The Story of Writing

The writing that influenced the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and the remarkable achievement of the document itself - with a reading from the letter recalling the solemn

George Washington's first battle ends in his surrender, but 21 years later - to the day - he assumes command of the Continental Army, the bloody Battle of Gettysburg ends, the Falls Curfew, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman - with a reading from "The Yellow Wall-Paper."

Johann Sebastian Bach's "Magnificat," dissolving political bands, the Amistad , "Finlandia," by Jean Sibelius, The U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964, Hermann Hesse, and Thurgood Marshall - with a reading from Hesse's “On Little Joys.”

The Battle of Gettysburg begins, Canada becomes a nation, the Battle of the Somme begins, too, "Inundation Day," and George Sand's birthday - with a reading from "Indiana."

The Evolution Debate of 1860 at Oxford, Abraham Lincoln signs the Yosemite Valley Grant Act, Albert Einstein, the National Organization of Women, and Joan Murrell Owens - with a reading of "One Sea-Side Grave," by Christina Rossetti.

The Globe Theater burns to the ground, Giacomo Leopardi, Celia Thaxter, and Antoine de Saint-Exupery - with a reading of Thaxter's "The Sandpiper."

The Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the Treaty of Versailles - with a reading of one of my favorite poems: "The Traveller-Heart," by Vachel Lindsay.

Emma Goldman, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Helen Keller, and Grace Lee Boggs - with a reading of Alfred, Lord Tennyson's "The Eagle."

The Charter of the United Nations, Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," Harry Potter, Pearl S. Buck, and Violette Bushell Szabo - with a reading of "Sonnet," by Alice Moore Dunbar-Nelson.

George Armstrong Custer's reputation is a study in public relations, it's George Orwell's birthday - with a reading of “won’t you celebrate with me” by Lucille Clifton.

John Cabot lands in northern North America, Samuel de Champlain finds fresh water for Acadia, the Great Siege of Gibraltar began, and it's Ambrose Bierce's birthday - with a reading from Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

Christopher Latham Sholes gets the U.S. patent for the "Type-Writer," Banff becomes Canada's first national park, the Antarctic Treaty System goes into effect, Title IX of the 1964 U.S. Civil Rights Act gets a re-write that affects sweeping changes, "Brexit" is narrowly approved by UK voters, and it's June Carter Cash's birthday - with a reading of Sara Teasdale&#39...

Galileo is forced by the Roman Catholic Church to recant his observation that the Earth revolved around the sun, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant approves the creation of the Department of Justice, Nazi Germany takes France then invades Russia, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt approves the G.I. Bill, and the Cuyahoga River near Cleveland, Ohio bursts into flames. Also a reading from "Recon...

Marie-Joseph Angélique - because even the city she allegedly burned thinks she should be remembered, Chinese Empress Cixi, Mississippi Burning, and Jean-Paul Sartre - with a reading from his book "Being and Nothingness."

Samuel Morse receives a patent for the telegraph, Alexander Graham Bell's father uses his son's tech to set up the first telephone exchange, the Detroit Race Riot of 1943, "Jaws" hits the silver screen, and it's Lillian Hellman's birthday - with a reading from her memoir "Pentimento."

The Nicene Creed, the first officially recorded and organized baseball game, Juneteenth, and the Civil Rights Act of 1963 and 1964 - with a reading from President John F. Kennedy's speech describing the legislation and the nation's need of it.

The Battle of Waterloo, Charles Darwin learns that fellow naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace has developed a theory of evolution almost identical to Darwin's, English Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivers his "Finest Hour" speech, Paul McCartney and Roger Ebert were born on the same day - with a reading from Churchill's "Finest Hour."

Sir Francis Drake puts his mark on the New World, the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Statue of Liberty arrives in New York Harbor, Watergate, Juneteenth, Igor Stravinsky, and Ruth Graves Wakefield - with a reading about the legislation that made Juneteenth a national holiday in the U.S.

Abraham Lincoln delivers his "House Divided" speech and it's Bloomsday! For the romantics, the lovers of literature, and anyone who has walked down Nassau Street in Dublin or even dreamt of it, today is the day - in 1904 - that James Joyce met Nora Barnacle for their first date. This is also the day of the events in Joyce's landmark novel "Ulysses." It is also the birth...

King John of England assents to the Magna Carta, Benjamin Franklin proves lightning is, in fact, electricity, Arlington is designated a National Military Cemetery, and it is the birthday of Mexican poet Ramón López Velarde - with a reading from his poem "Because of this Modest Style."

Flag Day in the U.S., Charles Babbage proposes his difference engine, the Bear Flag Revolt, and the birthday of Harriett Beecher Stowe - with a reading from "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

Miranda rights, Thurgood Marshall is nominated to the Supreme Court, the Pentagon Papers, and William Butler Yeats - with a reading of his poem "The Second Coming."

The Virginia Declaration of Rights, written by George Mason, for her 13th birthday, Anne Frank was given a blank book she used as a diary, Nelson Mandela is sentenced to life in prison in South Africa, and in the Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia, Loving won. Also, a reading from Rona Jaffe's best-selling debut novel "The Best of Everything."

One of the most searing days for civil rights in the 20th Century: Thích Quảng Đức, George Wallace, Vivian Malone, James Hood, President John F. Kennedy, and Medgar Evers. It's the birthday of dramatist and poet Ben Jonson and the birthday of actor Gene Wilder. Today's reading is Jonson's "Song: to Celia."

Bridget Bishop and the Salem Witch Trials, AA, Howlin' Wolf, and Saul Bellow - with a reading from "Herzog."