Japanese Surrender to End World War II
Japan formally surrendered in 1945 aboard the USS Missouri, ending World War II. The ceremony, broadcast around the world via radio, lasted about 23 minutes. The Allied copy of the surrender is located in the National Archives: World War II.
Demi (born Charlotte Dumaresq Hunt in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1942) has written and/or illustrated at least 300 books for children. Her books include Muhammad and Gandhi. Children can learn more at: Demi.
Eugene Field (born St. Louis, Missouri, 1850; died Chicago, Illinois, November 4, 1895) was a writer. He is most known for his poetry. Idea: Children might enjoy reading The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat, published in 1894. Children can read many of his works at: Project Gutenberg.
James Forten
James Forten (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1766; died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1842) was the son of free African Americans. He was almost sold into slavery during the Revolutionary War. Later he became a successful businessman and was active in the abolition movement. They could learn more at: James Forten. How did he help the antislavery movement?
Christa McAuliffe
Christa McAuliffe (born Concord, Massachusetts, 1948; died in the Challenger disintegration, January 28, 1986) was a high school teacher. She was picked to be the Teacher in Space, the first ordinary person to travel in space. Six other crew members died with her. Children can learn more at: Christa McAuliffe.
Bernard Most (born New York, New York, 1937) writes books for children. His books include If the Dinosaurs Came Back and The Cow That Went Oink. Children can visit his website, particularly the coloring pages, at: Bernard Most.
Elizabeth De Trevino (born Bakersfield, California, 1904; died Cuernavaca, Mexico, December 2, 2001) was a children’s author. One of her most popular works is I, Juan de Pareja, which received the 1966 Newbery Medal.
Flag of San Marino
San Marino celebrates Founding of the Republic Day. Saint Marinus, a stonemason, founded the country in AD 301. About a third of the size of Washington, DC, San Marino is a country within the country of Italy. Over 32,000 people live there, and the capital is the city of San Marino. Older children can learn more at: San Marino.
Flag of Qatar
Qatar celebrates Independence Day. It declared its freedom from Great Britain in 1971. About the size of Connecticut, Qatar is now ruled by Sheik Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The country obtains most of its income from oil and banking. Over two million people live in Qatar, and Doha is the capital. Children can learn more at: Qatar.
Treaty of Paris by Benjamin West
Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783. Great Britain and the United States signed the treaty, formally ending the Revolutionary War and recognizing the United States as an independent country. The negotiators for the United States were John Jay, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Laurens, and William Temple. Benjamin West’s painting Treaty of Paris (shown here) displays the five American negotiators. The painting was never completed because the British refused to be included. At least one copy of the treaty is housed in the National Archives. Children can read a transcript of the treaty at: Treaty of Paris.
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery in 1838. He boarded a train disguised as a free sailor in Baltimore and traveled to Philadelphia. Children can read about his escape at: Frederick Douglass. Children can also read many of his works at: Project Gutenberg.
Peggy Whitson returned to earth on September 3, 2017. She set a new record of 665 days in space, including 288 days during her most recent stint on the International Space Station. She is now the American and any woman to spend the most time in space. She served on three missions on the space station. She set other space records as well. She is the oldest female astronaut at age 57, and she is the first woman to have commanded the International Space Station twice. The biochemist landed in a Soyuz capsule in Kazakhstan. Older children can learn more at: Peggy Whitson.
Books by Aliki
Aliki Brandenberg (born Wildwood Crest, New Jersey, 1929) has written and/or illustrated at least 80 books for children. She has written, among other works, How a Book Is Made and Milk: From Cow to Carton.
Prudence Crandall (born Hopkinton, Rhode Island, 1803; died Elk Falls, Kansas, January 28, 1890) was a teacher. Her school was boycotted when the families found out she had included an African-American girl. She then created a school for “young ladies and misses of colour.” The town of Canterbury eventually drove her out, and she moved west. Older children can read a brief biography at: Prudence Crandall.
Romulus Augustulus, leader of the Roman Empire, was deposed in AD 476. This is a very confusing story. Romulus was made the Roman emperor by his father Orestes on October 31, 475. Poor Romulus was only about ten years old. After Romulus had been emperor for about ten months, barbarian leader Odoacer defeated Orestes and took over the leadership on this day in AD 476. However, he did not declare himself a Roman emperor. Many experts believe this event marks the fall of the Roman Empire. Idea: Children could find maps of the Roman Empire. How far did its power reach?
First self-service restaurant opened in 1885. The Exchange Buffet in Manhattan served food only to men; and because there were no tables, men ate standing. By 1921 around 34 Exchange Buffets had opened.