Wednesday 1

World War II Begins (1939)

Germany invaded Poland which began the second World War.

Thursday 2

Christa McAuliffe (1948)

She was to have been the first "ordinary" citizen in space on the ill-fated Challenger mission in 1986.

Friday 3

Beginning of the Penny Press (1833)

Benjamin H. Day launched the first successful "penny press" with his New York Sun.  The penny presses made news available to the general public.

Saturday 4

Little Rock Nine (1957)

Nine black students were turned away from Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas by Governor Oval Faubus.  President Eisenhower later sent in troops to forcibly integrate the school.

Sunday 5

Jesse James (1847)

Legendary outlaw James was born today.

Monday 6

Labor Day

Celebrates the "social and economic achievements of American workers."

Tuesday 7

Buddy Holly (1936)

Texas son Holly had hits with That'll Be the Day and Peggy Sue among others.

Wednesday 8

UN International Literacy Day

"According to recent estimates, there are approximately 862 million non-literate people in the world." International Reading Assn.

Thursday 9

Leo Tolstoy (1828)

Russian author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina.

Friday 10

Bald is Beautiful Convention

Celebrating shiny heads everywhere.

Saturday 11

Attack on America (2001)

In memory of the more than 3,000 people who died as a result of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Sunday 12

National Grandparent's Day

Honor your parent's parents today.

Monday 13

Fortune Cookie Day

You will eat Chinese food today and enjoy your fortune.

Tuesday 14

William McKinley (1901)

President McKinley died today, eight days after he was shot by assassin Leon Czolgosz.

Wednesday 15

Agatha Christie (1890)

Happy Birthday to the first lady of murder.

Thursday 16

Mexico: Independence Day

Celebrates the beginning of Mexico's rebellion against Spain in 1810.

Friday 17

Constitution of the United States (1787)

The Consitution was approved with 39 of 42 delegates to the Constitutional Convention signing.

Saturday 18

Banned Books Week

Elect to read a banned book.

Sunday 19

Talk Like a Pirate Day

Blow me timbers, enjoy the day maties.

Monday 20

Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton (1885)

The American jazz pianist, composer, and orchestra leader was born today.

Tuesday 21

Chuck Jones (1912)

Creator of Road Runner & Wile E. Coyote, Marvin the Martian, and Pepe le Pew.

Wednesday 22

Long Count Day

Anniversary of the Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney world championship boxing match.  Tunney was knocked down and because Dempsey wasn't in his corner was given a longer count. Tunney was declared the winner.

Thursday 23

Planet Neptune Discovery (1846)

German astronomer Johann Galle first spotted the eighth planet from the sun today.

Friday 24

State Fair of Texas

The State Fair kicks off today in Dallas and runs through October 17.

Saturday 25

Yom Kippur

The Jewish day of atonement.  Probably the most important holiday of the Jewish calendar.

Sunday 26

Johnny Appleseed (1774)

John Chapman, known as Johnny Appleseed, was born in Leominster, MA today.  He planted orchards throughout the central US.

Monday 27

The Tonight Show, Premiere (1954)

NBC's Tonight Show premiered today with host Steve Allen, who hosted until 1957.  The next host was Jack Paar from 1957-62.  Johnny Carson regined for the next 30 years.  Jay Leno took over in 1992.

Tuesday 28

Al Capp (1909)

The creator of Dogpatch, KY was born today.

Wednesday 29

National Women's Health and Fitness Day

Women should take a look at their health and fitness today.

Thursday 30

Feast of Saint Jerome

Patron saint of scholars and librarians. Alternate page.