Historical anniversaries are great for “On This Day in History” features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re easy to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theatre shows, and more.
Here are 31 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in January 2022 (so you have time to write about them!)
We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2022. You’ll find hundreds more in the book. The 2023 edition is also available if you work further ahead.
1 Jan 1772 – 250 years ago
The first traveller’s cheques were issued in London. They could be used in 90 European cities.
2 Jan 1942 – 80 years ago
The U.S. Navy opened a blimp base at Lakehurst, New Jersey.
3 Jan 1897 – 125 years ago
Birth of Pola Negri, Polish-born American stage and film actress. The first European actress contracted to Hollywood.
4 Jan 1847 – 175 years ago
Mexican–American War: the Texas Rangers ordered 1,000 revolvers from U.S. firearms manufacturer Samuel Colt. This allowed Colt to turn his failing business into a hugely successful one.
5 Jan 1922 – 100 years ago
Death of Sir Ernest Shackleton, Irish-born British Antarctic explorer.
6 Jan 1992 – 30 years ago
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the use of silicone breast implants over fears they could leak and cause health damage. (Manufacturers were unable to provide sufficient evidence of their safety and they were later banned in the USA.)
7 Jan to 9 Apr 1942 – 80 years ago
World War II: the Battle of Bataan, Philippines. Japanese victory.
8 Jan 1992 – 30 years ago
The first two confirmed exoplanets were discovered by astronomers Aleksander Wolszczan and Dale Frail. The planets orbit the pulsar PSR B1257+12.
9 Jan to 28 Feb 1972 – 50 years ago
British miners staged a major strike over pay. This led to power shortages, and a state of emergency was declared on 9th February. The miners returned to work when the National Union of Mineworkers accepted an improved pay offer.
10 Jan 1922 – 100 years ago
Arthur Griffith became the first President of the Irish Free State (now the Republic of Ireland).
11 Jan 1972 – 50 years ago
East Pakistan became the independent state of Bangladesh.
12 Jan 1932 –90 years ago
Hattie Caraway became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
13 Jan 1962 to 1971 – 60 years ago
Vietnam War: Operation Ranch Hand. The USA sprayed around 20 million gallons of herbicide and defoliants (including Agent Orange) on rural areas of South Vietnam to deprive the Viet Cong of food and ground cover.
14 Jan 1972 – 50 years ago
The first episode of the TV comedy series Sanford and Son was broadcast on NBC in the USA. It was a remake of the British TV series Steptoe and Son.
15 Jan 1997 – 25 years ago
Princess Diana walked through a minefield in Angola, visited victims, and called for an international ban on landmines.
16 Jan 1957 – 65 years ago
The Cavern Club opened in Liverpool, UK. Initially a jazz venue, it became an important rock venue when the Beatles played there during their early years.
17 Jan 1942 – 80 years ago
Birth of Muhammad Ali, (born Cassius Clay), American heavyweight boxing champion. One of the most significant sporting figures of the 20th century.
18 Jan 2002 – 20 years ago
The Sierra Leone Civil War ended after 10 years. Commonwealth victory.
19 Jan 1982 – 40 years ago
The song I Love Rock ’n Roll by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts was released. It was their biggest hit and reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard chart in March.
20 Jan 1942 – 80 years ago
Holocaust: the infamous Wannsee Conference was held in Germany. Nazi officials met to plan the ‘final solution to the Jewish question’ – the extermination of European Jews.
21 Jan 1922 – 100 years ago
The first modern slalom ski race was held, during the British National Ski Championships in Murren, Switzerland.
22 Jan 1922 – 100 years ago
Death of Pope Benedict XV. Succeeded by Pius XI.
23 Jan 1897 – 125 years ago
Birth of Subhas Chandra Bose, Indian nationalist and national hero. He attempted to remove the British from India during WWII with the help of Nazi Germany and Japan.
24 Jan 1972 – 50 years ago
Japanese soldier Shoichi Yokoi was found hiding in Guam, not knowing that WWII had ended. He had lived in a cave in the jungle for 28 years.
25 Jan 1947 – 75 years ago
Death of Al Capone, famous American gangster.
26 Jan 1942 – 80 years ago
World War II: the first U.S. troops arrived in Europe. 4,508 soldiers from the 34th Infantry Regiment docked in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
27 Jan 2002 – 20 years ago
Lagos armoury explosion, Nigeria. A large stock of high explosives accidentally detonated, destroying part of northern Lagos. At least 1,100 people were killed and thousands were injured or made homeless.
28 Jan 1942 – 80 years ago
The Roberts Commission investigation into the circumstances of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor presented its findings to the U.S. Senate. It placed most of the blame for the USA’s lack of preparedness for the attack on Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, commander of the U.S. Navy, and General Walter C. Short, commander of the U.S. Army. It found them both guilty of dereliction of duty. (They were exonerated in 1999, but their full wartime ranks were not restored.)
29 Jan 1942 – 80 years ago
The BBC Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs was first broadcast. It is Britain’s longest running radio show, and the world’s longest running weekly factual radio programme.
30 Jan 1847 – 175 years ago
The town of Yerba Buena in California was renamed San Francisco.
31 Jan 1872 – 150 years ago
Birth of Zane Grey, American writer of Western fiction.
More anniversaries:
You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2022. The 2023 edition is also available if you work further ahead. The 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions will be released later this year. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.