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April 10CalendarApril 12
This Day
11April

18 indexed achievements across recorded history.


1705
Henrietta Johnston
Science

Marriage to Reverend Gideon Johnston

Henrietta Deering married Church of England cleric Gideon Johnston, a union that led to her eventual emigration to colonial Charles Town.

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Henrietta Johnston·Encyclopedia.com: Johnston, Henrietta (c. 1670–1728)
1864
Johanna Elberskirchen
Activism

Birth of Johanna Elberskirchen

Johanna Elberskirchen was born on April 11, 1864, in Bonn, Germany.

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Johanna Elberskirchen·Johanna Elberskirchen Biography - Lesbengeschichte
1865
Mary White Ovington
Activism

Birth of Mary White Ovington

Mary White Ovington was born in Brooklyn, New York.

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Mary White Ovington·Mary White Ovington Biography
1869
Kasturba Gandhi
Activism

Birth of Kasturba Gandhi

Kasturba Gandhi was born on April 11, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat.

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Kasturba Gandhi·Wikipedia: Kasturba Gandhi
1881
Spelman College
Activism

Founding of Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary (future Spelman College)

Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, precursor to Spelman College, is founded in a church basement in Atlanta on April 11, 1881.

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Spelman College·History in Brief | Spelman College
1899
Letitia Geer
Medicine

Granted U.S. Patent No. 622,848 for One-Handed Medical Syringe

The U.S. Patent Office granted Geer Patent No. 622,848A for her one-handed syringe, a design that became a lasting standard in medical device ergonomics.

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Letitia Geer·Letitia Mumford Geer - DocumentaryTube
1908
Jane Bolin
Law

Birth of Jane Bolin

Jane Matilda Bolin was born on April 11, 1908, in Poughkeepsie, NY.

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Jane Bolin·Jane Bolin - Wikipedia
1935
Ella Fitzgerald
Science

Engagement at the Harlem Opera House

Fitzgerald won a one-week engagement at the Harlem Opera House on April 11, 1935, an early professional milestone.

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Ella Fitzgerald·Ella Fitzgerald Awards & Milestones
1953
Oveta Culp Hobby
Politics

Becomes first Secretary of HEW

First Secretary of U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

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Oveta Culp Hobby·National Women's History Museum: Oveta Culp Hobby
1955
Dorothy Dandridge
Arts

First Black performer to open at the Waldorf-Astoria's Empire Room

On April 11, 1955, Dandridge became the first Black performer to open at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Empire Room.

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Dorothy Dandridge·Dorothy Dandridge - Wikipedia
1959
Elizabeth Cotton
Arts

First Major Issue of Revived Recordings

Revived recordings of Cotten were issued on April 11, 1959, establishing her as a master of American folk guitar.

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Elizabeth Cotton·Smithsonian Folkways
1988
Cher
Science

Academy Award for Best Actress for "Moonstruck"

Cher wins the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in "Moonstruck" at the 60th Academy Awards.

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Cher·Academy Award for Best Actress - Wikipedia
1992
Eve Merriam
Literature

Death of Eve Merriam

Eve Merriam passed away on April 11, 1992, in Manhattan, New York.

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Eve Merriam·The New York Times: Eve Merriam, 75, Poet and Author Who Wrote for Children, Is Dead
2003
Chung-Pei Ma
Science

Maria Goeppert-Mayer Award coverage in Taipei Times

On April 11, 2003, the Taipei Times reported Chung-Pei Ma's receipt of the Maria Goeppert-Mayer Award from the APS.

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Chung-Pei Ma·Taipei Times Coverage of Ma's Award
2013
Ruchi Sanghvi
Politics

Co-founds FWD.us

Co-founded advocacy group FWD.us for immigration reform.

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Ruchi Sanghvi·LinkedIn Post
2013
Condoleezza Rice
Science

Formal Induction as First Female Augusta National Member

Rice is formally inducted as a member of Augusta National Golf Club, one of the first women ever admitted to the historically all-male club.

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Condoleezza Rice·Washington Post - Rice Inducted at Augusta National
2019
Nadia Murad
Activism

Receives International DVF Award

Nadia Murad receives the International DVF Award for her courageous leadership on behalf of survivors.

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Nadia Murad·Nadia Murad – DVF Awards
2024
Catherine Callbeck
Science

Granted Title of Chancellor Emerita by UPEI

The University of Prince Edward Island conferred on Callbeck the title of Chancellor Emerita in recognition of her public service.

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Catherine Callbeck·UPEI News: UPEI Grants Title of Chancellor Emerita to the Honourable Catherine Callbeck