1878
Arts
Birth of Pamela Colman Smith
Pamela Colman Smith was born on February 16, 1878, in Pimlico, London, England.
View detailsThis Day
16February
14 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1883
Literature
Birth of Elizabeth Craig
Elizabeth Craig was born on February 16, 1883, in Addiewell, Scotland.
View details1894
Politics
Death of Anna Ella Carroll
Anna Ella Carroll died on February 16, 1894, in Washington, D.C., after decades advocating for recognition of her Civil War contributions.
View details1906
Science
Born in Moscow, Russian Empire
Vera Menchik was born in Moscow on February 16, 1906, to a Czech father and English mother.
View details1926
Sports
Cannes 'Match of the Century' vs Helen Wills
Defeated Helen Wills in the celebrated 'Match of the Century', bringing unprecedented attention.
View details1946
Activism
Elected first Chair of UN Commission on Human Rights
Eleanor Roosevelt is elected the first Chair of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, becoming the inaugural leader of its human rights charter effort.
View details1950
Science
Death of Carro Morrell Clark
Carro Morrell Clark died on February 16, 1950, after a pioneering career founding and managing the C. M. Clark Publishing Company.
View details1973
Science
Birth of Cathy Freeman
Catherine Astrid Salome Freeman was born in Mackay, Queensland, Australia.
View details1992
1995
Sports
Death of Margaret L. Wade
Margaret L. Wade died in Cleveland, Mississippi, at age eighty-two, leaving a lasting legacy on women's basketball.
View details1997
Science
Death of Chien-Shiung Wu
Chien-Shiung Wu died in New York City, closing a career that reshaped understanding of beta decay and parity violation.
View details2004
Science
Begins term as AAAS president
Shirley Ann Jackson begins her term as AAAS president.
View details2015
2026
Sports
MLB Black History Month feature on Toni Stone
MLB aired a feature segment on Toni Stone for Black History Month on February 16, 2026.
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