On May 19, 2018, British Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle were married in a lavish royal wedding. The ceremony, which cost approximately £32 million, took place at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle and welcomed around 600 guests. Beyond those invited, hundreds of millions watched the event virtually worldwide, witnessing this historic occasion. The marriage of a biracial American woman into the British royal family marked a significant departure from centuries of non-diverse traditions.
Additionally, the wedding incorporated more multicultural elements, including a gospel choir. The following day, The Gazette published an article recapping the wedding events, describing the ceremony as “blending old and new.” They highlighted how modern elements harmonized with the traditional setting of the chapel, creating a unique celebration that represented a new era for the royal family.
Jackie Kennedy Onassis is best known for her role as First Lady of the United States, as the wife of President John F. Kennedy. During her time in this role, she became a revered fashion icon and philanthropist. After the assassination of her husband, JFK, Jackie and her children retreated from public life but later returned in 1968 when she married Aristotle Onassis. In December 1993, Jackie was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and she began treatment the following month. Initially, her prognosis appeared promising, but by March, the disease had spread to her spinal cord and brain. Jackie Kennedy Onassis passed away on May 19, 1994, surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer. In her obituary, the Cedar Rapids Gazette described her as “facing death with dignity.”
They highlighted how she spent her final days surrounded by loved ones and away from the public eye. Despite her passing, her legacy of generosity and innovation in fashion continues to endure.
On May 22, 1960, the strongest earthquake ever recorded struck southern Chile, off the coast of Valdivia. With a magnitude of 9.5, the earthquake occurred around 3 p.m. as the Nazca Plate subducted beneath the South American Plate. Approximately 15 minutes after the earthquake, Valdivia was hit by a tsunami reaching 80 feet. The quake was so powerful that it generated ocean activity that traveled to Hawaii, where, 15 hours later, waves reaching 35 feet struck Hilo Bay, causing millions of dollars in damage and resulting in the deaths of 61 residents. In Chile, the earthquake and subsequent tsunami caused over 1,500 fatalities and injured an additional 3,000 people. Nearly half of the buildings in Valdivia were rendered uninhabitable due to the destruction. The people of Chile faced a series of other devastating weather events that same week, as previously dormant volcanoes became active. One man was quoted in the Bellevue Gazette saying, “We think this is the beginning of the end of the world,” as they endured multiple natural disasters in a short period. Despite the devastation, Chile managed to recover and rebuild its cities and economy, allowing the nation to remain competitive on a global scale.
On May 22, 1942, Mexico declared war on Germany, Italy, and Japan, officially entering World War II. This declaration followed the sinking of two Mexican oil tankers in the western Atlantic by German submarines. According to the Newark Evening News, published on May 25, 1942, a total of 24 people were killed in the sinkings. This incident prompted President Manuel Ávila Camacho to convene a special session of Congress to formally declare war on the Axis powers. The following day, he expressed confidence in the support that Mexico could provide, referring to the country as a “very good neighbor” of the United States. Mexico was one of only two Latin American nations to participate directly in the war and offered significant support to the United States through the Bracero Program. Implemented later that year, the Bracero Program provided the U.S. with skilled laborers to assist in production and farming efforts.
The Homestead Act was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862. This act aimed to promote westward expansion by granting 160 acres of public land to individuals willing to cultivate and improve it. To qualify for the program, applicants had to be U.S. citizens, establish residence on the land, cultivate crops, and maintain their residence for five years before obtaining full ownership. An article in The Villager, published in 1862, celebrated the passing of the Homestead Act. The article argued that this legislation would alleviate the oversaturated labor market and help new settlers establish a new life in the West. One sentence from the article stood out to me, encapsulating the spirit of expansion at the time: “Settled on a homestead of his own, a man walks the green earth and breathes the free air of heaven, untrammeled by the power and potency of accumulated wealth.” This program was significant in helping to establish American society further west and reinforced the rhetoric of manifest destiny.
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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