This Day in His-Story

February 11 is National Make-a-Friend Day, a reminder of the value of choosing and being a good friend. Friends influence our lives deeply, especially when we seek companions who love truth, learning, and helping others. Friendship takes time, care, and genuine concern, but it becomes a great treasure that can strengthen us during challenges and open the door to joy and growth. As taught in script...

The Treaty of Paris, signed on February 10, 1763, ended the French and Indian War, a global conflict that reshaped colonial power in North America. The treaty forced France to surrender its mainland territories, strengthening British control but also increasing tensions with the American colonies. The war helped unite the colonies through shared defense efforts and highlighted leaders such as Geor...

On February 9, 1895, the first volleyball game was played at a YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts, by William G. Morgan, who designed the sport as a less physical alternative to basketball. Originally called mintonette, the game combined elements of several sports and quickly evolved as rules, equipment, and organization became standardized. From its early days using a basketball bladder to modern ind...

Today, February 8, is National Kite Flying Day, a celebration of a pastime with a long and fascinating history. Kites have been used for centuries across cultures, beginning in Asia and the South Pacific for purposes ranging from fishing and military strategy to science and exploration. From Chinese generals measuring city walls, to Benjamin Franklin’s electrical experiments, to the Wright brother...

Frederick Douglass, born into slavery on February 7, 1818, rose to become one of America’s most powerful voices for freedom, equality, and human dignity. Through determination and a hunger for knowledge, Douglass taught himself to read, escaped slavery, and devoted his life to abolishing slavery and defending the rights of both African Americans and women. As an advisor to President Abraham Lincol...

Ronald Reagan, born on February 6, 1911, in Tampico, Illinois, became the 40th President of the United States and is remembered for his optimism, faith, and leadership during the final years of the Cold War. From his famous challenge to “tear down this wall” in Berlin to his resilience after surviving an assassination attempt, Reagan’s life reflected courage and confidence in the goodness of peopl...

On February 5, 1952, the first pedestrian crossing signal—a hand-shaped “Don’t Walk” sign—was installed in New York City to help reduce the growing number of pedestrian accidents. While traffic lights had existed since 1914, this innovation focused specifically on pedestrian safety and introduced clearer patterns for crossing busy streets. Over time, crosswalk signals evolved to include sounds and...

February 4 is National Thank a Mail Carrier Day, a time to recognize the essential service of those who deliver mail in all conditions. From ancient couriers and the Pony Express to today’s USPS workers, mail carriers have played a vital role in communication and community life. Established practices by early leaders like Benjamin Franklin continue today as carriers serve every American household,...

On February 3, 1913, the Sixteenth Amendment was ratified, granting the federal government the authority to collect an income tax. Proposed under President William Howard Taft and approved by the states over four years, the amendment shifted government funding away from tariffs and helped support a growing nation, especially during World War I. While income tax is mandatory, the principle of tithi...

Groundhog Day, celebrated each year on February 2, is a lighthearted tradition centered on Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog who predicts the arrival of spring. Rooted in German Candlemas customs brought to Pennsylvania by immigrants, the holiday holds that if Phil sees his shadow, winter will last six more weeks; if not, spring will come early. First noted in an 1886 Pennsylvania newspaper,...

National Freedom Day commemorates February 1, 1865, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the resolution that led to the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery in the United States. The day was founded by Major Richard Robert Wright Sr., a former slave and educator who dedicated his life to advancing education, economic opportunity, and freedom for African Americans. Officially recognized in 1948...

The first prayer in the Continental Congress was offered on September 7, 1774, at Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia by Reverend Jacob Duché, a respected Anglican minister chosen with support from leaders such as Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. At a tense moment when war with Great Britain seemed imminent, Duché read from Psalm 35 and offered an extemporaneous prayer that deeply moved the delegate...

