50th Anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's Assassination

On Friday, November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated during a motorcade. Today marks the 50th anniversary of that fateful day.

President John F. Kennedy was the 35th president. At the age of 43, he was the youngest man elected president. At the age of 46, he was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald (who was later killed by Jack Ruby while in police custody). He was survived by his wife, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, and two children, Caroline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy, Jr., as well as his parents, four sisters, two brothers, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Conspiracy theories still surround the assassination and events that followed even to this day.

To learn more, check out these resources...

The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection, The National Archives

Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy (The Warren Commission Report), The National Archives

Post-JFK Assassination Air Force One Flight Deck Recording, The National Archives

The JFK Assassination: Former Agent Recalls His Role in the Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation

President John F. Kennedy was Shot in Dallas, Texas, November 22, 1963, America's Story from America's Library

The Power of Disinformation: The Lie that Linked CIA to the Kennedy Assassination, Central Intelligence Agency

JFK Documents Index: Records Regarding the Assassination of John F. Kennedy, National Security Agency

The Investigation of the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy: Performance of the Intelligence Agencies, U.S. Senate

Dalla, 11/22/63: 50 Years Later, New York State Library

Enduring Era: The Spirit of the JFK Presidency, Massachusetts Government Site


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May 6, 1937: Hindenburg disaster

Today is the 75th anniversary of the Hindenburg disaster.  The German zeppelin Hindenburg catches fire and is destroyed while attempting to dock in Lakehurst, NJ. Thirty-six people are killed.  Here are more resources on the Hindenburg...

Herb Morrison - Hindenburg Disaster, 1937, National Archives

Hindenburg, FBI Vault

The Zeppelin, U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission

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May 5, 1987: Televised Congressional Hearings of the Iran-Contra Affair

Today is the 25th anniversary of the start of the televised Congressional Hearings concerning the Iran-Contra Affair.  For more information on the Iran-Contra Affair, check out these resources...

Understanding the Iran-Contra Affair, Brown University

Iran-Contra Final Report, U.S. Senate

Final Report of the Independent Counsel for Iran/Contra Matters, U.S. Court of Appeals

Iran Contra Affair (1983-1988), The Cold War Museum

The Iran-Contra Affair, PBS

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March 12, 1912: The Girl Guides are founded in the US

Today is the 100th anniversary of the founding of The Girl Guides in America; they would later be renamed the Girl Scouts of the USA. Here are some Girl Scout-oriented resources...

Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts Solar System Exploration, NASA

Programs for Girl Scouts, National Park Service

Water Drop Patch Project, EPA



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March 6, 1967: Joseph Stalin's daughter Svetlana Alliluyeva defects to the United States

Today is the 45th anniversary of the defection to the U.S. of Svetlana Alliluyeva, the daughter of Joseph Stalin. For more information about Svetlana and this historical account, check out these resources...

Telegram From Secretary of State Rusk to the Ambassador to the Soviet Union (Foreign Relations of the U.S., 1964–1968: Volume XIV, Soviet Union, Document 205), Office of the Historian, U.S. Dept of State

Meeting Svetlana, 200th Anniversary of U.S.-Russian Diplomatic Relations, Embassy of the U.S. in Russia

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March 6, 1857: The Supreme Court of the United States rules in the Dred Scott v. Sandford case

Today is the 155th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford. The decision, delivered by Chief Justice Roger Taney, declared that slaves were not citizens of the U.S. and, therefore, could not sue in Federal courts. The decision also declared the Missouri Compromise to be unconstitutional, stating that Congress did not have the authority to prohibit slavery in the territories. This decision was overturned by the 13th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution.

For more information, check out these resources...

Primary Documents in American History: Dred Scott v. Sandford, Library of Congress

Missouri's Dred Scott Case, 1846-1857, Missouri State Archives

Transcript of Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), Our Documents

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), Our Documents



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February 22, 1862: President Jefferson Davis is inaugurated for a six-year term as the President of the CSA

Today is the 150th anniversary of President Jefferson Davis' inauguration for a six-year term as President of the Confederate States of America. This may be confusing to some, since President Davis was originally elected on February 9, 1861 and inaugurated on February 18, 1861. That election, however, was held by the Provisional Congress of the CSA, choosing him to serve as Temporary President. His election to serve a six-year term as President was not held until the following year, meaning that his true inauguration was on February 22, 1862.

Here is a picture of President Jefferson Davis from the National Archives


This map of the Union and Confederate geographic divisions is from the Library of Congress



To learn more about Jefferson Davis or the Confederate States of America, check out these resources...

Jefferson Davis (1808-1889), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

Jefferson Davis, Architect of the Capitol

Pictorial Americana: Confederate States of America, Library of Congress

American Memory: Timeline of the Civil War, Library of Congress

Confederate States of America Records: a Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress




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February 20, 1792: The Postal Service Act is signed by President George Washington

Today is the 220th anniversary of President George Washington signing the Postal Service Act, defining the character of the young Post Office Department. For more information about this very important government entity (that we often take for granted), check out these resources...


U.S. Postal Service


U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission


National Postal Museum, Smithsonian Institution


Records of the Post Office Department, National Archives


1792 Postal Act, National Postal Museum


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February 15, 1972: Sound Recordings are granted U.S. federal copyright protection

Today is the 40th anniversary of sound recordings being granted federal copyright protection. It is funny that in just 40 years we've gone from starting to protect sound recordings to actually having copyright center around recordings.

