered 2023 Program
    • Educational Resources
    • Teacher Institute
    • Internship Program
  • Research
    • Congressional Collections >
      • Robert C. Byrd Congressional Papers
      • Harley O. Staggers, Sr. Congressional Papers
      • Harley O. Staggers, Jr. Congressional Papers
      • Scot Falkner CAO Papers
    • Blog
    • Digital Collections
    • Oral History Project
    • Plan a Visit to the Archives
    • Collecting Policy
  • Events
    • Forum on Pollution
    • Formidable - author event
    • Summer Fundraiser 2023
    • Voices of the Community
    • Constitution Day
    • Past Events
  • Support Us
    • Friends of the Byrd Center
    • Name a Seat
    • Annual Report
  • Reservations
  • Login