This Week in History

JULY 31

1954 – Mount Godwin-Austen (K2), the world’s second-highest peak, was climbed for the first time, by an Italian team led by Ardito Desio.

AUGUST 1

1946 – President Truman signed the congressional acts that established the Atomic Energy Commission and the Fulbright Scholarship program.

1981 – MTV made its debut at 12:01 AM. The first video shown was Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles.

AUGUST 2

Zachary Dunn was born.

Fred Marino was born.

Jerry Rea was born.

Jackie Mazza was born.

Kerry Brady was born.

Fran Brenna was born.

Kevin and Kathy Boyle were married.

1909 – The first Lincoln penny was issued.

AUGUST 3 

1949 – The National Basketball Association was formed.

1981 – U.S. air traffic controllers went on strike.

AUGUST 4

Suzanne Blum was born.

Keith Green was born.

Ginny Danaher was born.

1892 – Lizzie Borden’s father and stepmother were killed with an axe in Fall River, Mass.

1944 – Anne Frank and her family were found hiding in Amsterdam by Nazis.

AUGUST 5

James Supple was born.

Mike Dalton was born.

Anne Murphy was born.

1861 – For the first time, the U.S. government levied an income tax.

1962 – Marilyn Monroe died.

AUGUST  6

John Grillo was born.

Janice Ameruso was born.

1945 – The first atomic bomb used in warfare was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan.

1997 – British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, meet—the first time in 76 years that a British leader and an IRA ally meet.