Jan. 31, 1940 - The first Social Security check was issued by the U.S. Government.

Jan. 30, 1958 - The first two-way moving sidewalk was put in service at Love Field in Dallas, TX.

Jan. 29, 1845 - Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" was published for the first time in the "New York Evening Mirror."

Jan. 28, 1878 - "The Yale News" was published for the first time. It was the first daily collegiate newspaper in the U.S.

Jan. 27, 1888 - The National Geographic Society was founded in Washington, DC.
http://ping.fm/ECsXS

Jan. 26, 1784-In a letter to his daughter, Benjamin Franklin expressed unhappiness over the eagle as the symbol of America. He wanted the turkey.

Jan. 25, 1799 - Eliakim Spooner patented the seeding machine.

Jan. 25, 1962 - Sam Cooke's "Twistin' the Night Away" was released.

Jan. 24, 1924 - The Russian city of St. Petersburg was renamed Leningrad. The name has since been changed back to St. Petersburg.

Jan. 23, 1849 - English-born Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in America to receive a medical degree.

Jan. 22, 1938 - "Our Town", by Thornton Wilder, was performed publicly for the first time, in Princeton, NJ.

Jan. 21, 1976 - The French Concorde SST aircraft began regular commercial service for Air France and British Airways.

Jan. 20, 1885 - The roller coaster was patented by L.A. Thompson.

Jan. 19, 11883 - Thomas Edison's first village electric lighting system using overhead wires began operation in Roselle, NJ.

Jan. 18, 1778 - English navigator Captain James Cook discovered the Hawaiian Islands, which he called the "Sandwich Islands."

Try our history pages in an iPhone friendly format. And, let us know what you think.
http://tinyurl.com/iphoneotd

Jan. 17, 1916 - The Professional Golfers Association was formed in New York City.

Jan. 16, 1919-The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibited the sale or transportation of alcoholic beverages, was ratified.

Jan. 15, 1943 - In Arlington, VA, the Pentagon was dedicated as the world's largest office building.

Jan. 14, 1914 - Henry Ford announced an advance in line production of cars that reduced assembly time from 12½ hours to 93 minutes.

Jan. 13, 1794 - U.S. President Washington approved adding two stars and two stripes to the American flag for Vermont and Kentucky.

Jan 12, 1966 - "Batman" debuted on ABC-TV.

Jan. 11, 1902 - "Popular Mechanics" magazine was published for the first time.

Jan. 10, 1969 - The final issue of The Saturday Evening Post appeared after 147 years of publication.

Jan. 9, 1929 - The Seeing Eye was incorporated in Nashville, TN. The company's purpose was to train dogs to guide the blind.

Jan. 8, 1790 - In the United States, George Washington delivered the first State of the Union address.

Jan. 7, 1782 - The Bank of North America opened in Philadelphia. It was the first commercial bank in the United States.

Jan. 6, 1968 - Gibson patented its Flying V electric guitar.

Jan. 5, 1933 - Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge began.
http://tinyurl.com/fbhistory

Jan. 4, 1936 - The first pop music chart based on national sales was published by "Billboard" magazine.

Jan. 3, 1888 - The drinking straw was patented by Marvin C. Stone.

Jan. 2, 1879 - Thomas Edison began construction on his first generator.

Jan. 1, 1863 - U.S. President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in the rebel states were free.