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, born January 30, 1882, in Hyde Park, New York, served as the 32nd President of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945 and led the nation through the Great Depression and World War II. Despite being paralyzed from the waist down by polio in 1921, FDR returned to public service with the support of his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, and became a symbol of strength an...

National Puzzle Day celebrates the joy, challenge, and benefits of solving puzzles with family and friends, highlighting how cooperative games increase happiness, relaxation, and a sense of accomplishment. From ancient labyrinths to modern jigsaw puzzles, puzzles have entertained and educated people for centuries, helping develop problem-solving skills, memory, and creativity in both children and...

Dedicated on January 28, 1940, in San Diego, California, the Mormon Battalion Monument commemorates the sacrifices of more than 500 Latter-day Saint pioneers who enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War at the request of President James K. Polk. The battalion completed one of the longest infantry marches in American history, traveling nearly 2,000 miles from Iowa to California whi...

International Holocaust Remembrance Day, observed on January 27, commemorates the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp in 1945 and honors the memory of the more than six million Jewish men, women, and children murdered during the Holocaust, along with millions of other victims of Nazi persecution. Auschwitz has become a powerful symbol of the atrocities of World War II,...

In a 1784 letter to his daughter, Benjamin Franklin criticized the bald eagle’s moral character and praised the turkey as a more respectable and courageous bird, sparking the enduring myth that he preferred the turkey as America’s national symbol. While Franklin never formally proposed the turkey, his comments reflected his belief in honesty, hard work, and moral virtue. After several failed desig...

Robert Boyle, born January 25, 1627, in Ireland, is known as the “Father of Chemistry” and is regarded as the first modern chemist for helping transform science from mysticism into an experimental discipline. Best known for Boyle’s Law, which explains the relationship between gas pressure and volume, his discoveries remain foundational to modern science and everyday technologies. Deeply religious...

National Compliment Day is celebrated every year on January 24 and encourages people to express sincere appreciation to friends, family, and others around them. Compliments build trust, improve relationships, and boost happiness for both the giver and the receiver, with research showing that kind words can create positive emotional effects similar to tangible rewards. Simple acts like offering tho...

John Hancock, born January 23, 1737, was a Founding Father, President of the Continental Congress, and the first signer of the Declaration of Independence, remembered especially for his bold and unmistakable signature. A wealthy merchant turned patriot, Hancock risked his fortune and life in support of American independence, enduring British retaliation and personal loss for the cause of liberty....

Excavation for the Empire State Building began on January 22, 1930, and the skyscraper was completed just 410 days later in 1931, becoming an enduring symbol of New York City and American ambition. Standing 1,454 feet tall with 103 stories, the Art Deco landmark was once the tallest building in the world for nearly 40 years and remains one of the most recognized structures on earth. Built through...

The USS Nautilus , the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine, was launched on January 21, 1954, in Groton, Connecticut, and forever changed naval history. Built under the leadership of Captain Hyman G. Rickover, the submarine could remain submerged indefinitely, travel faster underwater than any previous submarine, and shattered speed and distance records, including a historic voyage beneath the...

U.S. Presidential Inauguration Day was moved to January 20 by the Twentieth Amendment, with the first January inauguration held in 1937 during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s second term, ensuring a smoother and timelier transition of power. The inauguration centers on sacred oaths to uphold the Constitution, followed by an address that often acknowledges God’s guidance and the nation’s reliance on moral...

Martin Luther King Jr., born January 15, 1929, was a Baptist minister and civil rights leader who championed racial equality through nonviolent action grounded in Christian principles of love and justice. Rising to national prominence during the Montgomery Bus Boycott and delivering his historic “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963, King taught that peace, understanding, and love are stronger than hatr...

Daniel Webster, born on January 18, 1782, in New Hampshire, became one of America’s greatest orators and statesmen, dedicating his life to defending the Constitution, preserving the Union, and upholding moral principles in public life. Serving in Congress, the Senate, and as Secretary of State, Webster spoke forcefully against slavery, opposed unjust policies like Indian removal, and helped negoti...