What Happened in 1909

Adolf Hitler lives in Vienna

The beautiful old world city of Vienna, capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with its magnificent culture that had seen the likes of Beethoven... Read more

Selma Lagerlöf Becomes the First Woman to be Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature

The Nobel Prize in Literature 1909 was awarded to Selma Lagerlöf "in appreciation of the lofty idealism, vivid imagination and spiritual perception... Read more

Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick Cheney Elope

Local gossips noticed Wright's flirtations, and he developed a reputation in Oak Park as a man-about-town. His family had grown to six children,... Read more

Auguste Marie François Beernaert and Paul-Henri-Benjamin d'Estournelles de Constant Win the Nobel Peace Prize

Auguste Marie François Beernaert (July 26, 1829 – October 6, 1912) was the Prime Minister of Belgium from October 1884 to March 1894. Born in... Read more

Chicago Crib Disaster

The temporary Crib used in the construction of the Southwest Land and Lake Tunnel System, situated on the line of the tunnel seventy-five hundred... Read more

The National Association for the Advacement of Colored People (NAACP) is founded

Founded Feb. 12. 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest, largest and most widely recognized grassroots–based civil rights organization. Its more... Read more

William Howard Taft is inaugurated as the 27th president of the United States

A blizzard the night before caused the ceremonies to be moved into the Senate Chamber in the Capitol. The oath of office was administered for the... Read more

Ottawa Senators win Stanley Cup

The 1909 Eastern Canadian Hockey Association (ECHA) season lasted from January 2 until March 6. Teams played a twelve game schedule. The Ottawa... Read more

Clyde Barrow Is Born

Bonnie Parker (October 1, 1910 – May 23, 1934) and Clyde Barrow (March 24, 1909 – May 23, 1934) were well known outlaws, robbers, and criminals... Read more

Elia Kazan is Born

Elia Kazan (pronounced ē-LĒ-ä ka-ZAHN; September 7, 1909 – September 28, 2003) was an American film and theatre director, film and theatrical... Read more

1909 World Series

The 1909 World Series featured the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Detroit Tigers. The Pirates won the Series in seven games to capture their first... Read more

Cherry Mine Disaster

Cherry is in Bureau county, 100 miles north and slightly west of Decatur, and about 10 miles north of Spring Valley, the home of John Mitchell. It... Read more

Sigma Alpha Mu is Formed

Sigma Alpha Mu (ΣΑΜ), also known as "Sammy", is a college fraternity founded at the City College of New York in 1909. Originally only for Jewish... Read more

James Joyce Manages The Volta Cinematograph, Ireland's First Cinema

Cinema arrived in Dublin in April 1896 when a demonstration was held in Dan Lowery’s Star of Erin theatre (later the Olympia). James Joyce was... Read more