Stories of the Month

November 2024

Karol Wojtyla - Before He Became John Paul II 1946

As a young man, Pope John Paul II was known as Karol Wojtyla. Overcoming hardship in his life - including the death of all his immediate family members and Nazi occupation of his native Poland - Wojtyla became a priest on the 1st of November, 1946.

Buster-Jangle and its Impact on American Soldiers 1951

Thousands of American soldiers were required to take part in a nuclear-testing event called ''Buster Jangle.'' In this clip, we see soldiers watching ''Dog Shot'' at the Nevada Proving Ground on November 1, 1951.

Seabiscuit Upsets War Admiral 1938

In a horse race called ''the match of the century,'' Seabiscuit defeated War Admiral in an upset victory at Pimlico on the 1st of November 1938. At first the horses remained fairly close - then, Seabiscuit raced to the finish line.

Nicholas II Becomes Tsar 1894

After the death of his father, Alexander III, Nicholas Romanov became Tsar of all the Russians on November 1, 1894. In this rare historical clip, we view scenes of his formal coronation (which took place in May of 1896).

John Adams Moves into the White House 1800

John Adams - America's second president - and his wife, Abigail, were the first people to move into the U.S. White House (in November of 1800). Known then as ''the President's House,'' the executive mansion was built with the help of slave labor.

Michelangelo's Sistine Paintings 1512

After the Pope first viewed Michelangelo's frescoes, on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the paintings were revealed to others on the 1st of November, 1512. They remain some of the world's most magnificent works of art.

George Washington and His Farewell Address to the Army 1783

General Washington was nearly fifty-two when he decided to retire from military life and return to his Mount Vernon plantation. He gave a farewell address to the Army on Nov 2, 1783. Five years later, he became U.S. President.

Howard Hughes Flies The 'Spruce Goose' 1947

On the 2nd of November, 1947, Howard Hughes flies his gigantic wooden airplane dubbed ''The Spruce Goose.'' Always a controversial design, the ''Goose'' flew only one time, around 70 feet above the water and for a very brief period of time.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - Federal Holiday Declared 1983

In the presence of Coretta Scott King, President Reagan signed a bill into law on November 2, 1983. The new law created a federal holiday honoring Dr. King. It occurs every year on the third Monday of January (which is close to King's birthday).

Native-American Heritage Month

Explore the Native-American Collection of Stories

Laika, the Dog, Orbits the Earth via Sputnik II 1957

When the USSR launched Sputnik II - on Nov 3, 1957 - the space capsule was carrying the first living creature to orbit Earth. Laika, a stray dog from the streets of Moscow, paved the way for human space flight. But...what happened to Laika?

Henry VIII and the Act of Supremacy 1534

With help from his top advisers, who pave the way for a change in Britain, Henry VIII gets his divorce, and marriage annulment, from Catherine of Aragon. Parliament gives the King a bonus: A new law makes him head of the Church in England.

Jane Goodall Observes Chimpanzees Creating Tools 1960

On the 4th of November, in 1960, Dr. Jane Goodall observed chimpanzees creating tools at Tanzania’s Kasakela Chimpanzee Community. It was the first-reported time that anyone had observed such behavior in non-human animals.

Thomas Wolsey - Arrested 1529

Thomas Wolsey did his best to serve Henry VIII, but he failed the King on an important matter. He was unable to convince the Pope to dissolve Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Wolsey was thereafter arrested - on Nov 4, 1529.

Abe Lincoln Weds Mary Todd 1842

Although death robbed him of Anne Rutledge (''the love of his life''), Abe Lincoln married another woman - Mary Todd - on November 4, 1842. Mary sometimes had a ''sharp tongue,'' as depicted in this recreated scene.

Gunpowder Plot - Guy Fawkes at the Houses of Parliament 1605

On this day in 1605, London's Houses of Parliament were set to open. The event was delayed, due to an outbreak of plague in the city, which provided extra time for a group of conspirators to further develop their plan - to blow-up Parliament

Susan Anthony Votes for a President, Then Gets Arrested 1872

During the U.S. Presidential Election of 1872, Susan B. Anthony believed she had the right to vote. She had a legal opinion, written by a Judge, supporting her. The federal government, however, disagreed and arrested her for illegally voting.

