769
Politics
Marriage to Leo IV brings Irene into the imperial line
Irene married Leo IV in Constantinople in December 769, entering the imperial family and beginning the path that would lead to her regency and sole rule.
View detailsThis Day
01December
72 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1135
Science
Death of Henry I sparks the succession crisis
Henry I's death on 1 December 1135 triggered a succession crisis, as Stephen of Blois seized the throne in defiance of the oaths to Matilda.
View details1607
Exploration
First recorded meeting with John Smith
Pocahontas first met English captain John Smith in December 1607.
View details1732
Science
First lecture as professor of natural philosophy at the Archiginnasio
Bassi delivered her inaugural public lecture as professor of natural philosophy at the Archiginnasio in Bologna.
View details1741
Activism
Arrival in America with Moravian mission party
At about age 15, Benigna traveled to British North America with her father and fellow Moravians, beginning a 14-month missionary sojourn in the colonies.
View details1751
Science
Submits soap‑bleaching experiments to Academy
In December 1751 she submitted experimental results on soap production for bleaching cotton-linen textiles to the Academy.
View details1761
Arts
Birth of Marie Tussaud
Born on December 1, 1761, in Strasbourg, Marie Tussaud became a renowned wax sculptor.
View details1817
Science
Posthumous publication arrangements for 'Northanger Abbey' and 'Persuasion'
In late 1817, publisher John Murray arranged the posthumous joint publication of 'Northanger Abbey' and 'Persuasion,' with a biographical notice revealing Austen's authorship.
View details1823
Science
Discovery of first complete Plesiosaurus skeleton
Mary Anning discovered the first complete skeleton of a Plesiosaurus in December 1823.
View details1831
Activism
First degrees awarded to women by a U.S. coeducational college
Mississippi College awarded degrees to two women, marking a historic first.
View details1844
Activism
Organization of Lowell Female Labor Reform Association
Bagley and others formed the Lowell Female Labor Reform Association, advocating for worker rights.
View details1847
Science
Birth of Agathe Backer-Grøndahl in Holmestrand, Norway
Agathe Ursula Backer was born on 1 December 1847 in Holmestrand, Norway, into a musical family.
View details1847
Science
Birth of Christine Ladd-Franklin
Christine Ladd was born in Windsor, Connecticut, beginning the life of a future mathematician, logician, and psychologist.
View details1847
Literature
Publication of Wuthering Heights
Emily Brontë's sole novel, a dark, structurally innovative tale of passion and revenge on the Yorkshire moors, was published under the pseudonym Ellis Bell.
View details1862
Medicine
First woman appointed to the staff and chief matron of Hospital No. 2, Chimborazo
Appointed chief matron of Hospital No. 2 at Chimborazo, becoming the first woman on its staff and directing a division in the Confederacy’s largest hospital.
View details1862
Medicine
Becomes first female administrator and matron at Chimborazo Hospital
Accepts appointment as matron and first female administrator of Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond, overseeing nursing, housekeeping, food, and medical whiskey.
View details1863
Arts
Receives her first camera as a gift
In December 1863, Cameron's daughter and son-in-law gave her a camera, launching her photographic career at age 48.
View details1867
Science
First licensed woman dentist to practice in Kansas
In December 1867, Lucy Hobbs Taylor moved to Lawrence, Kansas, opening a practice and becoming the state's first licensed woman dentist, known locally as 'Dr. Lucy.'
View details1871
Politics
Publishes first English-language U.S. printing of The Communist Manifesto
Woodhull publishes Marx and Engels's Manifesto in English in the U.S.
View details1889
Science
Receives Oscar Prize of the Swedish Academy of Sciences
Awarded the Oscar Prize for contributions to rigid body rotation studies.
View details1890
Science
First commercial sale of illustrations (Christmas cards)
Hildesheimer & Faulkner bought Beatrix Potter's rabbit designs for Christmas cards, her first commercial success as an illustrator.
