June 1-30
June is African American Music Appreciation Month
The month of June provides a time to appreciate and celebrate African American musicians, composers, singers, and songwriters. This observation began on June 7, 1979, when President Jimmy Carter decreed June to be Black Music Month. Check out the African American Music Appreciation Month collection.
National Zoo and Aquarium Month
June is National Zoo and Aquarium Month It’s a great time to show your support for your favorite aquarium or zoo…or both! We encourage you to visit up-close, but we also have some great opportunities to explore all that our natural world has to offer – right here on KnowItAll.org! (BTW, shoes are not required!)
National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month
June provides an opportunity for our plates to become much more colorful, to say nothing of flavorful! From alfalfa sprouts to zucchini, from avocadoes to yellow squash, and from berries to watermelon, fruits and vegetables will bring vibrant color to your plate and provide numerous vitamins and nutrients for your health and well-being. National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month has been celebrated since 1991.
National Great Outdoors Month
National Great Outdoors Month is celebrated in June and serves as a reminder to enjoy and appreciate our state parks and wildlife refuges. This observation, begun in 1998, encourages us to explore our parks and enjoy the beauty that awaits us in our natural world.
June Observances (Day):
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |30
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World Bicycle Day
June 3 was named World Bicycle Day. The bicycle is a simple way to connect people and communities with education, food and job opportunities while maintaining healthy habits. The bicycle is the most well-rounded form of transportation, and the United Nations honored it with this day to draw more attention to it and encourage city-wide cycling events. Anybody can celebrate this day, and many people celebrate by hitting the trails on their bikes and enjoy the outdoors.
Bicycle Safety from Earth Today Kid Minutes
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5
World Environment Day
A day dedicated to inspire people all over the globe to be active in protecting the environment. View our informative videos about environmental awareness:
Check out our Environmental Awareness Collection and share with your friends!
Garcia Lorca
On June 5, 1898 poet Garcia Lorca was born in the Spanish Province of Granada. (Artopia)
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6
D- Day
"You are about to embark upon the great crusade toward which we have striven these many months..." -General Dwight D. Eisenhower. On June 6, 1944 the Allies invade Western Europe in the largest amphibious assault in history. View our Generation of Heroes collection that contains living memories of heroes and civilians who served in World War II.
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7
Cancer Survivors Day
Cancer Survivors Day celebrates those who have survived cancer and inspires those who have recently been diagnosed. It is celebrated annually on the first Sunday of June to raise awareness for the struggles of cancer and recovery and recognize those who have done it.
Check out these videos on Cancer Cell Research and Spoken Truth Artist,Tabu Hazel who is an advocate for cancer awareness.
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World Oceans Day
June 8 celebrates “the lungs of our Planet,” a “major source of food and medicine” and a “critical part of the biosphere.” The oceans which make up over 70% of the Earth is important for our survival and the survival of our global economy. This day recognizes that and encourages conservation of the ocean and its ecosystems.
Be sure to explore our resources on Sea Change, located under our Series, Climate Change!
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Jeannette Rankin
June 11, 1880: Jeannette Rankin, American politician, feminist, reformer, and pacifist, was born in Missoula, Montana. In 1916, she was the first woman elected to Congress, and was the only member of Congress to vote against a declaration of war following the attack on Pearl Harbor, in December, 1941. (Facts of Congress)
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14
Flag Day
Citizens of the United States celebrate Flag Day on June 14 to honor the American flag and commemorate its adoption.
- Flag | Eye Wonder: A visit to a flag factory in which we see two ways to make an American flag. In the first, a flag is printed using the sublimation printing process, then screen printing is shown, and we see a hem and a header being sewn. Next, we see American flags being made using grommets or tabs, and being sewn.
- Embroidering Starfields | ETV Shorts: Gaffney Embroidery creates all of the starfield patterns that go on our American Flags. It's one of the few in the United States and is located in Gaffney, S.C.
- Take a look at our video Revolutionary War Names to see what terms were used to describe those who waved this flag with pride.