Abraham Lincoln Elected 16th US President 1860

When Lincoln was elected President, America was deeply divided between North and South and on the verge of Civil War. What words did the new President use to avoid war between the states? How did he look at the time?

Jefferson Davis Elected 1st and Only President of the Confederacy 1861

One year to the day after Abe Lincoln was elected President of the USA (United States of America), Jeff Davis was elected President of the CSA (Confederate States of America). Lincoln was America's 16th President; Davis was the only CSA President.

Vladimir I. Lenin - Recording of His Voice 1917

In a clip depicting historic footage of the Bolshevik leader, Vladimir Ilych Lenin, we hear a rare recording of his voice. Listen to the sounds of a man who changed the history of his country when he led the Bolshevik Revolution beginning Nov 7 1917

Kristallnacht - The Night of Broken Glass 1938

A German diplomat in Paris was shot by a Jewish teenager on the 7th of Nov, 1938. After the man died, Hitler's troops began a virulent rampage - on the evening of Nov 9, 1938 - smashing windows and destroying buildings. In these video clip

Nez Perce and the Corps of Discovery 1805

On Nov 7, 1805, William Clark made an entry in his journal: ''Ocian in view! O! The joy.'' Actually, it wasn't the Pacific Ocean after all!

Discovery of X-Rays 1895

While working in his lab, Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen saw something very peculiar on the 8th of November, 1895. He had accidentally discovered ''X-rays.'' One month later, to prove what he had found, he took an X-ray of his wife's hand.

Kennedy Defeats Nixon in the Presidential Election 1960

For the first time, in U.S. history, a televised debate made a difference in the presidential election. Never really recovering from the way he appeared and performed during the first debate, Richard Nixon lost to John F. Kennedy on November 8, 1960.

Stieg Larsson - Unexpected Death 2004

Stieg Larsson was close to the publication of his first book about Lisbeth Salander - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - when he unexpectedly collapsed and died on Nov 9, 2004. Who was Stieg? Who were the inspirations for his now-famous characters?

Berlin - Opening the Checkpoints 1989

Jack the Ripper's Last Strike 1888

Jack the Ripper, who terrorized the Whitechapel section of London in 1888, claimed his last victim - Mary Jane Kelly - on November 9th of that year. To this day, his actual identity remains a mystery.

Dr. David Livingstone - African Slavery 1871

A Scottish explorer, who was also a medical doctor, David Livingstone did what he could to help end slavery in Africa itself. ''Missing'' for a long time, he was ''found'' near Lake Tanganyika, reportedly on the 10th of Nov 1871

Suffragettes Arrested for Picketing the White House 1917

On the 10th of November, 1917, about 41 suffragettes were arrested for picketing in front of the White House. Woodrow Wilson was president then. The women held signs supporting a constitutional amendment granting American women the right to vote.

Andersonville Prison - Henry Wirz 1865

Major Henry Wirz - a Confederate soldier involved in the running of the Andersonville prisoner-of-war camp in Georgia - was executed on November 10, 1865 for war-crime offenses. He was the only American Civil War soldier to be treated in this manner.

Last Day of World War One - The Armistice 1918

Although a cease fire had been agreed upon before dawn, to take effect about six hours later (at 11:00 a.m., Paris time, on the 11th of November 1918), at least ten thousand soldiers were killed from fighting on the last day of World War I.

Veterans Day 1918

''The Great War,'' also known as WWI, ended at the 11th minute of the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Since then, November 11th is ''Veterans' Day,'' also called ''Remembrance Day,'' when we honor those who served their country.

Berlin Wall Falls 1989

On the 11th of November, 1989, Berliners tore down the first slab of the ''Berlin Wall.'' How did that happen? Why was the wall built in the first place?

Remembrance Day 1942

Every November 11th, Canadians honor those who have died for their country. The sacrifices of the 1942 landing at Dieppe, and the 1944 assault at Juno Beach, are just two examples. Learn about this special day and why red poppies - see the story.

