This Day in History

A lot has happened on July 1st over the years, at least according to Wikipedia:

1807 - Thomas Green Clemson, American university founder, is born.
1863 - The Battle of Gettysburg begins.
1870 - The United States Department of Justice formally comes into existence.
1881 - World's first international telephone call takes place between St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada, and Calais, Maine, United States.
1896 - Harriet Beecher Stowe dies.
1906 - Estée Lauder, American entrepreneur, is born.
1921 - Communist Party of China was founded.
1931 - United Airlines began service (as Boeing Air Transport)
1934 - Sydney Pollack, American film director, is born.
1963 - ZIP Codes are introduced for United States mail.
1983 - R. Buckminster Fuller, American architect and philosopher, dies.
1999 - Forrest Mars Sr., American candy magnate, dies.

Did you know that you could search for a date on Wikipedia and it will give you a list of useless facts? Just think of all the information you can learn to fill the awkward pauses at dinner parties and mandatory professional gatherings (or when you feel the need to update a blog, but didn't plan out any content).

For example, I just learned that I share a birthday with Flavius Honorius and Leo Tolstoy, not to mention Hugh Grant. Someday I'm sure that will come in handy.

Regular scheduled posting will resume later this week. Stay tuned. . .

Contributed by Stephanie Bayless, Manuscripts Department.