The Story of Writing

The Wall Street Journal publishes its first edition, the Dow-Jones Industrial Average closes at its lowest level of the 20th Century, and Pres. Richard Nixon announces a more equitable stance toward indigenous people in the US. It is the birthday of Ruby Sales - with a reading of Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope."

The New York City race riots of 1834 begin, the US begins its first military draft, Alaska becomes a state, the Ziegfeld Follies premiers its first show, and slice bread went on sale for the first time. This episode includes a reading of Myra Viola Wilds' poem "Thoughts."

Louis Pasteur tests his rabies vaccine, Jackie Robinson refuses to move to the back of a bus, John Lennon and Paul McCartney meet, and it is the birthday of Nanci Griffith - with a reading from her song, "It's a Hard Life Wherever You Go."

Isaac Newton publishes "Principia," Frederick Douglass delivers his speech "What, to the Slave, is the Fourth of July," FDR establishes the Labor Relations Board, the bikini is modeled for the first time, and it is the birthday of Bill Watterson. This episode includes a reading from Douglass's speech, "What, to the Slave, is the Fourth of July?"

The Second Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence, written mostly by Thomas Jefferson. This episode includes a reading of a letter from Benjamin Rush to John Adams about signing the Declaration.

General George Washington is named leader of the Continental Army, the U.S. Civil War Battle of Gettysburg is won by Union forces, and it is the birthday of Charlotte Perkins Gilman - with a reading from her short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper."

The U.S. Continental Congress resolves to sever ties with England, Africans take control of the ship "Amistad," and President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This day also marks the births of Herman Hesse and Thurgood Marshall - with a reading from Hesse's "Siddhartha."

The U.S. Civil War Battle of Gettysburg begins, Canada is formed as a nation, and the WWI Battle of the Somme begins. It is the birthday of George Sand - with a reading from her book "Indiana."

Oxford hosts the Great Debate over evolution, Pres. Lincoln signs the Yosemite Valley Grant Act, Einstein publishes his paper on the electrodynamics of moving bodies, the National Organization of Women is created, and it is the birthday of Joan Murrell Owens. This episode includes a reading of Christina Rosetti's "One Sea-Side Grave."

The Globe Theater in London burns down and the birthday club includes Giacomo Leopardi, Celia Thaxter, and Antoine St. Exupery - with a reading of Thaxter's "The Sandpiper."

Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated, European powers sign the Treaty of Versailles, and it is Mel Brook's birthday - with a look at his writing career and a reading from his memoir, "All about Me!: My Remarkable Life in Show Business."

On their birthdays, a look at the writing of Emma Goldman, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Helen Keller, and Grace Lee Boggs - with a reading from Boggs' book "The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the 21st Century."

War-weary allies sign the United Nations Charter, and Shirley Jackson publishes "The Lottery," and J. K. Rowling publishes "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." And on Pearl S. Buck's birthday, a look at her writing and a reading from her book "The Good Earth."

Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer is killed in combat and sparks one of the more intriguing studies in public relations. On his birthday, a look at the writing of George Orwell - with a reading of Lucille Clifton's "won't you celebrate with me."

John Cabot lands in the New World and the Great Siege of Gibraltar begins. On their birthdays, a look at the writing life of Ambrose Bierce and a reading from Anita Desai's "Clear Light of Day."

The typewriter is patented, the Rocky Mountains Park Act becomes law in Canada, the Antarctic Treaty System goes into effect, Title IX is amended, and Pres. Nixon is recorded talking about obstructing the investigation into Watergate. It is June Carter Cash's birthday - with a reading of Sara Teasdale's "The Crystal Gazer."

Galileo is tried by the Roman Catholic Church and the U.S. Department of Justice is established. This episode also includes a reading from Frederick Douglass's essay "Reconstruction."

Marie-Joseph Angélique is condemned to death for burning Montreal, Chinese Empress Cixi declares war on the Western Powers, and this is the day of the arson and murder known as Mississippi Burning. It is the birthday of Jean-Paul Sartre, with a reading from his book "Being and Nothingness."

Samuel Morse gets the patent for the telegraph, the three-day, 1943 Detroit race riot begins, and it is the birthday of playwright Lillian Hellman - with a reading from her memoir "Pentimento."

The first baseball game is played, enslaved people in Texas are told they are finally free, and President John F. Kennedy submits his Civil Rights Act to Congress - with a reading from Kennedy's landmark speech on Civil Rights.

Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo, Charles Darwin learns that another naturist was about to publish a theory of evolution nearly identical to Darwin's, and Winston Churchill delivers his speech "Their Finest Hour." Paul McCartney and Roger Ebert were born on this day. And an excerpt from Churchill's "Their Finest Hour."

Explorer Sir Francis Drake claims land on America's West Coast and sends a geopolitical ripple across 300 years of American history. American colonists fight the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Statue of Liberty arrives in New York Harbor, and it's the anniversary of the Watergate break in. The U.S. established it's second Independence Day - marking Juneteenth, the end of slavery in the U.S...

Abraham Lincoln delivers his speech not known as "A House Divided," and it is Bloomsday. It is also the birthday of Joyce Carol Oates - with a reading from her book "We Were the Mulvaneys."

England's King John signs the Magna Carta and Arlington National Cemetery is established in the U.S. It is the birthday of Ramon Lopez Velarde - with a reading from his poem "Because of this Modest Style."

It is the birthday of the U.S. Armed Forces, and Charles Babbage presents his "difference engine," and the Bear Flag Revolt makes America bigger. It is also the birthday of Harriet Beecher Stowe - with a reading from her landmark book "Uncle Tom's Cabin."