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 simple 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 2021 (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 2021. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries in the book. The 2022 edition is also available.
Jan 1, 2011 – 10 years ago
The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) TV channel was launched in the USA.
Jan 2, 1971 – 50 years ago
Cigarette advertisements were banned on US television and radio.
Jan 3, 1521 – 500 years ago
German Protestant reformer Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Leo X after he refused to recant his writings. (See also January 23rd below.)
Jan 4, 1896 – 125 years ago
Utah became the 45th state of the USA.
Jan 5, 1961 – 60 years ago
The first episode of the sitcom Mister Ed was broadcast in the USA. It was later picked up by CBS and ran for six seasons until 1966.
Jan 6, 1921 – 100 years ago
The Iraqi Army was formed.
Jan 7, 2001 – 20 years ago
John Kufuor was inaugurated as President of Ghana. It was the first peaceful transfer of power since Ghana gained independence in 1957.
Jan 8, 1921 – 100 years ago
David Lloyd George became the first British Prime Minister to occupy Chequers in Buckinghamshire. Chequers is the serving Prime Minister’s country retreat, and was given to the nation by Lord and Lady Lee of Fareham.
Jan 9, 2001 – 20 years ago
Apple launched iTunes, its digital media player and media management software.
Jan 10, 1946 – 75 years ago
The United Nations General Assembly convened for the first time, in London.
Jan 11, 1971 – 50 years ago
The first quickie divorce was granted in the UK following the passing of the Divorce Reform Act.
Jan 12, 1896 – 125 years ago
Three physics students at Davidson College, North Carolina took the first x-ray photograph in the USA – after illegally gaining access to a laboratory. Later that year, their professor, Henry Louis Smith, developed the technology for use in hospitals.
Jan 13, 1941 – 80 years ago
Death of James Joyce, Irish novelist. Best known for Ulysses, Finnegans Wake, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Dubliners.
Jan 14, 1951 – 70 years ago
The first National Football League (NFL) Pro Bowl game was played, in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Jan 15, 1971 – 50 years ago
The Aswan High Dam, on the Nile in Egypt, was officially dedicated.
Jan 16, 1921 – 100 years ago
The première of the Charlie Chaplin movie The Kid, in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
(New York première: January 21st, released: February 6th. UK: March.)
Jan 17, 1871 – 150 years ago
American inventor Andrew Smith Hallidie was granted a US patent for endless wire rope – used in cable car systems. He established the world’s first cable car system in San Francisco, California in 1873.
Jan 18, 1871 – 150 years ago
Wilhelm I was proclaimed the first Emperor of Germany.
Jan 19, 2001 – 20 years ago
Internet twins case. American twin baby girls were seized from a hotel in Wales and taken into care. They had been “sold” by an adoption broker and adopted over the internet by a British couple, Alan and Judith Kilshaw. The couple became infamous after selling their story to a national newspaper. The twins were later returned to the USA after a judge ruled they were not safe in the couple’s care.
Jan 20, 1961 – 60 years ago
John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as the 35th President of the United States.
Jan 21, 1981 – 40 years ago
The first DMC DeLorean sports car was produced in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.
About 9,000 of the cars were produced between 1981 and early 1983. It famously featured in the movie Back to the Future.
Jan 22, 1946 – 75 years ago
The Central Intelligence Group was established in the USA. It was the predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which was established in September 1947.
Jan 23 to May 25, 1521 – 500 years ago
The Diet of Worms, Germany. The Holy Roman Empire held an imperial assembly, culminating in the Edict of Worms which branded the Protestant reformer Martin Luther a heretic and banned his writings.
Jan 24, 1946 – 75 years ago
The United Nations Atomic Energy Commission was established.
Jan 25, 1921 – 100 years ago
The première of Karel Capek’s play R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The play marks the first use of the term robot.
Jan 26, 1871 – 150 years ago
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) was founded in England.
Jan 27, 1956 – 65 years ago
Elvis Presley’s hit song Heartbreak Hotel was released. It topped the US charts in April, and became his first hit in the UK in May.
Jan 28, 1921 – 100 years ago
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was installed beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. It honors those who died in WWI (and later also WWII) who were never identified.
Jan 29 to Feb 1, 1991 – 30 years ago
Gulf War: the Battle of Khafji, Saudi Arabia. The first major ground engagement of the war. Coalition victory.
Jan 30, 1951 – 70 years ago
Death of Ferdinand Porsche, Austrian-born German automotive engineer who designed the Volkswagen Bug and Tiger tank and founded the Porsche sports car company.
Jan 31, 1971 – 50 years ago
NASA launched Apollo 14, the 3rd manned mission to land on the Moon. On February 6th Alan Shepard became the first man to hit a golf ball on the Moon. The crewed returned to Earth on February 9th.
More anniversaries:
You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2021. The 2022 edition is also available if you need to work further ahead. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.