Ellis Island - ''Place of Hope and Tears'' 1954

Ellis Island closed on November 12, 1954. Over the decades, about 20 million immigrants had passed through its portals. Why is it known as both a ''Place of Hope and Tears?''

Naval Battle of Guadalcanal 1942

When U.S. military leaders heard that Japan was sending 7,000 reinforcements to Guadalcanal, to dislodge Allied forces from the key Pacific island, they dispatched planes and warships to stop the Japanese soldiers from reaching their destination.

Vietnam War Memorial - Known as ''The Wall'' - Dedicated 1982

On the 13th of November, 1982, America dedicated the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. It is an emotional place where visitors often cry for all those who were lost or injured in the war. Sometimes, though, the tears flow for other reasons.

Segregated Buses Declared Illegal in the U.S. 1956

Four young African-American women were fed-up with segregated buses and filed a lawsuit in federal court. On November 13, 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregated busing was unconstitutional. Browder v Gayle overturned Plessy v Ferguson.

Lady Jane Grey 1553

Just before he died, fifteen-year-old King Edward VI changed Britain's law of succession. Instead of his half-sister - Mary Tudor - ascending the throne after his death, Edward appointed Henry VIII's great-niece, Lady Jane Grey, to become Queen of B

Sherman's March to the Sea 1864

As Union General William T. Sherman, and his troops, undertook their ''March to the Sea,'' parts of the American South went up in flames. By the 14th of November, 1864, Sherman's men were burning Atlanta. Who was Sherman?

Trial of Charles Guiteau - Presidential Assassin 1881

Charles Guiteau assassinated President James Garfield. Two months after the President's death, Guiteau's trial began (on November 14, 1881). Was he insane? Was his trial fair?

Vietnam War - The First Ground Battle 1965

On Sunday, the 14th of November 1965, American combat troops had been in Vietnam for eight months. On that day, Lt Col Hal Moore and his troops were transported into the Ia Drang valley by helicopter. They did not know they were about to be ambushed

Coventry - Decimated by German Bombs 1940

During the evening/early morning of November 14-15, 1940, Hitler sent his bombers to Coventry. After a dreadful night, beginning with incendiaries (which also dispersed hot metal shards), people surveyed their devastated city at first light.

The Warsaw Ghetto 1940

In November of 1940, the ''Ghetto'' in Warsaw was sealed off from the rest of the city. Why was the ghetto formed in the first place? What happened to cause its end?

America's First Constitution - Articles of Confederation 1777

Members of the Continental Congress recognize that some form of cohesiveness, between the 13 American colonies, is needed when the colonies break-away from England. They agree on Articles of Confederation, America’s first, short-lived constitution.

Operation Paperclip - Finding Hitler's Scientists 1945

In a mission dubbed ''Operation Paperclip,'' the Allies searched-for Hitler's scientists. On the 16th of November, 1945, the U.S. Army secretly admitted a group of Germans into the country so they could help to develop America's rocket technology.

Dostoevsky - Personally Faces a Firing Squad 1849

On the 16th of November, 1849, Fyodor Dostoevsky was sentenced to death for being part of an allegedly subversive group. Not yet a famous writer, he was minutes away from death - by firing squad - when the Tsar changed his sentence.

Elizabeth I - Learns She is Queen 1558

On the 17th of November, 1558, Princess Elizabeth - daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn - learned that her half-sister had died, thereby elevating Elizabeth to the throne of Britain. See this video clip.

Richard Nixon: 'I'm Not A Crook' 1973

Embattled by the Watergate scandal, President Nixon did his best to assure the American public that he had done nothing wrong. In a famous televised news conference - on November 17, 1973 - the President said that he welcomed intense questioning.

Joseph P. Kennedy - Father of President Kennedy 1969

Joseph P. Kennedy, father of a President and friend of gangster Nucky Johnson (called Nucky Thompson in the HBO series ''Boardwalk Empire'') dies on November 18, 1969. Once Ambassador to Great Britain, Kennedy was not well-liked by King George VI.

Mark Twain Becomes Famous with His ''Jumping Frog'' Story 1865

Writing as ''Mark Twain,'' Samuel Clemens publishes a story (in the ''New York Saturday Press'') which will make him famous. We know the story as ''The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.'' It's quite a tale!

