Death of Noah Webster
On May 28, 1843, author and lexicographer Noah Webster died in New Haven, Connecticut. Webster developed several important textbooks as well as the dictionary that standardized the American spelling of many words.
American History
Birth of Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr. was born on May 27, 1911, in Wallace, South Dakota. He was a leading political figure in the mid-1900s, promoting the Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, and more.
Happy Birthday Ralph Waldo Emerson
Author Ralph Waldo Emerson was born on May 25, 1803, in Boston, Massachusetts. A leader of the Transcendentalist movement, he promoted individualism and was a major influence on generations of thinkers, writers, and poets.
“Remember Ellsworth”
On May 24, 1861, Colonel Elmer Ellsworth, a close friend of President Abraham Lincoln, became the first Union officer to die in the Civil War. “Remember Ellsworth” soon became a popular rallying cry for the Union.
Birth of John Bardeen
Physicist John Bardeen was born on May 23, 1908, in Madison, Wisconsin. Bardeen helped develop the transistor, which made possible the invention of almost every modern electronic device.
Birth of American Red Cross
On May 21, 1881, Clara Barton established the American Red Cross. With locations in every US state and territory, it’s grown to become one of the most recognizable crisis response organizations in the country.
Birth of Katherine Anne Porter
Katherine Anne Porter was born Callie Russell Porter on May 15, 1890, in Indian Creek, Texas. Porter was best known for her long short stories written in flawless prose, which have a texture and complexity usually found only in novels.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
On May 14, 1930, Carlsbad Caverns National Park was officially created in New Mexico. The park is home to the largest limestone chamber in North America, known as the Big Room.
Birth of Ritchie Valens
Richard Steven Valenzuela, known as Richie Valens, was born on May 13, 1941, in Pacoima, Los Angeles, California. Valens was a pioneer of Chicano rock and Latin rock, often considered the first Latino performer to successfully crossover to mainstream rock ‘n’ roll.