August 1-31
Visit the Knowitall blog for helpful information on using Knowitall all through the month!
August Observances (Day):
Click on a number below.
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1
Benjamin Mays
On August 1, 1894 Benjamin Mays was born. He was a minister, educator, scholar and social activist. He was known as the "The Father of the Civil Rights Movement" (Road Trip)
Friendship Day (First Sunday in August)
This summer holiday was founded in 1919 by Hallmark to incentivize people send cards to their friends to celebrate their relationships. The holiday died out when the market did in the 1940s, but in 1998 Winnie the Pooh became the first international Ambassador of Friendship and subsequently the UN recognized the holiday in 2011.
- Families, Feelings & Friendship (Scholastic Children’s Stories)
- Friendship Nine - A group of nine African American young men who were sent to jail after staging a sit-in at a segregated McCrory's lunch counter in Rock Hill, South Carolina in 1961.
- Jail, No Bail - Documentary pays tribute to the “Friendship Nine,” a group of college students who were arrested for a lunch counter sit-in in Rock Hill, SC in 1961.
2
National Coloring Book Day
August 2 is National Coloring Book Day which encourages children and adults alike to take the day to relax by coloring in coloring books. Typically, coloring books are an activity to keep children creative, however recently, adults have used coloring books for therapeutic purposes. This holiday invites people to access their creativity while relaxing and escaping from everyday life.
Download and print the Knowitall Coloring Pages.
3
Christopher Columbus
On August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail with the three ships Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, from Palos, Spain. Columbus sought a route to the far east, but instead landed in the Bahamas on October 12. (South Carolina Focus)
4
Louis Armstrong
On August 4, 1901 Louis Armstrong was born. Armstrong is recognized as one of the world's greatest jazz coronet and trumpet players. (Artopia)
6
First Atomic Bomb
On August 6, 1945, during World War II, the first atomic bomb (named "Little Boy") was dropped by the B-29 bomber "Enola Gay", on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. A few days later on August 9, a second atomic bomb (named "Fat Man") was dropped by B-29 bomber "Bockscar" over the city of Nagasaki. The dropping of the atomic bombs was the main cause for Japan's surrender, and the end of the second world war. (South Carolinians In WWII)
7
National Lighthouse Day
National Lighthouse Day honors the beacon of light that for hundreds of years symbolized safety and security for ships and boats at sea. It is observed annually on August 7.
Purple Heart Day
Purple Hearts are medals awarded to U.S. military service members wounded or killed in enemy action. They represent individuals who sacrifice themselves in the name of active duty for the U.S., and the holiday is to ensure that we remember and celebrate them and their sacrifices.
Visit our Memorial Day Collection.
9
Book Lovers Day
August 9 is Book Lovers Day, an unofficial holiday that encourages people to pick up a book (or two) and spend the day reading. Be sure to visit our Libraries, Literature and Learning Collection for more information!
12
International Youth Day
International Youth Day seeks to raise awareness to the cultural and legal issues faced by youth throughout the world. The United Nations defines youth as people between the ages of 15 and 24 years. In 1995, the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) adopted the World Programme of Action for Youth, focusing on 15 priority areas including education, employment, hunger and poverty, health, environment and drug abuse. Since its inception on August 12, 2000, International Youth Day has served to increase the quality and quantity of opportunities available to the youth.
15
VJ Day – Aug. 15, 1945
VJ Day celebrates the Allied Powers’ victory over Japan following the Japanese surrender in 1945. Celebrations began the day after in the United Kingdom and following, in the United States. This holiday officially marks the day that World War II was over and the troops could come back home.
View the World War II Collection under Wars and Conflicts.
16
Battle of Camden
On August 16, 1780 General Horatio Gates' army joined by militia men from North Carolina and Virginia, marched south toward the British outpost in Camden, South Carolina. This battle become known as the Battle of Camden. (Southern Campaign Of The American Revolution)
17
Fredrick Bailey Dent
On August 17, 1922 Fredrick Bailey Dent was born. He was inducted to South Carolina Business Hall of Fame in 1994. He was among the founders of Spartanburg Day School and is a life trustee emeritus. (Legacy Of Leadership Interview)
19
National Aviation Day
National Aviation Day commemorates the development of aviation while seeking to promote and support the industry. In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed that National Aviation Day would be observed annually on August 19, the birthday of Orville Wright.
World Humanitarian Day
World Humanitarian Day seeks to recognize the compassion and bravery of humanitarian workers. Designated by the United Nations in December of 2008 to honor the sacrifices of humanitarian workers, it is celebrated annually on August 19, a day that commemorates the 2003 bombing of the UN Headquarters in Iraq.
Martha Rivers Ingram
On August 20, 1935 Martha Rivers Ingram was born. She is the first living woman and first daughter of a laureate to be inducted into South Carolina Business Hall of Fame. (Legacy Of Leadership Profile)
21
International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism
The International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism was established by the U.N. General Assembly to honor and support the victims and survivors of terrorism and to promote and protect the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms. It is observed annually on August 21. The Resolution builds on existing efforts by the General Assembly, the Commission of Human Rights and the Human Rights Council to promote and protect the rights of victims of terrorism.
On August 21, 1937 Edwin Craig Wall Jr. was born. He was the respected as one of the most successful business leaders in South Carolina. (Legacy Of Leadership Profile)
23
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition
August 23, 1791 was the day of the uprising in Santo Domingo that started the chain of events that led to the abolition of the slave trade. The day is an official UNESCO holiday that promotes education of the slave trade and its implications as well as honors the people who facilitated its demise.
- View the African American History Collection
- View the Topic, Slavery in South Carolina
26
Women’s Equality Day & 19th Amendment
August 26 was designated as Women’s Equality Day to highlight the day in 1920 when the 19th Amendment was passed to the Constitution that guaranteed women the franchise. View our Collection on the Women's Suffrage Movement!
National Dog Day
Annually celebrated on August 26 since 2004, National Dog Day is marked as the day its founder, Colleen Page, adopted her first dog. Each year, the holiday celebrates all kinds and breeds of dogs and to help remind the public that so many dogs need to be rescued from shelters or the streets. The day also encourages pet owners to learn more about their dogs’ health and well-being.
This is a perfect day to visit our Dog Lovers collection.
28
March on Washington
On August 28, 1963, The March on Washington occurred. As many as 250,000 people attended this famous civil rights rally in Washington, D.C. It was here where Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his famous "I Have A Dream" speech. (Periscope). View the section on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Periscope
National Bow Tie Day
This holiday is celebrated on the 28th of August by encouraging people to wear bow ties for the day and embrace their historical elegance.
16-Year-Old Entrepreneur | Carolina Money
29
International Day Against Nuclear Tests
The United Nations declared August 29th International Day Against Nuclear Tests to acknowledge the devastating effects on human life that the over 2,000 testing events have caused in the past 60 years. The UN uses this holiday to recognize the destruction that nuclear tests cause and to promote peace and security around the world.
Visit the Chernobyl Event Collection.
31
Charleston Earthquake
At 9:45 p.m on August 31, 1886, a major earthquake hit Charleston, South Carolina. 27 people were killed in the collapse of buildings and another 33 died later of injuries. View our collections on the natural disaster:
These factoids were compiled by Imani-Grace King, 2017 ETV Endowment Intern (Digital Media/Knowitall)