Alois Alzheimer
June 14, 1864: German pathologist and psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer was born in Markbreit am Mainz, Germany. In 1907, he published an article first detailing 'Alzheimers,' a degenerative disease which usually begins between ages 40-60 years. It affects nerve cells of the brain, leading to severe memory impairment and progressive loss of mental faculties. (diSCovering science)
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Date of Williams v Sumter Decision
Learn more about the civil rights case on the Irene Sampson Williams section of our Road Trip collection.
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Igor Stravinsky
On June 17, 1882 Igor Stravinsky was born. He is considered one of the most influential composers of the 20th century.
Tragedy in Charleston, SC - Emanuel A.M.E. Church / Removal of Confederate Flag
We remember the nine individuals who were so tragically lost at Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, and we reflect on the events that followed, culminating in the removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of the South Carolina State House on July 10, 2015. The Confederate Flag Collection includes Palmetto Scene Special Report on June 18, 2015, the day following the shootings, and continuing through the live coverage of the removal of the flag from the State House grounds on July 10, 2015.
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19
Juneteenth
June 19th, also known as, "Juneteenth", it is the oldest holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. On June 15, 2021, the U.S. Senate unanimously pass a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday.
Sauntering Day
Sauntering Day is a day to promote relaxation and enjoying life. View our collection, KnowItAll Healthy! to promote positive eating and workout habits.
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21
Father’s Day
View some of our resources that remind us of the many ways that so many of our fathers have served over the years—throughout our Native American history, the founding of our country, our military history, in Space Exploration, and on 9/11 – to name only a few.
- Constitution Day
- Native American History
- Memorial Day
- Space Exploration
- Eyewitness to 9/11, An Upstate Story
- Eyewitness to 9/11: From Tragedy to Transformation | ETV Shorts
World Music Day
Also known as Fête de la musique, June 21 is the day where you might hear dozens of people making music outside their homes and in public spaces. This world holiday encourages people to celebrate music and the art of making music. Depending on the city or country you live in, free concerts and performances in neighborhood public parks may be allowed. The holiday originated in France in 1982 when Jack Lang, Minister of Culture of France, and Maurice Fleuret, Director of Music and Dance declared the first all-day music celebration on the summer solstice. The holiday is now celebrated in more than 120 countries and 700 cities.
View our Music Collection or Jazz Collection.
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22
Katherine Dunham
Dancer, Katherine Dunham was born on June 22, 1909. She is best known for incorporating African American, Caribbean, African, and South American traditional movement styles and themes into her ballets
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23
United Nations Public Service Day
On this day, we honor all who have chosen professions in which they serve others, including police officers, firefighters, EMTs, members of the medical profession, those in military service, government service and teachers. View the Public Service collection.
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Helen Keller
Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880. She was an American author and political activist that was deaf and blind. View our periscope series, Women in U.S History, which honors Helen Keller and other remarkable women in American history.
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28
Carolina Day
South Carolina exclusive holiday celebrating the anniversary of the Battle of Sullivan's Island, during the American Revolutionary War (June 28, 1776). A small band of Patriots inside of a fort built out of palmetto tree logs miraculously fended off a massive British fleet sent to take Charleston. Beginning in 1777, this day has been celebrated ever since. Learn more about the history of this historic battle, as well as the evolution of the S.C. State Flag, and the Carolina Day holiday as we know it today! (History In A Nutshell)
The Siege of Vicksburg
June 28, 1862: The Siege of Vicksburg began during the American Civil War. Vicksburg was an important Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River, which the Union desperately needed to capture if victory was going to be possible. (Walter Edgar's Journal)
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated
June 28, 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by a Bosnian-Serb named Gavrilo Princip. Franz Ferdinand's death led to a conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, which escalated into World War I. Five years later, on June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, which officially ended the war. (History In A Nutshell)
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Updated by Eva Chillaru, Summer Intern, June 2021.
These factoids were compiled by Imani-Grace King, 2017 ETV Endowment Intern (Digital Media/Knowitall)