For more information, check out these resources...

U.S. Copyright Office

Federal Copyright Protection for Pre-1972 Sound Recordings, U.S. Copyright Office

Copyright Basics, U.S. Copyright Office

Taking the Mystery Out of Copyright, Library of Congress

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February 14, 1912: Arizona is admitted as the 28th U.S. state

Today is the 100th anniversary of Arizona becoming the 48th state in the Union. For more information, here are some resources...

Explore the States, America's Story

Arizona's Official Web Site

Arizona State Legislature

Arizona Secretary of State



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February 8, 1837: Richard Johnson becomes the first VPOTUS chosen by the U.S. Senate

Today is the 175th anniversary of Richard Johnson becoming the ninth Vice President of the U.S. This is an important anniversary because it marks the first and only time the U.S. Senate chose a VP. In the early years of this nation, the president and vice president were elected separately, and each required a certain number of electoral votes. With 147 votes, Richard Johnson was one vote shy and thus not elected to the office. Since Martin Van Buren could not serve without a vice president, the Senate, using the 12 Amendment, elected Johnson as vice president.

For more information, check out these resources...

Richard Mentor Johnson, 9th Vice President, U.S. Senate Art and History

Richard Mentor Johnson, Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress

Electoral Votes for President and Vice President 1837-1853, NARA

The Electoral College by William C. Kimberling, Deputy Director, FEC Office of Election Administration



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January 22, 2002: Kmart files for Chapter 11

Today marks the ten year anniversary of Kmart filing for Chapter 11. What makes this a significant event is the fact that it was the largest retailer in the U.S. to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. For more information on bankruptcy, check out these resources...

Bankruptcy Basics, U.S. Courts

Before You File for Personal Bankruptcy, Federal Trade Commission


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December 8, 1991: Soviet Union is dissolved, Commonwealth of Independent States is established

Today is the ten year anniversary of dissolution of the Soviet Union. On December 8, 1991, leaders of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine sign an agreement that dissolved the Union and instead established the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Commonwealth of Independent States, CIA Maps and Publications

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December 1, 1981: AIDS virus is officially recognized

Today is the 30th anniversary of the AIDS virus being officially recognized. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimate that one million people are living with HIV in the U.S. They also estimate that 20% of those infected are unaware that they have the disease.

For more information about HIV, AIDS, and World AIDS Day, check out these resources...

AIDS.gov

AIDS/HIV, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

HIV/AIDS, MedlinePlus

AIDSinfo

Google Search AIDS site:.gov


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October 15, 1966: Black Panther Party is created

Today is the 45th anniversary of the founding of the Black Panther Party (originally called the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense) by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale.

Here is more information on the Black Panther Party...

Black Panther Party, FBI

Black Panther, ca. 1966 - ca. 1969, National Archives (video)


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October 11, 1811: The Juliana begins operation as the first steam-powered ferry

Today is the 200th anniversary of the debut of the Juliana, the first steam-powered ferry. The ferry traveled between Hoboken and New York City.

Stevens Institute of Technology, Steamboats

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October 8, 1871: The Great Chicago Fire

Today is the 140th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire. This fire burned for two days and took 200-300 lives. No one knows what really started the fire, but legend attributes the blame to a cow in O'Leary's barn.

For more information, check out these sites...

The Great Chicago Fire, America's Story

The Great Chicago Fire, Chicago Historical Society

Fire Museum of Greater Chicago

Great Chicago Fire, Learning Resource Center, FEMA

The Great Conflagration, Chicago History Museum




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October 6, 1876: American Library Association Founded

Today is the 135th anniversary of founding of the American Library Association.

In October 1876, in Philadelphia, 103 librarians (90 men, 13 women) assembled, responding to a call for a "Convention of Librarians." At the end of the meeting, ALA was formed. The aim of the Association was "to enable librarians to do their present work more and at less expense."

History of ALA


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August 29, 1911: Ishi emerges from the wilderness of northeaster California

Today is the 100th anniversary of Ishi's emergence from the California wilderness into the Europeanized culture of America. Ishi is considered the last member of the Yahi (the last surviving group of the Yana people). He is also considered the last Native American in California to have lived the majority of his life away from European American culture. On August 29, 1911, Ishi left his ancestral home near Lassen Park and emerged near Oroville, California. He was approximately 49 years old at the time.

For more information, check out these resources...

Ishi's Hiding Place, A History of American Indians in California: Historic Sites, National Park Service

Ishi Wilderness, Lassen National Forest (Named for Ishi)

A History of American Indians in California, National Park Service


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August 26, 1971: U.S. Congress declares August 26th as an annual Women's Equality Day

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the first annual Women's Equality Day. In 1971, August 26th was proclaimed Women's Equality Day in honor of the day that the 19th Amendment (giving women the right to vote) was certified in 1920.

For more information, check out these resources...

What is Women's Equality Day, National Women's History Project

19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Women's Right to Vote (1920), Our Documents

The Constitution: The 19th Amendment, National Archives

Woman Suffrage and the 19th Amendment, Teaching with Documents, National Archives

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