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September 14CalendarSeptember 16
This Day
15September

31 indexed achievements across recorded history.


1824
Adeline Dutton Train Whitney
Science

Birth in Boston, Massachusetts

Adeline Dutton Train was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Enoch Train, a prominent merchant and shipowner.

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Adeline Dutton Train Whitney·Adeline Dutton Train Whitney - Wikipedia
1853
Antoinette Brown Blackwell
Science

Ordained as First Woman Minister in the United States

Antoinette Brown was ordained at South Butler, New York, becoming the first woman ordained as a minister in the United States.

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Antoinette Brown Blackwell·EBSCO Research Starters: Antoinette Louisa Brown Blackwell
1853
Antoinette Brown Blackwell
Science

First Woman Minister of a Recognized Protestant Denomination

Her ordination made her the first woman to serve as minister of a recognized Protestant denomination in the United States.

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Antoinette Brown Blackwell·Women of the Hall: Antoinette Blackwell
1875
Louise Ferrenc
Arts

Death of Louise Farrenc in Paris

Louise Farrenc died in Paris on 15 September 1875 at age 71, leaving behind a substantial body of orchestral, chamber, and piano works.

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Louise Ferrenc·Louise Farrenc - Wikipedia
1890
Agatha Christie
Literature

Birth of Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie was born on September 15, 1890, in Torquay, England.

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Agatha Christie·Wikipedia - Agatha Christie
1894
Mary Eliza McDowell
Activism

Founded the University of Chicago Settlement House

On September 15, 1894, McDowell opened the University of Chicago Settlement House in the Back of the Yards neighborhood to serve packinghouse worker families.

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Mary Eliza McDowell·Mary McDowell and the Fight for Environmental Justice for the Back of the Yards
1912
Gypsy Rose Lee
Science

Wins healthy baby contest in Seattle

As an infant, Rose Louise won a 'healthy baby' contest in Seattle, an early instance of local notoriety.

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Gypsy Rose Lee·HistoryLink.org - Gypsy Rose Lee
1915
Fawn M Brodie
Literature

Birth of Fawn M. Brodie

Fawn M. Brodie was born on September 15, 1915, in Ogden, Utah.

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Fawn M Brodie·Fawn McKay Brodie on Wikitree
1917
Phyllis Frost
Science

Born in Melbourne, Victoria

Phyllis Frost was born on 15 September 1917 in Melbourne, Australia.

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Phyllis Frost·Phyllis Frost - Wikipedia
1919
Heda Kovály
Literature

Birth of Heda Margolius Kovály

Heda Margolius Kovály was born on September 15, 1919, in Prague.

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Heda Kovály·Heda Margoliová-Kovályová - Wikipedia (Czech)
1919
Julia Morgan
Arts

Beginning of Hearst Castle commission

William Randolph Hearst formally engaged Morgan to design his San Simeon estate, later known as Hearst Castle, beginning her most famous commission.

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Julia Morgan·Ahead of Her Time: Julia Morgan - National Trust for Historic Preservation
1924
Greta Garbo
Arts

Premiere of The Saga of Gösta Berling

The film marked Garbo's first major screen break and her first leading role.

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Greta Garbo·Wikipedia - Greta Garbo
1925
Katherine Anne Porter
Literature

Marriage to Eugene Pressly

Porter married diplomat Eugene Pressly in New York; the couple later lived in France and Switzerland before divorcing.

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Katherine Anne Porter·Katherine Anne Porter Timeline - University of Maryland
1927
Margaret Keane
Arts

Birth of Margaret D. H. Keane

Margaret Keane was born in Nashville, Tennessee.

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Margaret Keane·About Margaret - Official Keane Eyes Gallery
1930
Ageeda Paavel Aili Jogi
Activism

Birth of Ageeda Paavel

Born in Estonia, Paavel would become a key figure in anti-Soviet resistance.

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Ageeda Paavel Aili Jogi·Ageeda Paavel Wikipedia
1930
Patsy O’Connell Sherman
Science

Birth of Patsy O'Connell Sherman

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States.

