Birth of Horace Mann
Horace Mann was born on May 4, 1796, in Franklin, Massachusetts. Mann was a pioneering educational reformer who improved public education in his home state. Many of his ideas were quickly adopted by several other states.
This Day in History
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Passage of the First Successful Workmen’s Compensation Law
On May 3, 1911, Wisconsin passed America’s first worker’s compensation program. This law provided financial security for workers injured on the job. By 1948, all the then-48 US states had passed such laws. Alaska and Hawaii had workmen’s compensation laws when they joined the Union.
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Founding of Alexandria, Virginia
On May 2, 1749, the House of Burgesses approved the creation of a town that would become Alexandria, Virginia. George Washington helped plan the town’s street systems and Alexandria was part of the US capital for several years.
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Huguenot-Walloon Tercentenary
On May 1, 1924, the US Post Office issued a set of three stamps known as the Huguenot-Walloon Tercentenary Issue. The stamps honored the role of Protestant immigrants in settling America.
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The Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee
On April 30, 1957, the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee opened its first meeting. The committee receives tens of thousands of stamp proposals every year and passes on their recommendations to the US Postmaster General who makes the final decision.
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U.S. Stamps Printed on Watermarked Paper
On or around April 29, 1895, the US Post Office began issuing postage stamps with watermarks. The practice was introduced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) and only lasted a little over 20 years.
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The Soil Conservation Service
On April 27, 1936, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Soil Conservation Act. The act established the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) to reduce and repair the damage caused by soil erosion. The SCS’s work was expanded and continues today as the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
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Birth of Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted was born on April 26, 1822, in Hartford, Connecticut. He’s considered the father of American landscape architecture. Some of his most well-known projects include New York’s Central and Prospect Parks as well as the US Capitol building grounds.
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US and Soviet Troops Link-Up at Elbe
On April 25, 1945, American and Soviet troops met at the Elbe River, essentially cutting Germany in half. It was an important link-up in the final days of the war in Europe and has come to be known as Elbe Day.
