This Day In History

In the dark days of World War II, when victory was far from certain, Allied leaders gathered in secret to make decisions that would shape the course of the conflict—and the world that followed. Beginning on January 14, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill met in Casablanca, Morocco, for a high-stakes conference that set the direction of the war in Europe and beyond. What was decided would influence battles, alliances, and the meaning of victory itself.

On January 13, 1864, Stephen Foster—the man often called the “father of American music”—died alone in a New York City boardinghouse. He was just 37 years old, yet the songs he left behind would echo for generations. Long after his death, Americans would still be singing his melodies at home, on stage, and at public events, often without realizing they were hearing the work of one of the nation’s earliest and most influential songwriters.

On January 12, 1932, Hattie Caraway became the first women elected to serve in the United States Senate. Her historic election broke barriers for women in government and set a precedent for future female leaders in the Senate.

National Milk Day, celebrated each year on January 11, honors a simple innovation that changed daily life in America: the first home delivery of milk in glass bottles. On January 11, 1878, milk was delivered to homes in the United States in sealed glass bottles for the first time, marking a major step forward in food safety, convenience, and nutrition. What seems ordinary today was once a breakthrough that helped build the modern dairy industry.

On January 13, 1864, Stephen Foster—the man often called the “father of American music”—died alone in a New York City boardinghouse. He was just 37 years old, yet the songs he left behind would echo for generations. Long after his death, Americans would still be singing his melodies at home, on stage, and at public events, often without realizing they were hearing the work of one of the nation’s earliest and most influential songwriters.

On January 5, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed legislation authorizing the creation of America’s first space shuttle, the “world’s first reusable spacecraft.”

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.

On December 27, 1947, Howdy Doody made his television debut on a program called Puppet Playhouse, marking an important moment in early TV history. The cheerful, freckle-faced marionette quickly became one of the first true stars of children’s television. At a time when television itself was still new, Howdy Doody helped shape what kids’ programming could be—and proved that television could be a powerful force in American family life.

On January 15, 1892, Dr. James Naismith published the rules for a sport he’d invented – basketball. It quickly caught on, with the first professional league forming in 1898.

The first US Airmail coil stamp was issued on January 15, 1948, in Washington, DC. Only a few more coil stamps would be issued over the next 30 years, but the DC-4 SkyMaster would appear on more than a dozen postal items.

Civil Rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. A Baptist minister, King sought equality for all Americans and fought for peaceful solutions to racial issues.

On January 15, 1943, construction on the Pentagon, the world’s largest office building, was completed.