On This Day

Historical Events in January 1938

  • Jan 1 24th Rose Bowl: #2 California beats #4 Alabama, 13-0
  • Jan 1 4th Sugar Bowl: Santa Clara beats LSU, 6-0
  • Jan 1 4th Orange Bowl: Auburn beats Michigan State, 6-0
  • Jan 2 Book publisher Simon and Schuster founded

Historic DiscoveryPolio

Jan 3 March of Dimes established to fight polio

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Children with polio in a US hospital, inside an iron lung. In about 0.5% of cases, patients suffered from paralysis, sometimes resulting in the inability to breathe. More often, limbs would be paralyzed.
Children with polio in a US hospital, inside an iron lung. In about 0.5% of cases, patients suffered from paralysis, sometimes resulting in the inability to breathe. More often, limbs would be paralyzed.
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Event of interestEvent of Interest

Jan 6 Bronze memorial statue of Henry Hudson erected in Bronx

Explorer Henry Hudson
Explorer
Henry Hudson
  • Jan 10 Eduard van Beinum becomes world's 1st conductor at Concert Hall

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Jan 10 Jean Anouilh's "La Sauvage" premieres in Paris

Dramatist Jean Anouilh
Dramatist
Jean Anouilh
  • Jan 10 Paul Vincent Carroll's "White Seed" premieres in NYC

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Jan 11 Bradman scores a second innings 113 v Qld after a ton in the 1st

Cricket Legend Donald Bradman
Cricket Legend
Donald Bradman
  • Jan 11 Frances Moulton elected 1st woman president of a US national bank
  • Jan 13 The Church of England accepts the theory of evolution
  • Jan 14 National Society for Legalization of Euthanasia forms (NY)

Music concertMusic Concert

Jan 16 1st jazz concert held at Carnegie Hall, performed by Benny Goodman and his band

Clarinetist and Bandleader Benny Goodman
Clarinetist and Bandleader
Benny Goodman
  • Jan 16 LPGA Titleholders Championship Women's Golf, Augusta CC: Patty Berg retains title by a massive 14 strokes ahead of Jane Cothran
  • Jan 17 Supreme Soviet elects Michail Kalinin as presidium chairman

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Jan 17 Joseph P. Kennedy becomes the 44th United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom

Patriarch of the Kennedy family Joseph P. Kennedy
Patriarch of the Kennedy family
Joseph P. Kennedy
  • Jan 18 Pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander is elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
  • Jan 19 General Motors begins mass production of diesel engines
  • Jan 21 Dutch government starts obligatory unemployment insurance

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Jan 22 "Our Town", Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer-winner of small-town life in Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, premieres (NJ)

Playwright and Writer Thornton Wilder
Playwright and Writer
Thornton Wilder
  • Jan 25 Ian Hay's "Bachelor Born" premieres in NYC
  • Jan 31 Australian Championships Women's Tennis: American Dorothy Cheney wins her only Grand Slam singles title; beats Dorothy Stevenson of Australia 6-3, 6-2
  • Jan 31 Australian Championships Men's Tennis: American Don Budge wins the 1st-leg of his Grand Slam; beats John Bromwich of Australia 6-4, 6-2, 6-1

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