View details1900
Science
Early civilian whistleblower against British concentration camps
Hobhouse became one of the earliest civilian whistleblowers to publicly expose Britain's use of concentration camps for civilians in the South African War.
View details1908
Literature
Publication of 'Roosevelt vs. Rockefeller'
Tarbell published an analysis contrasting President Theodore Roosevelt's antitrust efforts against Rockefeller's Standard Oil empire.
View details1909
Arts
Kewpies debut in Ladies’ Home Journal
Kewpies debut in Ladies’ Home Journal Christmas issue.
View details1911
Science
Publication of Ethan Frome
Wharton published Ethan Frome, a stark New England tragedy that became one of her most enduring works.
View details1914
Science
Co-founding of the Swiss Relief Fund for Starving Children
In December 1914 Hobhouse co-founded the Swiss Relief Fund for Starving Children in Central Europe, aiding children affected by WWI.
View details1915
Literature
First known Vanity Fair publication, "Any Porch"
Parker's poem "Any Porch" appeared in Vanity Fair, December 1915.
View details1917
Activism
Leads Newport mass meeting for woman suffrage
Elliott led a mass meeting advocating women's suffrage in Newport.
View details1919
Politics
First woman MP to sit in the House of Commons
Nancy Astor took the oath and formally took her seat, becoming the first woman MP in UK Parliament.
View details1919
Law
Goldman v. United States decision issued by U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court upholds Goldman's Espionage Act conviction in a seminal free speech case.
View details1922
Literature
First short story "Such a Pretty Little Picture" published
Parker’s first short story is published in December 1922.
View details1922
Literature
Publication of first short story "María Concepción"
Porter's first published short story, "María Concepción," appeared in The Century Magazine, launching her career as a fiction writer.
View details1923
Literature
Death of Virginie Loveling in Ghent
Virginie Loveling died on 1 December 1923 in Ghent, having become one of the most significant Flemish women novelists of her generation.
View details1924
Activism
Chartering as Spelman College
In December 1924, Spelman Seminary is chartered by Georgia as Spelman College, formally becoming a degree-granting liberal arts college.
View details1924
Literature
Publication of 'Drenched in Light' in Opportunity
Hurston's short story 'Drenched in Light' is published in the Urban League journal Opportunity.
View details1925
Exploration
First president of the Society of Woman Geographers
In December 1925, Adams became the first president of the Society of Woman Geographers.
View details1927
1934
Activism
Begins factory work at Alsthom and Renault
In December 1934 Simone Weil quits teaching to work incognito as an unskilled laborer at Alsthom and Renault factories in Paris, shaping her later philosophy of labor and oppression.
View details1937
Activism
Filed discrimination lawsuit against Burlington Rock Island Railroad
In December 1937, Joyner filed a lawsuit against the Burlington Rock Island Railroad for discriminatory treatment.
View details1939
Arts
Variety Award for Best Actress for 'The Little Foxes'
Won Variety's Best Actress for 'The Little Foxes'.
View details1941
Aviation
First woman in the RAF to qualify as an instrument repairer
By December 1941, Bader became the first woman in the RAF to qualify as an instrument repairer, First Class, pioneering a new technical trade for women.
View details1942
Arts
First female celebrity entertainer on WWII front lines and USO Medallion Award
Dinah Shore was the first female celebrity to entertain on WWII front lines; she received the USO Medallion Award for this work.
View details1942
Activism
Launch of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation
Mary and Albert Lasker launched a foundation to support medical research in the U.S.
View details1943
Arts
New York Screen Critics’ Award for 'Lifeboat'
Won New York Screen Critics’ Award for 'Lifeboat'.
View details1950
Activism
Death of husband Rabbi William Ackerman
Paula Ackerman’s husband, Rabbi William Ackerman, died in December 1950.
View details1952
Science
Becomes a national media sensation after gender-affirming surgery
On December 1, 1952, Jorgensen was introduced to American audiences as one of the first people to publicly undergo gender-affirming surgery, sparking a media sensation.
