Birthdays

 Birthdays
Aug 072026
 

Ralph Johnson Bunche (born Detroit, Michigan, 1904; died New York, New York, December 9, 1971) was a diplomat and United Nations representative. The grandson of a former slave, he joined the United Nations in 1947. He became an undersecretary in 1955, and he received the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize for his work with Arabs and Jews. Children could read Ralph J. Bunch: Peacemaker by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack.

Betsy Byars (born Charlotte, North Carolina, 1928; died Seneca, South Carolina, February 26, 2020) wrote over 60 books for children. She wrote among other works Cracker Jackson, published in 1985. Her book Summer of the Swans received the 1971 Newbery Medal, and Wanted…Mud Blossom earned the 1962 Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Literature. Children can learn more, especially about her unique house, at: Betsy Byars.

Nathanael Greene

Nathanael Greene

Nathanael Greene (born Patowomut, Rhode Island, 1742; died Savannah, Georgia, June 19, 1786) was a general during the Revolutionary War. Children could learn more at: Nathanael Greene.

Rudolf C. Ising (born Kansas City, Missouri, 1903; died Newport Beach, California, July 18, 1992) created, along with Hugh Harmon, Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. He won an Academy Award for Milky Way, a cartoon about three kittens, in 1948. Idea: Children could make flip books.

Louis Seymour Bazett Leakey (born Kabete, Kenya, 1903; died London, United Kingdom, October 1, 1972) was an anthropologist. He and his wife Mary devoted their lives to finding out more about early human life in eastern Africa.

Coleen Salley (born Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1929; died September 16, 2008) wrote books for children. She published her first book when she was 72 years old! Her works include the Epossumondas series and Who’s That Tripping Over My Bridge? Children can visit a website devoted to her at: Coleen Salley.

Maia Wojciechowska (born Warsaw, Poland, 1927; died Long Branch, New Jersey, June 13, 2002) wrote nineteen books for children. She wrote Shadow of a Bull, the 1965 Newbery Medal winner. Children could learn more at: Maia Wojciechowska.

Lynne Cox Swam from the United States to Soviet Union in 1987

 Events
Aug 082026
 

Lynne Cox in 1987 became the first person to swim from the United States to the Soviet Union across the Bering Strait. She took only 2 hours 5 minutes to complete the swim. The water temperature averaged about 43 degrees Fahrenheit. Both United States President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev congratulated her on her success. She has also had swimming adventures in Antarctica, the English Channel, and the Straits of Magellan. Older children can learn more by clicking here.

H. L. Hunley Was Raised from the Ocean Floor in 2000

 Events
Aug 082026
 

H. L. Hunley was raised from the ocean floor in 2000. The Confederate submarine was launched in July 1863. It sank soon after it sank the USS Housatonic on February 17, 1864, in Charleston Harbor. All eight members of the crew died. Experts are still trying to decide how and why the Hunley sank. Young adults could learn a great deal more at: H. L. Hunley.

Genesis Was Launched in 2001

 Events
Aug 082026
 
Genesis

Genesis

Genesis was launched in 2001. The space vehicle traveled to the sun and gathered particles of the sun on its way. A capsule then turned around and returned to earth. It crash landed (the drogue parachute failed to deploy) in Utah on September 8, 2004. Some of the samples were contaminated by earth soil on impact, but many collectors were intact. Scientists used the data to learn more about the sun’s composition and history. Children could learn more by clicking Genesis Spacecraft.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Aug 082026
 

Matthew A. Henson (born Charles County, Maryland, 1866; died New York, New York, March 9, 1955) was an African-American explorer. He was hired to be Robert E. Peary’s valet. The two explored the Arctic region. He described his adventures in A Negro Explorer at the North Pole. Children can read the book at: Project Gutenberg.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (born Washington, DC, 1896; died Saint Augustine, Florida, December 14, 1953) wrote at least eleven books and at least twenty short stories for children. Her book The Yearling received the 1939 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and The Secret River earned a 1956 Newbery Honor Award.

Webster-Ashburton Treaty Was Finalized in 1842

 Events
Aug 092026
 

Webster-Ashburton Treaty was finalized in 1842. United States Secretary of State Daniel Webster and British representative Lord Ashburton negotiated the eastern border between the United States and Canada. The treaty also allowed shared use of the Great Lakes. Older children can read a transcript of the document at: Treaty.

Lassen Volcanic National Park Was Created in California in 1916

 Events
Aug 092026
 
Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park was created in California in 1916. Lassen Peak and Cinder Cone National Monument, founded in 1907, and other lands were united to form one national park. The park contains all four types of volcanoes (lava, cinder, composite, and shield). Children could visit the park’s  website at: Lassen Volcanic National Park. They could learn about volcanoes in general at: Volcanoes. Then they could draw illustrations of the four different kinds of volcanoes.

Jesse Owens Won Four Gold Medals in 1936 Olympics

 Events
Aug 092026
 
Jesse Owens

Jesse Owens

Jesse Owens won the last of his four gold medals in the 1936 Olympic Games. On August 3 he won the 100 meter sprint. On August 4 he won the long jump competition. On August 5 he finished first in the 200 meter sprint, and on August 9 he was part of the 4 X 100 sprint relay that came in first. Children could read You Should Meet Jesse Owens, written by Laurie Calkhoven and illustrated by Elizabet Vulkovik.

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