January Black History Calendar
- Jan 1, 1863
President Abraham Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation
Read on BlackPast - Jan 2, 1965
Martin Luther King, Jr. calls for non-violent protests if Alabama Blacks are not allowed to register and vote.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 3, 1624
William Tucker first African American child born in America.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 4, 1971
Congressional Black Caucus formed.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 5, 1943
George Washington Carver, agricultural scientist, died.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 6, 1831
The World Anti-Slavery Convention opens in London.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 7, 1890
William B. Purvis patents fountain pen.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 8, 1811
Charles Deslandes leads slave revolt in Louisiana.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 9, 1866
Fisk University is founded in Nashville.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 10, 1864
George Washington Carver , agricultural scientist, born.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 11, 1985
Reuben V. Anderson, first African American to be appointed to Mississippi Supreme Court.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 12, 1948
U.S. Supreme Court rules that African Americans have the right to study law at state institutions.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 13, 1990
L. Douglas Wilder becomes first African American U.S. governor (Virginia) since Reconstruction. 1913 – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated becomes the 2nd Black Greek Letter Organization.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 14, 1975
William T. Coleman named U.S. Scretary of Transportation.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 15, 1908
Alpha Kappa Alpha, first African American sorority, is founded at Howard University.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 16, 1978
NASA names Black astronauts: Maj. Frederick D. Gregory, Maj. Guion S. Bluford, and Dr. Ronald McNair.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 17, 1942
Three-time heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali born.
Read on BlackPast - Jan 18, 1856
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams , pioneer heart surgeon, born.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 19, 1969
UCLA renames its social science buildings to honor alumnus Ralph Bunche .
Search Library of Congress - Jan 20, 1977
Patricia Roberts Harris becomes U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the first black woman to hold a Cabinet position.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 21, 1936
Former Congressman Barbara Jordan born.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 22, 1949
James Robert Gladden becomes first African American certified in orthopedic surgery.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 23, 1891
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams founds Provident Hospital in Chicago, one of the first schools of nursing for black students in the U. S.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 24, 1865
Congress passes 13th Amendment which, on ratification, abolished slavery in America.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 25, 1851
Sojourner Truth addresses the first Black Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 26, 1954
Dr. Theodore K. Lawless, dermatologist, awarded the Springarn Medal for his research in skin-related diseases.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 27, 1961
Leontyne Price made her Metropolitan Opera debut.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 28, 1787
Free Africa Society organized in Philadelphia.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 29, 1926
Violette Nealy Anderson becomes the first Black woman lawyer to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 30, 1979
Franklin Thomas named president of Ford Foundation.
Search Library of Congress - Jan 31, 1986
August Wilson’s Fences , starring James Earl Jones, opens at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.
Search Library of Congress