Cold Mountain: National Book Award 1997

In November of 1997, Charles Frazier won a National Book Award for his novel Cold Mountain. What is the story behind that successful book and film adaptation? We take you on a trip to the U.S. National Archives, and into the the Official Record.

President Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address 1863

After the devastating Battle of Gettysburg, in which so many Union and Confederate soldiers died, President Lincoln gave a short speech to dedicate the battlefield cemetery. Known as the Gettysburg Address, it is one of the most famous speeches.

Time Magazine - Hirohito on the Cover 1928

Hirohito made the cover of TIME Magazine on the 19th of November, 1928. Who was this Japanese emperor? Why did TIME put him on the cover of that edition?

Wolfe Tone and The Wind That Shakes The Barley 1798

Wolfe Tone, Irish hero, was a leader of Ireland's rebellion against Britain during 1798. He died that year - on November 19th - after he was captured, ''tried'' and sentenced to death.

Whaling Ship Essex Attacked by a Sperm Whale 1820

When an 80-ton sperm whale attacks the whaling ship Essex, the ship is destroyed and the crew will face unfathomable hardships. Herman Melville uses the true tale to write a story called ''Moby Dick.'' Meet the real crew and learn about whaling.

Edwin Hubble: Namesake of Space Telescope 1889

Edwin Hubble, the famous astronomer who declared the universe is expanding, was born on the 20th of November, 1889. His work inspired the Hubble Space Telescope - actually an orbiting observatory.

Invention of the Phonograph - Thomas Edison 1877

Thomas Edison announced his invention of the phonograph on November 21, 1877. The singing part of this clip represents the first-known recording of music - ever made - which is ''listenable'' on an Edison phonograph.

Albert Einstein - Time is Relative 1905

On the 21st of November, 1905, Albert Einstein's paper - ''Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?'' - was published. It followed - as an afterthought - his previous paper, published earlier that year, asserting time is relative.

Pilgrims and the 'Mayflower Compact' 1620

The ship's log, of a vessel named Mayflower, tells us that a group of travelers we call ''The Pilgrims'' met aboard ship to decide how they would govern themselves in their new home. They created a document - ''The Mayflower Compact''

Death of C.S. Lewis, Author of The Chronicles of Narnia 1963

Nearly at the same moment President Kennedy dies in Dallas, the creator of The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis - dies in Britain.

Assassination of President Kennedy - Clint Hill's Story 1963

Clint Hill was the Secret Service agent assigned to Mrs. Kennedy on the day that JFK was shot in Dallas. In this compilation of interviews, coupled with historical footage of the events of 22 November 1963, Hill describes what happened.

Who was Lee Harvey Oswald 1963

While President John F. Kennedy was visiting Dallas with his wife, Jackie, he was assassinated on the 22nd of November, 1963. The death of the popular President shocked the country.

Assassination of President Kennedy 1963

On the 22nd of November, 1963, Americans were stunned when their President, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated in Dallas. This story tells what happened, with links to primary sources at the National Archives and exhibits from the Warren Commission.

John Milton Publishes ''Areopagitica'' Defending Free Speech 1664

The Englishman, John Milton, strongly believed in free speech and opposed government censorship. His impassioned speech to Parliament, on free speech, is contained in his pamphlet ''Areopagitica,'' published on Nov 23, 1644.

Real World of Moby Dick and Canada's First Street Lamps 1815

Whaling became a major industry in the 18th-19th centuries, fueling the Industrial Revolution. Whale oil, especially from Sperm Whales, was used to light street lamps, such as those which were first lit in Montreal, Quebec on 23 November 1815.

Who Was John Milton? 1664

John Milton supported Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians during England's Civil War. A strong believer in free speech, Milton was disappointed when the Royalists won. The restoration of the monarchy, to Milton, was like ''Paradise Lost.''

Murder of Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby - 1963

In front of television cameras, Lee Harvey Oswald, accused assassin of President Kennedy, is shot at point-blank range by Jack Ruby (a man known to Dallas police). Oswald dies soon thereafter. This fuels speculation that JFK's murder was a conspiracy

Charles Darwin - On the Origin of Species 1859

After many years of thinking and writing, Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species on the 24th of November, 1859. Who was Darwin? How did he reach his conclusions?

