President for a Day?
On March 4, 1849, was David Atchison President of the United States for 24 hours? As President Pro-Tempore of the Senate, he was arguably the highest-ranking US official…
This Day in History
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First U.S. Mail Classification Act
On March 3, 1863, Congress passed an act establishing three classes of mail to simplify a complicated system that included over 300 different rates.
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Birth of Carl Schurz
Carl Christian Schurz was born on March 2, 1829, in Liblar, Prussia, Germany (present-day Erftstadt). Schurz commanded forces during the Civil War, reformed the Civil Service and was a vocal proponent of forest preservation.
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Birth of Ralph Ellison
Ralph Waldo Ellison was born on March 1, 1913, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. A self-proclaimed Renaissance Man, Ellison was a talented musician and writer, most famous for his novel, Invisible Man.
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Birth of Hugo Black
Hugo Lafayette Black was born on February 27, 1886, in Harlan, Alabama. He’s the fifth longest-serving US Supreme Court justice and historians state he was second only to John Marshall in his impact on the Constitution.
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Denali National Park and Preserve
On February 26, 1917, Denali National Park was first established as Mount McKinley National Park. The park is home to the tallest mountain in North America.
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National Letter Writing Week
On February 25, 1980, the USPS issued a set of stamps commemorating National Letter Writing Week. Those stamps marked the first time that the USPS issued a sheet of stamps with three sets of vertical pairs.
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Birth of Artist Winslow Homer
Winslow Homer was born on February 24, 1836, in Boston, Massachusetts. Largely self-taught, he was one of the most prominent painters of the 1800s.
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Rotary Club Founded
On February 23, 1905, the Rotary Club was founded in Chicago, Illinois. Since then, its grown into an international service organization spreading goodwill and understanding around the world.
