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Nellie Tayloe Ross: America’s First Female Governor
On this date in 1925, Nellie Tayloe Ross was sworn in as governor of Wyoming. Here are some things you may not have known about the first woman to serve as governor in the United States. Nellie Tayloe was born in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1876. She graduated from high school in Kansas and became…
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Electrocution of Topsy the Elephant
On this date in 1903, Topsy, an Asian elephant was euthanized by electrocution at Coney Island, New York. Here are some things you may not have known about the incident. Topsy was brought to the United States and performed in the Forepaugh Circus, where she gained a reputation as a bad elephant after killing a…
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Formation of the Soviet Union
On this date in 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was formed following the Russian Revolution of 1917. Here are some things you may not have known about the formation of the Soviet Union. On December 30, 1922, the leaders of the Russian Republic, Transcaucasian Republic, Ukrainian Republic and Byelorussian Republic met in the…
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Thomas Becket: The Tale of the “Turbulent Priest”
On this day in the year 1170, Thomas Becket was killed by supporters of King Henry II of England during a conflict over the rights of the Catholic Church in England. Here are some things you may not have known about Thomas Becket. He was born around the year 1120 in London. His father was…
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Westminster Abbey: London’s Iconic Church
On this date in 1065, Westminster Abbey was consecrated. Here are some things you may not have known about the landmark London church. Since the year 1560, the building’s common name has been a misnomer. Before 1560, it did serve as an abbey, which is a facility where monks or nuns work and live, overseen…
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Lady Bird Johnson: A First Lady of the First Order
Today is the birthday of Lady Bird Johnson, the wife of U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson. Here are some things you may not have known about her. She was born Claudia Alta Taylor in Karnack, Texas in 1912. When she was a baby, her nurse said that she was as “purty as a ladybird” and…
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Crosswords: Puzzling Since 1913
On this date in 1913, the first crossword puzzle was printed in the New York World newspaper. Here are some things you may not have known about crossword puzzles. The first puzzle was actually called a word-cross puzzle. It was created by Arthur Wynne, who was a journalist from Liverpool, England. It was based on…
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“It’s a Wonderful Life” Turns 70
On this date in 1946, “It’s a Wonderful Life” was released in the United States. Here are some things you may not have known about the classic Christmas movie. It’s based on a story called “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern, who wrote it in 1939. After failing to sell the story, he…
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BBC World Service: Spanning the Globe Since 1932
On this date in 1932, the BBC Empire Service radio system went on the air for the first time. Here are some things you may not have known about what is now called BBC World Service. The Empire Service began as a shortwave service aimed at English speakers in the far-flung reaches of the British…
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Bill of Rights, Part Two
Thursday’s episode ended with 12 proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution being sent to the states for ratification. What we now know as the First Amendment was actually the third proposed article of the Bill of Rights. The first article dealt with how to determine the size of Congress. Because it was never ratified, the…