From Ziggy Stardust to rumblings of civil war, this week in history has plenty of interesting stories from the past that took place on these days. Join me as we explore historical events through the Community History Archives and place them within their broader historical contexts to paint a more complete picture.
David Bowie was a trailblazing artist who greatly influenced music in the 20th century. He was best known for pushing the boundaries of gender expression, often performing in extravagant and androgynous outfits. During his music career, he produced albums in a variety of genres from glam rock to folk. One of his most popular albums, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, also created the Ziggy Stardust persona he often performed in. Later in his life, he continued to create music, releasing albums all the way up to his death. For 18 months, Bowie privately battled with liver cancer.
Bowie sadly passed away 10 years ago, on January 10th, 2016, just days after releasing his final album. His death was reported in The Gazette, published in Cedar Rapids, just days later. They shared some of his best works, referring to him as a “pioneering chameleon of performance imagery” and emphasizing how deeply he will be missed by fans around the world.
Just days before the Olympic trials, one athlete’s career was stunted by an attacker. Nancy Kerrigan was one of the best figure skaters of her time and was predicted to place in the upcoming Winter Olympics. On January 6, 1994, she was leaving practice at the rink when she was attacked by a man. She was hit with a club in the back of the knee, injuring her and preventing her from participating in the Olympic trials or competition. Her rival, Tonya Harding, proceeded to take first place, but many began to suspect she had a hand in the attack. Upon FBI investigation, Harding’s bodyguard admitted to the plot against Kerrigan. Harding later admitted she failed to report her knowledge of the assault, just weeks after losing to Kerrigan at the Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games. Sports Journalist Craig Brueske reflected on this incident in The Press, published in Addison, Illinois, on January 12th, 1994. He argued that this incident, as well as other violent attacks in the sports community, spoke to a larger societal problem. Brueske advocated that increased security measures for athletes were necessary to prevent these violent attacks from getting deadlier, and action needed to be taken before an athlete died as a result. I found this a really interesting perspective on the incident, and it paints a bigger picture of this incident in its historical context.
(1945 – 1980s) Out of this World: Surveyor 7 Launch and Landing, 1968
Surveyor 7 was a moon lander that launched on January 7, 1968. It landed on the moon’s surface three days later, where it collected information to help scientists identify potential landing sites for future Apollo missions. The Surveyor took photographs of the moon’s surface and tested soil in various locations. Notably, Surveyor 7 was the only spacecraft in its series to land in the lunar highlands.
In the Illinoian Star, published on January 10, 1968, the images captured by the lander were described as the “wildest scenes yet found.” The publication portrayed the desolate environment of the crater that Surveyor 7 was investigating. Despite the barren scenery, people across the country were captivated by the images taken in space, contributing to the growing fascination with space exploration during this period.
On January 5th, 1925, one woman in Wyoming made history. Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first female governor in the United States when she took office in Wyoming. She was elected in succession to her husband, who had passed before the election, and shared many of his goals. This historic moment came just five years after women gained the right to vote, but Ross struggled with a largely unsupportive Congress. The Teton Valley News reported on January 22nd, 1925, that she became the first woman to sign a law. The law wasn’t anything huge, just a measure to set the budget for the legislative session, but it was nonetheless a historically significant moment. She served as governor of Wyoming from 1925 to 1927, and later directed the US Mint (also the first woman to do so). Her legacy lives on, and just last year, The Billings Gazette shared the story of how students at Green River High School commemorated her on the 100th anniversary of her inauguration.
(1824 – 1914) Parting Ways: Mississippi Secedes, 1861
On January 9th, 1861, Mississippi seceded from the Union following the election of President Abraham Lincoln. Following the succession of South Carolina, Mississippians voted 83=15 in favor of succession. This decision made Mississippi the second state to separate from the Union. This decision was a precursor to the upcoming Civil War and paved the way for more states to secede. One fascinating thing about our Community History Archives is that many of them have papers dating back hundreds of years. For example, I found this paper from Amesbury, Massachusetts, published on January 17th, 1861, where they talked about the southern states’ secession, including Mississippi and the states that followed after them. It’s always so cool to find papers from the same moments I learn about in my history classes! It gives you a glimpse into what life was like at that time, and helps you contextualize those moments in a broader scope.
Join me again next week to discover more of history’s hidden gems and timeless tales.
Explore the “Read All About It” archives to read stories that spotlight our partners and their communities, announcements from our team, updates on current projects, and so much more. Discover articles about engagement, outreach, primary sources, community, digitization, education, and other topics of interest. Delve into the happenings in this week in history and take a deep dive into the events and people who helped shape our communities, our nation, and the world.
Hear Ye, Hear Ye, READ ALL ABOUT IT!
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