20th Universal Postal Union Congress
On November 13, 1989, the 20th Universal Postal Union Congress opened in Washington, DC. It was the first time the Congress convened in the US since 1897.
This Day in History
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Ellis Island Closes
On November 12, 1954, Ellis Island’s immigration station closed after more than six decades of operation. At its peak, thousands passed through in a day; in its final years, the island was used largely for detention and deportation.
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Birth of Daniel J. Daly
On November 11, 1873, Daniel Joseph Daly was born in Glen Cove, New York. Over three decades in the Marine Corps, he served in China, Haiti, and France, and became one of 19 people to receive the Medal of Honor twice.
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Theodore Roosevelt National Park
On November 10, 1978, Theodore Roosevelt National Park was established on North Dakota. Roosevelt’s time in the Badlands inspired his conservation efforts as president, establishing over 200 protected areas.
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Birth of Benjamin Banneker
On November 9, 1731, Benjamin Banneker was born on a farm in Baltimore County, Maryland. He later built a wooden clock, made astronomical calculations, published almanacs, and helped survey the boundaries of the new federal district.
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Death of Acclaimed Illustrator Norman Rockwell
Norman Rockwell died in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, on November 8, 1978. His career included decades of Boy Scout illustrations, hundreds of Saturday Evening Post covers, and the Four Freedoms paintings.
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Marines Ordered to Guard Mail
On November 7, 1921, President Warren G. Harding ordered 2,200 Marines to guard the mail in the wake of a series of daring mail robberies.
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Jefferson Davis Elected Confederate President
On November 6, 1861, Jefferson Davis was elected president of the Confederate States of America. By then, Southern states had seceded, formed the Confederacy, and the Civil War was underway.
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Birth of Silver Screen Cowboy Roy Rogers
On November 5, 1911, Leonard Franklin Slye was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. The boy who learned to yodel from old recordings would grow up to become Roy Rogers, the “King of the Cowboys,” and one of Hollywood’s best-known singing stars.
