World Elephant Day

 Events
Aug 122026
 

African Elephant

World Elephant Day is today! The day was first celebrated on August 12, 2012, by Patricia Sims and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation. Three types of elephant exist, the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant and the Asian elephant. The African bush elephant is listed as endangered, the African forest elephant in critically endangered, and the Asian elephant is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. The elephant is the largest land mammal, and all three types of elephant are herbivores.

Echo 1A Was Launched in 1960

 Events
Aug 122026
 

Echo 1A, the first passive communications satellite, was successfully launched in 1960. The 100-foot diameter balloon reflected communications signals to desired locations. Only one other passive communications satellite was launched until NASA decided to use active satellites. Experts predicted Echo 1A would last only until 1964. However, Echo 1A remained intact and reentered earth’s atmosphere on May 24, 1968. The satellite was destroyed by friction and heat. Children could learn more at: Echo 1A.

Sue Was Discovered in South Dakota in 1990

 Events
Aug 122026
 

Sues_skeletonSue, the largest and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil skeleton, was discovered by Sue Hendrickson in South Dakota in 1990. Sue is 42 feet long and probably weighed 6.4 tons when alive. After a dispute over ownership was solved, she was sold to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois. Children could learn more at the Museum’s website at: Sue.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Aug 122026
 

George Wesley Bellows (born Columbus, Ohio, 1882; died New York, New York, January 8, 1925) was an artist. He is best known for his realistic works about city life. Children could view many of his works at: George Wesley Bellows.

Ann M. Martin (born Princeton, New Jersey, 1955) is a children’s author. She has written many books, including The Baby-Sitters Club series. She received a Newbery Honor Award in 2003 for A Corner of the Universe. Children could visit a website at: Ann M. Martin.

Christy Mathewson

Christy Mathewson

Christy Mathewson (born Factoryville, Pennsylvania, 1880; died Saranac Lake, New York, October 7, 1925) was a famous baseball player. Idea: Children could examine his baseball statistics, and they could find out if he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. This link could really help: Christy Mathewson.

Fredrick McKissack (born Nashville, Tennessee, 1939; died Chesterfield, Missouri, April 28, 2013) wrote and illustrated books for children. He worked with his wife Patricia to produce more than 100 books. A Long Hard Journey: The Story of the Pullman Porter earned the 1990 Coretta Scott King Medal and the 1990 Jane Addams Book Award. Sojourner Truth: Ain’t I a Woman? received a 1993 Coretta Scott King Honor Award. The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural was a 1993 Newbery Honor Book and the 1993 Coretta Scott King Medal winner. The McKissacks earned another Coretta Scott King Medal in 1995 for Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters and still another Coretta Scott King Honor Award in 1997 for Rebels Against Slavery: American Slave Revolts. The McKissacks earned still more Coretta Scott King Honor Awards: one in 2000 for Black Hands, White Sails: The Story of African-American Whalers and one in 2004 for Days of Jubilee: The End of Slavery in the United States. Children could learn more at: Fredrick McKissack.

Walter Dean Myers (born Martinsburg, West Virginia, 1937; died New York, New York, July 1, 2014) wrote over 100 books for young adults. He earned six Coretta Scott King Awards: in 1980 for The Young Landlords, in 1985 for Motown and Didi, in 1989 for Fallen Angels, in 1993 for Somewhere in the Darkness (Honor Award), in 1994 for Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary (Honor Award), and in 2000 for Monster (Honor Award). He earned two Newbery Honor Awards: in 1989 for Scorpions, and in 1993 for Somewhere in the Darkness. He received the first Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature in 2000 for Monster. He also received a 2004 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Honor Award for Blues Journey. The Margaret A. Edwards Award was presented to him in 1994 for his body of work. Children could learn more at: Walter Dean Myers.

William B. Purvis (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1838; died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1914) was an African American inventor and entrepreneur. He obtained at least four patents. His first patent was an improvement to a hand stamper. His second patent is the one for which he is most known, Patent Number 419,065, an improvement to the fountain pen on January 7, 1890. He also received a patent for an improvement of paper bags and a patent for a close-conduit electric railway system.

 

Aztec Empire Fell in 1521

 Events
Aug 132026
 

Aztec Calendar Stone

Spanish conquered Aztecs in 1521. The city of Tenochtitlan fell to Hernan Cortez and his allies. Cortez had arrived on the shores several months before. Montezuma, leader of the Aztecs, felt Cortez might be one of their gods, Quetzalcoatl. Montezuma made the Spanish feel welcome, but ultimately the conquistadors turned on the Aztecs. Children can read some great background information at: Aztecs.

Women Joined the Marines in 1918

 Events
Aug 132026
 

Recruiting Poster

Women joined the United States Marines for the first time in 1918. Opha Mae Johnson was the first of 305 women to enlist that day. They performed clerical duties in the United States so that males could fight in World War I. During World War II, female marines served overseas. Today women comprise about seven percent of the entire corps. Children can learn more at: Women Marines.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Aug 132026
 

John Logie Baird (born Hellensburgh, Scotland, 1888; died Beyhill, England, June 14, 1946) was an early pioneer in television development.

William Caxton (born Kent, England, 1422; died London, England, 1491) was the first printer to publish a book in English. Older children could read some of his works at: Project Gutenberg.

Ruth Stiles Gannett (born New York, New York, 1923; died Danvers, Massachusetts, June 11, 2024)) wrote books for children. Her book My Father’s Dragon received a 1949 Newbery Honor Award. Her other works include Katie and the Sad Noise. Children can read My Father’s Dragon at: Project Gutenberg.

Alfred Hitchcock (born London, England, 1899; died Beverly Hills, California, April 29, 1980) was a movie director. He specialized in movies providing high suspense. Two of his most famous movies were The Thirty-Nine Steps and The Birds.

Annie Oakley

Annie Oakley

Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Moses in Darke County, Ohio, 1860; died Greenville, Ohio, November 3, 1926) was a sharpshooter. She joined Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show in 1885. She amazed audiences for years with her skills, including shooting the cigarette out of her husband’s mouth. Idea: Children could find out how she got the last name Oakley. They might want to read Robert Quackenbush’s Who’s That Girl with the Gun?

Lucy Stone (born West Brookfield, Massachusetts, 1818; died Boston, Massachusetts, October 18, 1893) campaigned for women’s rights. Her father did not believe women should have college educations. She had to work for nine years to earn the money to go to Oberlin College. She was the first woman from Massachusetts to earn a college degree. Children could learn more at: Lucy Stone.

 Newer Entries