Jack Ruby Just Before He Fatally Shoots Lee Harvey Oswald 1963

During live radio and television broadcasts, Jack Ruby aims his gun and fires a single shot into Lee Harvey Oswald’s stomach. As Oswald crumples, mortally wounded, listeners can hear the sound of a gunshot. So can you, as you watch this video.

Susan B. Anthony - Arrested for Voting 1872

Susan B. Anthony, the famous advocate for women's rights, supported Thomas Greeley in the 1872 presidential election. Of course, the 19th Amendment - giving American women the right to vote - wouldn't be law for nearly fifty years.

Funeral of President Kennedy - 1963

One of many poignant scenes, on a day of national mourning for a fallen President, we see ''Black Jack,'' a riderless horse with a reversed boot in the stirrup. What is the significance of this portrayal?

JFK's Funeral - John, Jr. Salutes His Father 1963

One of the most touching events in a week of extraordinary difficulty, following the assassination of President Kennedy, was the moment when three-year-old John F. Kennedy, Jr. saluted his father's coffin.

King Tut's Tomb 1922

Although he died young, King Tut - an Egyptian Pharaoh - is one of the most famous rulers of ancient times. The reason? His previously undisturbed tomb was discovered by archaeologists - as was the Pharaoh's mummy.

Pope Urban Calls for a Crusade 1095

In one of the medieval-era's most-significant speeches, Pope Urban II called for a march to Jerusalem to reclaim the city and its sites. When respondents took up the call, they began what we know as ''The First Crusade.''

Margaret Thatcher Ousted from Power 1990

As she leaves Number 10 Downing Street for the last time, Britain's first female Prime Minister also leaves a deeply divided legacy. Brits either loved her or despised her. Her 11 1/2 years in power were the longest for a PM since 1827.

William Blake's Birthday 1757

A writer and a painter, William Blake thought that life is sometimes chaotic. One of his most-famous poems is ''A Poison Tree.'' What does he say about pent-up anger? Is the apple, in this poem, a metaphor for something? If so ... what?

Magellan and His Voyage of Discovery 1520

On the 28th of November, 1520, Ferdinand Magellan and his expedition sailed to the Pacific Ocean via the Straits of Magellan. It was the first time any European had reached the Pacific via an passageway from the Atlantic.

Incendiary Bombs Over Tokyo 1944

Beginning in November, 1944, American B-29s began their raids over Japan's capital. Then a city of mostly wooden buildings, Tokyo was massively damaged by the fire bombs.

C.S. Lewis - November Birth and Death 1898

C.S. (''Jack'') Lewis was born on November 29, 1898 and died on the day that President Kennedy was shot in Dallas. Who was C.S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia? What was his life like - as a boy, as a young man and as an adult?

C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien

C.S. Lewis was an atheist when his friend, J.R.R. Tolkien - author of The Lord of the Rings - challenged him to assess whether myths and lies were one and the same.

Slave Ship Zong 1781

A tragedy aboard the slave ship Zong - on the 29th of November, 1781 - helped to turn the British public against the slave trade. Zong's sailors sent many captured Africans into the sea so the ship's owners could collect insurance proceeds.

Nov 1: Karol Wojtyla - Before He Became John Paul II 1946

Nov 1: Buster-Jangle and its Impact on American Soldiers 1951

Nov 1: Seabiscuit Upsets War Admiral 1938

Nov 1: Nicholas II Becomes Tsar 1894

Nov 1: John Adams Moves into the White House 1800

Nov 1: Michelangelo's Sistine Paintings 1512

Nov 2: George Washington and His Farewell Address to the Army 1783

Nov 2: Howard Hughes Flies The 'Spruce Goose' 1947

Nov 2: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - Federal Holiday Declared 1983

Nov 3: Native-American Heritage Month

Nov 3: Laika, the Dog, Orbits the Earth via Sputnik II 1957

Nov 3: Henry VIII and the Act of Supremacy 1534