View details1952
Science
Front-page New York Daily News headline announces her transition
The New York Daily News ran the sensational headline 'Ex-GI Becomes Blonde Beauty' on December 1, 1952, making Jorgensen an overnight international story.
View details1952
Arts
Creation of "Mountains and Sea"
Frankenthaler created her groundbreaking piece "Mountains and Sea" on December 1, 1952.
View details1953
Arts
Launch of Youth‑Dew fragrance bath oil
Youth‑Dew was launched on December 1, 1953, changing the fragrance market.
View details1953
Arts
Playboy’s first centerfold
Marilyn Monroe appears as Playboy magazine’s first centerfold in its debut issue, using Tom Kelley’s 1949 nude photographs.
View details1955
Activism
Refuses to give up her seat in Montgomery
Her arrest sparks the 381-day Montgomery bus boycott.
View details1955
Science
Publication of paper introducing 'Saruhashi's Table'
Saruhashi published her landmark paper on carbonic acid equilibrium in natural water, introducing the reference system known as Saruhashi's Table.
View details1956
Arts
First commercial use of LIQUID PAPER
First commercial use of LIQUID PAPER trademark in the U.S.
View details1957
Arts
First solo exhibition in the United States at Dusanne Gallery, Seattle
In December 1957, Kusama holds her first solo exhibition in the United States at Zoe Dusanne’s Dusanne Gallery in Seattle, marking her American debut.
View details1962
Arts
First woman in country music to headline her own Las Vegas show
Patsy Cline became the first woman in country music to headline her own show in Las Vegas at the Mint Casino.
View details1971
Arts
Covent Garden debut as Countess Almaviva
London debut at Covent Garden as the Countess in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, launching her international career.
View details1973
Arts
Appointment as Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Named Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to art.
View details1985
Science
Publication of first chirped pulse amplification (CPA) paper
Strickland and Gérard Mourou published their landmark paper on chirped pulse amplification, founding modern ultrafast laser science.
View details1988
Politics
Becomes Pakistan's first female prime minister
Benazir Bhutto formally became Pakistan's first female prime minister and head of government.
View details1989
Literature
City of Vienna Literature Prize
Received the City of Vienna Prize for Literature.
View details1990
Politics
Death of Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit died on December 1, 1990, in Dehradun, India, at the age of 90.
View details1991
Arts
Mary L. Matthews recognized as first woman to complete academic course at Washington College
A Washington College magazine feature identifies Mary L. Matthews as the first woman to complete the academic course at Washington College.
View details1993
Science
Becomes Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition
On 1 December 1993, Clark became Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition.
View details1998
Science
Second Laserphaco patent granted
US Patent 5,843,071 granted, continuing Bath's Laserphaco line of cataract-removal inventions.
View details2000
Science
Announcement of National Medal of Science Award
President Bill Clinton announced Karen Uhlenbeck would receive the National Medal of Science for her work in geometric analysis and gauge theory.
View details2004
Arts
Library of Congress launches Katherine Dunham Collection feature
In December 2004, the Library of Congress highlighted its Katherine Dunham Collection in an article on her life and work.
View details2008
Arts
Death of Betty Goodwin
Betty Goodwin passed away on December 1, 2008, leaving a profound legacy in the world of contemporary art.
View details2011
Exploration
Start of Atlantic Ocean rowing expedition
Started a 57-day row across the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands to Barbados.
View details2015
Arts
First female principal guest conductor, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Zhang became the first female principal guest conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
View details2015
Arts
First woman with a titled conducting role at a BBC orchestra
Zhang became the first woman to hold a titled conducting position with a BBC orchestra.
View details2017
Aviation
Retirement from the U.S. Navy
Howard retired from the U.S. Navy on December 1, 2017, after a trailblazing career.
View details2023
Law
Death of Sandra Day O’Connor
Sandra Day O’Connor dies in Phoenix, Arizona, at age 93, closing the life of the first woman justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
View details