Congress designated January 7, 1789 as the date for choosing the electors for the first U.S. Presidential election. Image of the statue of George Washington in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

“I can not doubt that the American people, bound together by kindred blood and common traditions, still cherish a paramount regard for the Union of their fathers…”- Millard Fillmore from his First State of The Union Address in 1850

13th President of The United States, Millard Fillmore was born on January 7, 1800 in Moravia, New York

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Born on January 7, 1830, Albert Bierstadt built his reputation on radiant, idealized visions of the American West. Mountain Scene (1880–90) shows that impulse in a gentler tone. Painted late in his career, this small, composite landscape gathers a still lake, dark pines, and glowing peaks into a single imagined vista — less a record of a real place than a reflection of the luminous wonder that shaped his art from childhood onward.

On January 7, 1955, Marian Anderson became the first African American singer to sing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On January 7, 1839, the Georgia Female College, the first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women opened its doors in Macon. The college became known as the Wesleyan Female College four years later. Photo of the Wesleyan Glee Club on tour at Georgia School of Technology in 1918 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Skating at Lincoln Memorial

January 7, 1924

from LOC via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US

On today’s date January 7, 1926, George Burns and Gracie Allen were married in Cleveland, Ohio.

Publicity photo of George Burns and Gracie Allen in 1955 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Photo of Burt Ward, Adam West & Alan Napier on the TV series BATMAN that was taken in January 1966. Napier moved to the U.S. in 1939. Alan Napier who played the role of Alfred on the show was born on January 7, 1903. Image from ABC via Alamy

Female workers of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in 1943

113 years earlier on January 7, 1830 the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad made its first run. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On January 7, 1896, The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book was published. It was written by Fannie Farmer who used specific measurements in her recipes rather than a “pinch of this” or a “dash of that.” Image of Fannie Farmer via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

This is Thomas Willing, a former Mayor of Philadelphia (1763), who was elected the first president of the Bank of North America in late 1781. Under his leadership, it became the nation’s first chartered commercial bank when it officially opened its doors for business on January 7, 1782

Over the course of his long career, he accumulated an extraordinary fortune and was widely regarded as the wealthiest American around the year 1800.

Birthplace of Gen. Israel Putnam, born on January 7, 1718

When George Washington was selected by Congress as Commander-in-Chief to lead the Continental Army, Putnam was among four appointed major generals to serve under Washington. Of all votes made by Congress at the time, only Putnam & Washington were appointed unanimously.

Image c. late 1800s via Wikimedia Commons, public domain