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Patsy O’Connell Sherman·Wikipedia: Patsy O'Connell Sherman
1930
Alexandra Kollontai
Politics

Appointed Soviet Minister to Sweden — first woman to serve as a full ambassador

Became the world's first woman to hold the rank of ambassador (full envoy), appointed Soviet Minister to Sweden in 1930.

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Alexandra Kollontai·Britannica — Aleksandra Mikhaylovna Kollontay
1950
Marguerite Higgins
Literature

Reports the Incheon Landing during the Korean War

As New York Herald Tribune correspondent, Higgins went ashore with U.S. forces during the Incheon amphibious landing and reported from the front lines.

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Marguerite Higgins·Today in Media History: Marguerite Higgins reports from Korea
1955
Betty Robbins
Arts

First woman cantor leads Rosh Hashanah services at Temple Avodah

Betty Robbins leads Rosh Hashanah services as cantor at Temple Avodah in Oceanside, NY, widely hailed as the first female cantor in Jewish history.

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Betty Robbins·First Female Cantor Leads Rosh Hashanah Services
1965
Irene Stegun
Science

Receipt of U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Medal

Stegun received the Gold Medal of the U.S. Department of Commerce for her work on the handbook.

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Irene Stegun·Wikipedia (French): Irene Stegun
1976
Mairead Maguire
Activism

Interview as co-founder of Peace People

Mairead Maguire participated in a notable interview as co-founder of Peace People, highlighting peace efforts.

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Mairead Maguire·Interview with Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan Maguire
1986
Helen Hayes
Science

Induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame

Helen Hayes was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame for her pioneering achievements in theatre, film, and philanthropy.

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Helen Hayes·Helen Hayes | Women of the Hall
1989
Olga Erteszek
Arts

Death of Olga Erteszek

Olga Erteszek died on September 15, 1989, at 73 years old.

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Olga Erteszek·New York Times Obituary: Olga Erteszek
1997
Nancy Lopez
Sports

Receives Hispanic Heritage Award

Lopez receives a Hispanic Heritage Award for her contributions to sports.

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Nancy Lopez·Kingdom.golf
1998
Caroline Mikkelsen
Science

Death of Caroline Mikkelsen

Caroline Mikkelsen died on 15 September 1998, remembered as the first recorded woman to set foot in Antarctica.

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Caroline Mikkelsen·Caroline Mikkelsen - Wikipedia
1998
Madonna
Science

"Ray of Light" wins MTV Video of the Year

Madonna's "Ray of Light" wins Video of the Year at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards.

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Madonna·1998 MTV Video Music Awards - Wikipedia
2000
Cathy Freeman
Science

First Aboriginal Australian to light the Olympic Flame

Freeman lit the Olympic cauldron at the Sydney 2000 Opening Ceremony, the first Aboriginal Australian given this honour.

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Cathy Freeman·Olympics.com: Cathy Freeman
2005
Lady Bird Johnson
Activism

Awarded the Pugsley Medal for park and conservation leadership

Lady Bird Johnson received the Pugsley Medal from the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration for national leadership in conservation.

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Lady Bird Johnson·AAPRA Pugsley Medal Recipient Biography
2016
Terezinha Guilhermina
Sports

Bronze medal - 400m, Rio 2016

Secures bronze in 400m at Rio 2016, her eighth Paralympic medal.

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Terezinha Guilhermina·Rede do Esporte Terezinha Guilhermina
2020
Paula Scher
Arts

Design Better podcast episode feature

Featured on Design Better podcast discussing design insights.

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Paula Scher·Paula Scher: Design Better Podcast Episode
2021
Penny Harrington
Activism

Death of Penny Harrington

Death of pioneering police chief Penny Harrington in Morro Bay, California, on Sept. 15, 2021.

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Penny Harrington·New York Times – Penny Harrington, Who Broke a Blue Ceiling, Dies at 79