Week of Events
On this day in 1775, the first abolitionist society in North America was established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
On April 14, 1775, the first abolition society in North America, the Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, was established in Philadelphia by Quaker Anthony Benezet. Did you know? Though he held slaves as a young man, Benjamin Franklin became a proponent of abolition in his elder years. In the […]
On April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean traveling from Southampton, England to New York City
On April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean around 2:00 AM on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York City. The ship, though praised for its luxury and unsinkability, was unable to withstand the trauma of hitting an iceberg. Of the Titanic’s 2,240 passengers, only 706 survived, with third […]
It’s National Librarian Day!
April 16 is National Librarian Day! 🔖📚📖📚🔖 What better way to celebrate than visiting your local library? Did you know? The precursor to the public library was the membership library - members of this type of private library paid a subscription fee to cover the cost of members-only book access. The first membership library in the […]
Paul Revere rides to Lexington and Concord to warn of approaching British troops
On this day in 1775, Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott set out from Boston, Massachusetts around 10 pm to warn patriots in Lexington and Concord of the approaching British. 🐎🐎🐎 The ride preceded the very first battles of the Revolutionary War at Lexington and Concord, and was famously immortalized by Henry Wadsworth […]
On this day in 1832, First Lady Lucretia Garfield was born in Garrettsville, Ohio
On April 19, 1832 First Lady Lucretia Garfield was born in Garrettsville, Ohio. Her time in the White House was short – her husband President James Garfield was assassinated after six months in office. She was particularly admired for her grace in face of the tragedy. A reserved woman, Garfield enjoyed intellectual pursuits, particularly literature […]
First Boston Marathon
On this day in 1897, the first Boston Marathon took place. Only 15 runners (all men) took part in the race, with John J. McDermott of New York finishing victorious. The number of participants has grown to roughly 30,000 runners in more recent times. Did you know? Women weren’t allowed to enter the marathon […]
On April 19, 1721, statesman and founding father Roger Sherman was born in Newton, Massachusetts
On April 19, 1721, statesman and founding father Roger Sherman was born in Newton, Massachusetts. A representative from Connecticut, Sherman is the only person to have signed all four of the major Founding era documents: the Articles of Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution. 📜📃📜📃 During the Constitutional Convention, […]
On this day in 1841, Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” published
On April 20, 1841, one of the earliest detective stories, Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” was published. It is widely held as one of the most important modern detective stories in the English-speaking world, preceding the works of both Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. 🔎 🔦 🗝 🕰 Paving the […]