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The Writer’s Almanac for May 1, 2019

Posted on May 1, 2019 - Writer's Almanac

On this day in 1956, Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine was made available to the public. Today, polio has been largely eradicated from most countries.

The Writer’s Almanac for April 30, 2019

Posted on April 30, 2019 - Writer's Almanac

In 1803 on this day, the United States bought France’s claim to the Louisiana Territory, for the price of $15 million: less than 3 cents per acre.

The Writer’s Almanac for April 29, 2019

Posted on April 29, 2019 - Writer's Almanac

It’s the birthday of Duke Ellington (1899), who said jazz is “the only unhampered, unhindered expression of complete freedom yet produced in this country.”

The Writer’s Almanac for April 28, 2019

Posted on April 28, 2019 - Writer's Almanac

Today is the birthday of Nell Harper Lee (Monroeville, AL, 1926), author of “To Kill A Mockingbird” and childhood friend of Truman Persons, who grew up to be Truman Capote.

The Writer’s Almanac for April 27, 2019

Posted on April 27, 2019 - Writer's Almanac

Today’s the birthday of playwright August Wilson (1945), who dropped out of school after his teacher wrongly accused him of plagiarism, and went on to write plays such as “Fences.”

The Writer’s Almanac for April 26, 2019

Posted on April 26, 2019 - Writer's Almanac

It’s the birthday of John James Audubon (1785), who set out on a journey to draw all the birds of North America. The resulting book was two feet wide and three feet tall.

The Writer’s Almanac for April 25, 2019

Posted on April 25, 2019 - Writer's Almanac

On this day in 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick published a paper that described the structure of DNA and concluded that the shape suggested a copying mechanism for genetic material.

The Writer’s Almanac for April 24, 2019

Posted on April 24, 2019 - Writer's Almanac

Today is the birthday of Sue Grafton (1940), who took her inspiration for her alphabetically-titled murder mysteries from Edward Gorey’s “The Ghastlycrumb Tinies.”

The Writer’s Almanac for April 23, 2019

Posted on April 23, 2019 - Writer's Almanac

It’s the assumed birthday of William Shakespeare (1564), who originated idioms such as “dead as a doornail,” “come what may,” “heart’s content,” “night owl,” and “into thin air.”

The Writer’s Almanac for April 22, 2019

Posted on April 22, 2019 - Writer's Almanac

Today is Earth Day, which was first observed in 1970. The theme in 2000 was using clean energy to combat climate change, and this year’s theme is protecting species.

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