Historical Events
- "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is first published by L. Frank Baum with illustrations by William Wallace Denslow in Chicago
- British troops relieve Mafeking (Cape Colony)
- In China, three villages within 100 miles of Peking are burned by Boxers and 60 Chinese Christians killed
Famous Birthdays
- Nicolai Berezowsky, Russian-American composer, born in St. Petersburg, Russia (d. 1953)
About May 17, 1900
Day of the Week: Thursday
How Long Ago? 123 years and 20 days
Leap Year: No
Generation: Lost Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Rat
Star Sign: Taurus
Authors
Civil Rights Activists
Inventors
Kings
Revolutionaries
Scientists