8 January 2017 is the 9th Annual Argyle Day. Bring some brightness to winter by wearing an argyle print— not just socks: anything with the diagonal diamond pattern. The more argyle, the better!
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On 8 January 1982, in the most significant antitrust suit since the breakup of Standard Oil in 1911, American Telephone and Telegraph agreed to give up its 22 local Bell System companies (“ Baby Bells”). These companies represented 80 percent of AT& T’s assets. This ended the corporation’s virtual monopoly on US telephone service.
On 8 January 1815, British forces suffered crushing losses (more than 2,000 casualties) in an attack on New Orleans, Louisiana. Defending US troops were led by General Andrew Jackson, who became a popular hero as a result of the victory. Neither side knew that the War of 1812 had ended two weeks previously with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, 24 December 1814.
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Jan 8, 1935. Popular American rock singer, born at Tupelo, MS. Although his middle name was spelled incorrectly as “Aron” on his birth certificate, Elvis had it legally changed to “Aaron,” which is how it is spelled on his gravestone. Died at Memphis, TN, Aug 16, 1977.
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Midwife’s Day or Women’s Day is celebrated 8 January each year to honor midwives and all women. “On this day women stop their housework and spend their time in cafés, while the men do all the housework chores and look after the children.” In some villages, men caught outside “will be stripped… and drenched with cold water.”
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On 8 January 1964, President Lyndon Johnson declared a War on Poverty in his State of the Union address. He stressed improved education as one of the cornerstones of the program. The following Aug 20, he signed a $ 947.5 million antipoverty bill designed to assist more than 30 million citizens.
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On 9 January 1793, A Frenchman, Jean-Pierre François Blanchard, made the first manned free-balloon flight in America’s history at Philadelphia, PA. The event was watched by President George Washington and many other high government officials. The hydrogen-filled balloon rose to a height of about 5,800 feet, traveled some 15 miles and landed 46 minutes later in New Jersey. Reportedly Blanchard had one passenger on the flight— a little black dog.
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Plough Monday is the first Monday after Twelfth Day (Epiphany) when work is resumed on the farm after the 12 Days of Christmas.
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On 9 January 1905, guards at St. Petersburg’s Winter Palace opened fire on some 150,000 unarmed protesting workers, killing at least 200. This event was the major catalyst for revolution in Russia that year, prompting more strikes and uprisings.
Image, public domain via wikipedia.org, photographer unknown, crowd facing armed soldiers in Moscow, an event that led to the Revolution of 1905.
Logo for Masterpiece Theatre, located via Wikipedia.org. Fair Use.
Jan 10, 1971. Television at its best, PBS’s long-running anthology series consists of many highly acclaimed original and adapted dramatizations. Many are produced by the BBC. Alistair Cooke, Russell Baker and Laura Linney have hosted the program. The first presentation was “The First Churchills.” Other notable programs include “The Six Wives of Henry VIII” and “Elizabeth R” (1972); “Upstairs Downstairs” (1974– 77); “I, Claudius” (1978); “The Jewel in the Crown” (1984); “The Buccaneers” (1995); and “White Teeth” (2002). The title of the series is now “Masterpiece.”
On 10 January 1946, on the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the unsuccessful League of Nations, delegates from 51 nations met at London, 
England, for the first meeting of the UN General Assembly.
On 10 January 1878, Senator A.A. Sargent of California, a close friend of Susan B. Anthony, introduced into the US Senate a women’s suffrage amendment known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment. It wasn’t until 26 August 1920, 42 years later, that the amendment was signed into law.
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Jan 11, 1755. American statesman, an author of The Federalist papers, first secretary of the Treasury, born at British West Indies. Engaged in a duel with Aaron Burr the morning of July 11, 1804, at Weehawken, NJ. Mortally wounded there and died July 12, 1804.
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Jan 11, 1815. Canadian statesman, first prime minister of Canada. Born at Glasgow, Scotland, he died June 6, 1891, at Ottawa. His birth anniversary is observed in Canada.
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On 11 January 1964, the US Surgeon General issued its landmark report about the dangers of cigarettes.
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Jan 12, 1971. Based on the success of the British comedy “Till Death Us Do Part,” Norman Lear created CBS’s controversial sitcom “All in the Family.”
The series was the first of its kind to realistically portray the prevailing issues and taboos of its time with a wickedly humorous bent. From bigotry to birth control, few topics were considered too sacred to discuss on air. Ultraconservative Archie Bunker (played by Carroll O’Connor) held court from his recliner, spewing invective at any who disagreed with him. Jean Stapleton portrayed Archie’s dutiful wife, Edith. Sally Struthers and Rob Reiner rounded out the cast as Archie’s liberal daughter and son-in-law, Gloria and Mike “Meathead” Stivic.
