America’s Most Popular Stamp
After a yearlong campaign, the USPS held a special midnight first-day ceremony on January 8, 1993, for the long-awaited Elvis Presley stamp.
This Day in History
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First Known Mail Delivered by Air
On January 7, 1785, the sky briefly became part of the postal system. In a daring balloon flight watched by astonished crowds, mail was carried through the air for the first time, marking a bold experiment in communication and transportation that captured the imagination of the world.
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Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms
On January 6, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt gave his “Four Freedoms” speech while delivering the State of the Union Address. The Four Freedoms represented America’s goals for a peaceful post-war world.
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Birth of the Space Shuttle Program
On January 5, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed legislation authorizing the creation of America’s first space shuttle, the “world’s first reusable spacecraft.”
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Birth of Everett Dirksen
Statesman Everett McKinley Dirksen was born on January 4, 1896, in Pekin, Illinois. He later emerged as a central figure in shaping bipartisan legislation in the US Senate.
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Battle of Princeton
On January 3, 1777, General George Washington earned one of the most important victories of the American Revolutionary War at the Battle of Princeton in New Jersey. Although small in size compared to later battles, the victory came at a critical moment when the Continental Army was struggling, and it helped change the course of the war by restoring American confidence and weakening British control in the region.
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Birth of Oscar Micheaux
Oscar Devereaux Micheaux was born on January 2, 1884, in Metropolis, Illinois—and he would grow up to change American film forever. As an author, director, and producer, Micheaux became a pioneering voice in early cinema, creating films that challenged racial stereotypes and told powerful Black stories at a time when few such voices were allowed on screen.
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Postage Stamp Use Becomes Mandatory
On January 1, 1856, the United States Post Office made a change that permanently transformed how Americans sent mail. Beginning on that date, all domestic letters were required to be prepaid using postage stamps. Although the Post Office had first begun selling stamps on July 1, 1847, their use had remained optional for nearly ten years. By making stamps compulsory, the federal government created a more efficient, reliable, and modern postal system suited to a rapidly growing nation.
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Battle of Stones River
On December 31, 1862, the Battle of Stones River (also known as the Second Battle of Murfreesboro) began in Middle Tennessee. What followed would become one of the bloodiest and most hard-fought clashes of the Civil War, with the fate of the region hanging in the balance.
