1492
Exploration
Capitulations of Santa Fe granting Columbus sponsorship
Concluded the Capitulations of Santa Fe with Columbus, granting him titles and agreeing to sponsor his westward voyage.
View detailsThis Day
17April
26 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1492
Science
Signing of the Capitulations of Santa Fe
Isabella and Ferdinand sign the Capitulations of Santa Fe, granting Columbus titles and privileges to lead a westward voyage of exploration.
View details1695
Literature
Death in Mexico City during a plague
Sor Juana died of illness during a plague outbreak on April 17, 1695, in Mexico City.
View details1732
Science
Public defense of forty-nine philosophical theses
Bassi publicly defended forty-nine philosophical theses at the University of Bologna, a formal requirement toward her degree.
View details1845
Science
Birth of Isabel Chapin Barrows
Isabel Chapin Barrows was born on April 17, 1845, in Irasburg, Vermont.
View details1850
Activism
First woman in the U.S. Senate press gallery
On April 17, 1850, Jane Swisshelm became the first woman to sit in the U.S. Senate press gallery.
View details1885
Literature
Birth of Karen Blixen
Karen Blixen was born on April 17, 1885, in Rungsted, Denmark.
View details1916
Politics
Birth of Sirimavo Bandaranaike
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was born in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka.
View details1921
Science
Born in New York City
Priscilla Langford Buckley was born on April 17, 1921, in New York City, one of ten children of Aloise Steiner and William F. Buckley Sr.
View details1942
Science
Birth of Katia Krafft
Catherine Joséphine "Katia" Conrad was born in Soultz-Haut-Rhin, Alsace, France, on 17 April 1942.
View details1942
Activism
Death of Laura Annie Willson
Laura Annie Willson passed away on April 17, 1942, in Halifax, England.
View details1943
Medicine
Evacuates 15 Patients from Burning Hospital Ward
Lt. Edith Greenwood led the evacuation of 15 patients from a burning ward at the 37th Station Hospital after a stove exploded, sounding the alarm and overseeing the rescue.
View details1957
Arts
"Dorothy Liebes: Textiles" exhibition opens at San Francisco Museum of Art
On April 17, 1957, the San Francisco Museum of Art opened a solo exhibition of Liebes's textiles, one of the earliest major museum shows for a modern textile designer.
View details1961
Science
Academy Award win for 'The Facts of Life'
Edith Head won the Oscar for Best Costume Design (Black-and-White) for 'The Facts of Life' at the 33rd Academy Awards.
View details1964
Aviation
First woman to fly solo around the world
After a 23,103-mile, 29-day journey with 21 stopovers, Mock landed back in Columbus, Ohio, becoming the first woman to fly solo around the world.
View details1972
Sports
Third-place finisher at first official women's Boston Marathon
Switzer finished third among women in the first officially sanctioned women's division of the Boston Marathon, receiving her trophy from former antagonist Jock Semple.
View details1978
Arts
Won Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing
Won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing, recognizing the clarity and force of her editorial work.
View details1984
1988
Science
Death of Louise Nevelson
Louise Nevelson died in New York City on April 17, 1988, following a career that redefined modern sculpture.
View details2009
Science
Resigns from New Zealand Parliament
On 17 April 2009, Helen Clark resigned from the New Zealand Parliament to become Administrator of the UNDP.
View details2010
Exploration
Summit of Annapurna
Reached the summit of Annapurna (8,091 m) on April 17, 2010.
View details2017
Sports
Boston Marathon retires bib number 261 in Switzer's honor
The Boston Athletic Association officially retired bib number 261, permanently honoring Switzer's pioneering 1967 run as the first registered woman entrant.
View details2017
Sports
Runs Boston Marathon again on 50th anniversary of historic 1967 run
At age 70, Switzer completed the Boston Marathon wearing her original bib number 261, exactly 50 years after her groundbreaking first run.
View details2017
Sports
Grand marshal of the 2017 Boston Marathon
Switzer served as grand marshal of the Boston Marathon on the 50th anniversary of her historic 1967 run.
View details2017
Sports
50th anniversary commemoration of barrier-breaking Boston Marathon run
Media and institutions widely commemorated Switzer's 1967 run on its 50th anniversary, distinguishing her as first officially registered woman finisher.
View details2021
Sports
100 m freestyle at German Trials 2021
Recorded time of 1:00.88 in 100 m freestyle at German Trials 2021.
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