The series had a 12-year run.
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an 12, 1966. ABC’s crime-fighting show gained a place in Nielsen’s top 10 ratings in its first season. The series was based on the DC Comics characters created by Bob Kane in 1939. Adam West starred as millionaire Bruce Wayne and his superhero alter ego, Batman. Burt Ward costarred as Dick Grayson/ Robin, the Boy Wonder. An assortment of villains guest-starred each week, including Cesar Romero as the Joker, Eartha Kitt and Julie Newmar as Catwoman, Burgess Meredith as the Penguin and Frank Gorshin as the Riddler. Other stars making memorable appearances included Liberace, Vincent Price, Milton Berle, Tallulah Bankhead and Ethel Merman. The series played up its comic-strip roots with innovative and sharply skewed camera angles, bright bold colors and wild graphics.
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Jan 12, 1981. The popular ABC prime-time serial focused on the high-flying exploits of the Denver-based Carrington family. The series had a weekly wardrobe budget of $ 10,000, with many elegant costumes designed by Nolan Miller. In addition to following the juicy story lines, many people tuned in worldwide to view the palatial mansions and lavish sets. John Forsythe played patriarch Blake Carrington, with Linda Evans as his wife, Krystle. Joan Collins played Alexis, Blake’s scheming ex-wife and arch business rival.
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Jan 12, 1932. Hattie W. Caraway, a Democrat from Arkansas, was the first woman elected to the US Senate. Born in 1878, Caraway was appointed to the Senate on Nov 13, 1931, to fill out the term of her husband, Senator Thaddeus Caraway, who had died a few days earlier. On Jan 12, 1932, she won a special election to fill the remaining months of his term. Subsequently elected to two more terms, she served in the Senate until January 1945. She was an adept and tireless legislator (once introducing 43 bills on the same day) who worked for women’s rights (once cosponsoring an equal rights amendment) and supported New Deal policies. She died Dec 21, 1950, at Falls Church, VA.
Jan 12, 1876. American author of more than 50 books: short stories, novels and travel stories of the sea and of the far north, many marked by brutal realism. His most widely known work is The Call of the Wild, the great dog story published in 1903. London was born at San Francisco, CA. He died of gastrointestinal uremia on Nov 22, 1916, near Santa Rosa, CA. Read more at http://london.sonoma.edu/.
Image: Public Domain, originally published by L C Page and Company Boston 1903 – http://www.archive.org/details/littlepilgrimage00harkuoft located via Wikipedia.org.
Born at Edwardstone, Suffolk, on 12 January 1588 (Old Style), Puritan John Winthrop is renowned for his leadership in the migration to the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the key role he played in developing its character and its relationship with neighboring colonies and indigenous people. Father of 16 children, most notably son John, who was governor of the Connecticut Colony. Winthrop served 13 annual terms as governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony from his arrival in 1630 to his death on 26 March1649, at Boston. He kept a detailed journal, which is now considered the foremost historical record of the era.
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Fuller Brush Company Logo, fair use.
Jan 13, 1885. Founder of the Fuller Brush Company, born at Kings County, NS, Canada. In 1906 the young brush salesman went into business on his own, making brushes at a bench between the furnace and the coal bin in his sister’s basement. Died at Hartford, CT, Dec 4, 1973.
Lee De Forest
On 13 January 1910, radio pioneer and electron tube inventor Lee De Forest arranged the world’s first radio broadcast to the public at New York City. He succeeded in broadcasting the voice of Enrico Caruso along with other stars of the Metropolitan Opera to several receiving locations in the city where listeners with earphones marveled at wireless music from the air. Though only a few were equipped to listen, it was the first broadcast to reach the public and the beginning of a new era in which wireless radio communication became almost universal.
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Jan 13. St. Knut’s Day (Tjugondag Knut, or “The 20th Day of Knut”) marks the end of the Christmas season in Sweden— with parties, song and the dismantling of the yule tree (which traditionally is thrown out the window). Named for Knut (or Canute) IV, also Knut the Holy, former king and patron saint of Denmark. Although St. Knut’s feast day is Jan 19, Sweden and Finland have conflated observances of Knut IV with that of his nephew and saint Knut Lavard (feast day is Jan 7).
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Tyvendedagen or “Twentieth Day” marks the end of the Christmas festivities in Norway.
