The Story of Writing

The first showdown in America's "Wild West," the dramatic conclusion of the Scopes Monkey Trial, and recording Earth's coldest temperature - with a reading from Willa Cather's "My Mortal Enemy."

Apollo 11 lands and humans walk on the moon for the first time and the birthday club includes Gregor Mendel, Tom Crean, and Edmund Hillary - with a reading from Kimberle Crenshaw's "Demarginalizing t…

The first women’s rights convention in the U.S. begins in Seneca Falls, New York and it is the birthday of Alice Moore Dunbar-Nelson - with a reading of her poem, "If I had Known."

The Hough Riots convulse Cleveland and the birthday club includes William Makepeace Thackary, Nelson Mandela, and Hunter S. Thompson - with a reading from Thompson's obituary of former Pres. Richard …

Spain sells Florida to the US, Willis Carrier designs the air conditioner, the International Criminal Court is established in The Hague, and it is the birthday of Phyllis Diller - with a reading of E…

J. D. Salinger publishes "The Catcher in the Rye" and it is the birthday of Ida B. Wells - with a reading from Wells' speech "Lynch Law in America."

The Rosetta Stone is found, the Spanish Inquisition ends after 350 years, Alzheimer's is named, and the birthday club includes Clement Clark Moore and Iris Murdoch.

Storming the Bastille, US Pres. John Adams signs the Sedition Act, the second catastrophic fire in Chicago burns nearly 50 acres of the city, and the birthday club includes William Hanna and Woody Gu…

The birthday club includes George Weller, Marcia Brown, and Cameron Crowe - with a reading of Jean Blewett's "Miracles."

It's Thoreau-Neruda Day! Henry David Thoreau and Pablo Neruda were born on this day. Doris Grumbach, too. This episode includes a reading from Thoreau's essay "Walking."

Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton face each other in a duel, "To Kill A Mockingbird" is published, and the birthday club includes E. B. White and Jhumpa Lahiri - with a reading from White's "Here is …

The French declare war on England - diverting English forces from crushing the American Revolution, Mackenzie crosses the North American continent, French secret agents blow up and sink the Rainbow W…

In the U.S., the 14th Amendment to the Constitution is ratified, the Russell-Einstein Manifesto is released, and the birthday club includes Elias Howe and Oliver Sacks - with a reading of Dorothy Par…

The Wall Street Journal publishes its first edition, the Dow-Jones Industrial Average closes at its lowest level of the 20th Century, and Pres. Richard Nixon announces a more equitable stance toward …

The New York City race riots of 1834 begin, the US begins its first military draft, Alaska becomes a state, the Ziegfeld Follies premiers its first show, and slice bread went on sale for the first ti…

Louis Pasteur tests his rabies vaccine, Jackie Robinson refuses to move to the back of a bus, John Lennon and Paul McCartney meet, and it is the birthday of Nanci Griffith - with a reading from her s…

The Second Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence, written mostly by Thomas Jefferson. This episode includes a reading of a letter from Benjamin Rush to John Adams about signing …

General George Washington is named leader of the Continental Army, the U.S. Civil War Battle of Gettysburg is won by Union forces, and it is the birthday of Charlotte Perkins Gilman - with a reading …

The U.S. Continental Congress resolves to sever ties with England, Africans take control of the ship "Amistad," and President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This day also marks th…