Monthly Archives: January 2018
NOT YET HISTORY: SLAVERY
Back in the nineteenth century, the United States of America was among the last countries to abolish slavery, but even though it took a bitter civil war to bring it about, slavery was officially abolished there when Congress passed the Thirteenth Amendment on January 31st, 1865. Unfortunately, slavery did not end everywhere, and indeed still […]
TRIVIA TRAIL: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Question: Known to many through its magazines and television specials, the National Geographic Society was founded on January 27th, 1888. What famous inventor was elected president of this society in 1897? Answer: Alexander Graham Bell.
HISTORY TIDBIT: FIRST RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
The first Russian Revolution began on January 22nd, 1905, when an orthodox priest, Father Georgy Gapon (pictured above), led a group of peaceful workers to the Winter Palace to present a list of grievances. (Legitimate grievances. The life of the average Russian was no bed of roses.) Tsar Nicholas II’s troops responded by firing on […]
HISTORIC PHOTOS: GREAT FLOOD OF PARIS, 1910
Archival film footage and photos old and new of areas in Paris affected by the 1910 flood. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36443329 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/07/amazing-photos-capture-1910-great-flood-of-paris-v-2016/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYJ5cq5bUC8
TRIVIA TRAIL: 1952 PEACE PRIZE WINNER
Image from: https://www.wpclipart.com/ Question: What German-born doctor won the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize for his work on behalf of the brotherhood of nations? Answer: Dr. Albert Schweitzer (born January 14th, 1875), a medical missionary, who was also a well-respected philosopher and acclaimed musician.
HISTORIC FIRST: HAWAIIAN PINEAPPLES
Though practically synonymous with Hawaii, pineapples weren’t grown there until 1813, the first crop being planted on January 11th of that year. They actually originated in South America (specifically, Paraguay and Southern Brazil), from whence they travelled throughout the continent and into the West Indies. They were brought to Hawaii by Don Francisco de Paula […]
HISTORY LURE: PERSONALIZED HISTORIC HAPPENINGS
This year, spark an interest in history by consulting this site on your kids’ birthdays to show them the historic happenings for that date. https://www.onthisday.com/
BIRTHSTONE HISTORY: JANUARY
Today is my great-niece’s 8th birthday. Like all little girls (actually, like almost all girls, regardless of age), she likes jewellery. Each month, I’ll share the history of a birthstone, with hers, the garnet, being first up. https://www.jewelsforme.com/garnet-meaning
Time Travelling With Kids 