1573
Science
Assists in observing the lunar eclipse of 8 December 1573
Sophia Brahe contributed to the 1573 lunar eclipse observations.
View detailsThis Day
08December
24 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1660
Science
Probable performance as Desdemona in Othello
Anne Marshall likely played Desdemona in a King's Company staging of Othello, one of the earliest documented appearances of a woman on the English public stage.
View details1660
Arts
First woman known to perform on the English stage
Hughes appears as Desdemona in Othello at the Vere Street Theatre, becoming the first woman known to perform on the English public stage.
View details1660
Arts
First woman to perform Desdemona on the English stage
Hughes becomes the first woman known to play Desdemona in Othello, breaking the male-only tradition of performing female Shakespearean roles.
View details1850
Literature
Receives Literary Degree from Oberlin's Ladies' Literary Course
Lucy Stanton received her Literary Degree, completing Oberlin College's full four-year Ladies' Literary Course.
View details1850
Literature
First African American woman to complete a four-year college course and earn a college degree
Lucy Stanton became the first African American woman in U.S. history to complete a four-year college course and earn a college degree.
View details1854
Activism
Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary defined
Pope Pius IX defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.
View details1864
Arts
Birth of Camille Claudel
Camille Claudel was born on December 8, 1864, in Fère-en-Tardenois, France.
View details1903
Arts
Birth in Hearne, Texas
Zelma Watson George was born in Hearne, Texas, to Samuel E. J. Watson and Lena Thomas Watson.
View details1919
Science
Birth of Julia Bowman Robinson
Julia Hall Bowman was born in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
View details1919
1931
Activism
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
Jane Addams became the first American woman awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, honored on December 8, 1931.
View details1941
1941
Science
First successful break into Abwehr Enigma messages
Broke into Abwehr coded messages, enabling systematic decryption of Abwehr traffic.
View details1962
Arts
“Silent Night, Holy Night” reaches the pop charts
Jackson’s “Silent Night, Holy Night” entered the pop charts, showing continued crossover success.
View details1965
Activism
Died in Miami, Florida
Rose Pesotta, pioneering labor organizer for the ILGWU, died on December 8, 1965, in Miami, Florida, at age 69.
View details2001
Science
Death of Betty Holberton
Betty Holberton, pioneering ENIAC programmer and software innovator, died in Rockville, Maryland, at age 84.
View details2001
2005
Law
Death of Rose Heilbron
Rose Heilbron died in Liverpool at the age of 91, closing a career marked by multiple pioneering firsts for women in the English legal system.
View details2006
Sports
U.S. Senate Tribute to Susan Butcher
U.S. Senate honors Butcher, a four-time Iditarod champion and pioneering musher.
View details2011
Science
Discovery of two of the largest known black holes reported
On December 8, 2011, it was reported that a team led by Chung-Pei Ma discovered two of the largest known black holes.
View details2013
Arts
Death of Hung Sin-nui
Hung Sin-nui passed away on December 8, 2013, in Guangzhou, China.
View details2018
Science
Death of Evelyn Berezin
Evelyn Berezin died in Manhattan, New York, at the age of 93.
View details2019
Science
Nobel Prize Lecture in Economic Sciences
Delivered Nobel Prize lecture, 'Field Experiments and the Practice of Policy.'
View details