- Jan 1 Anastasio Somoza García becomes President of Nicaragua
- Jan 1 Count Claus von Stauffenberg promoted to captain
- Jan 1 US Army Air Corps physiological research laboratory completed, Ohio
- Jan 1 Safety glass in vehicle windscreens becomes mandatory in Great Britain.
- Jan 1 23rd Rose Bowl: #3 Pittsburgh beats #5 Washington, 21-0
- Jan 1 3rd Sugar Bowl: Santa Clara beats LSU, 21-14
- Jan 1 3rd Orange Bowl: #14 Duquesne beats Mississippi State, 13-12
Event of Interest
Jan 5 Australian cricket batsmen Jack Fingleton (136) and Don Bradman (out 270 the following day) make then record stand of 346 for 6th wicket in 3rd Test vs England in Melbourne
Donald Bradman
Event of Interest
Jan 9 Maxwell Anderson's "High Tor" premieres in NYC
Maxwell Anderson
- Jan 12 Plough for laying submarine cable patented
- Jan 15 Spanish Civil War: Second Battle of the Corunna Road ends after both forces withdraw
- Jan 17 LPGA Titleholders Championship Women's Golf, Augusta CC: Patty Berg wins inaugural event by 3 strokes ahead of Dorothy Kirby
Hall of Fame
Jan 19 Cy Young, Tris Speaker & Nap Lajorie elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
Cy Young
Tris Speaker
Event of Interest
Jan 19 Millionaire Howard Hughes sets transcontinental air record (7h 28m 25s)
Howard Hughes
Event of Interest
Jan 23 Karl Radek and sixteen others go on trial in Moscow as part of the Great Purge, many are sentenced to death
Joseph Stalin
- Jan 25 1st broadcast of "Guiding Light" on NBC radio
- Jan 25 Miami-to-Tampa bus overturned in a canal, kills 13
- Jan 30 Australian Championships Women's Tennis: Nancye Wynne Bolton wins her first of 6 Australian singles titles; beats Emily Hood Westacott 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
- Jan 30 Australian Championships Men's Tennis: Vivian McGrath wins his only Grand Slam singles event; beats fellow Australian John Bromwich 6-3, 1-6, 6-0, 2-6, 6-1