Today in 1800, The Library of Congress was established by an act of Congress, with an appropriation of $5,000, when President John Adams signed a bill providing for the transfer of the seat of government from Philadelphia to the new capital city of Washington. Continue reading
Today in 1704, the first continuously-published newspaper in the United States, the Boston News-Letter, was published for the first time. Continue reading
British Empire Exhibition Postage Stamps
Today in 1924, the first broadcast made by King George V was transmitted from the opening ceremony of the British Empire Exhibition. An estimated 10 million people heard the transmission and many events around the country were suspended so that the public could listen. This was also, possibly, the first electronic recording made in England. Continue reading
Today in 1896, the Vitascope was introduced to the public for the first time at Koster and Bial’s Music Hall in New York City. Continue reading
Whirlwind's Core Memory
Today in 1951, MIT’s Whirlwind computer first came online. Continue reading
Today in 1930, according to the BBC, listeners who tuned in to hear the news bulletin on Good Friday were informed: “There is no news.” Piano music followed.
LV-1801 TV/VCR combination unit incorporating the first Betamax VCR
Today in 1975, Sony announced the launch of the Betamax videocassette format in Japan. Sony’s corproate history explains the origins of the name: “‘Beta’ is the Japanese word used to describe the way signals were recorded onto the tape. From this sprung the idea of using the word ‘beta.’ [In addition,] the tape path in the new loading system closely resembled the Greek letter beta, when seen from above. This symbol is associated with good luck and can be construed as a drawn out pronunciation of the English word ‘better.’ ‘Max,’ an abbreviation of the word ‘maximum’ was intended to impart a meaning of grandness, and was then added to the end. The name ‘Betamax’ was born.” Continue reading
Today in 1923, Lee DeForest premiered 18 short films made in the Phonofilm system, which recorded synchronized sound directly onto film, at the Rivoli Theater in New York City. Continue reading
Today in 1894, the first commercial exhibition of motion pictures in history was given in New York City, using ten Kinetoscopes. Continue reading
Today in 1827, English pharmacist John Walker sold the first friction matches, which he called “Friction Light,” from his pharmacy in Stockton on Tees. Continue reading
The Story of Information 