This Day In History: December 2, 1845 James K. Polk is one of those presidents that most people draw a complete blank on, like Fillmore or Hayes. He may not be high on the recognition scale, but Polk got things done- perhaps the only U.S. president to accomplish every major point he promised when campaigning for office, doing it all […]

This Day In History: November 30, 1924 “Apparently all they know here in Washington about Brooklyn is that a tree grew there.” – Shirley Chisholm Congresswoman, civil rights activist, social reformer, and educator, Shirley Chisholm broke down racial and gender barriers in the 1960s and 1970s. She made history not only as the first black Congresswoman but also as the […]

This Day In History: November 26, 1894 “I am yours, you are mine, of that be sure. You are locked in my heart, the little key is lost and now you must stay there forever.” – Alix to Nicholas They first met in 1884 when Princess Alix of Hesse (later Empress Alexandra) was 12 and Nicholas was 16 at a […]

This Day In History: November 25, 1970 Yukio Mishima was born as Kimitake Hiraoka in 1925. Often referred to as the “Japanese Hemingway,” Mishima was arguably the best known Japanese author of the twentieth century. Many of his works were translated into English, and he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature on three occasions. Mishima was an enigma […]

This Day In History: November 24, 1807 The Native Americans and the colonists lived in closer proximity than modern Americans often realize. They worked as tailors, carpenters, whalers, and in other contemporary occupations. Native Americans were an integral part of the colonial economy, and their presence in colonial villages was completely unremarkable on the whole. When the Revolutionary War broke […]