Employees of Norcross Brother’s builders take a break from the construction of the Vanderbilt Mansion in Dutchess County, NY. 

May 12, 1897 

Built between 1896-1899 the mansion was considered a “modest” Vanderbilt estate despite having 54 rooms. 

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

“The past is across the water ; the future is here in our keeping. We can do all that can be done to solve the social problems and fulfill the hopes of mankind. Failure would be a disaster unequaled in history. The first step to success is pride of country, simple, honest, frank, and ever present, and this is the Americanism that I would have. If we have this pride and faith we shall appreciate our mighty responsibilities. Then if we live up to them we shall keep the words ‘an American citizen’ what they now are, — the noblest title any man can bear.”

– Henry Cabot Lodge who was born on May 12, 1850 in Boston, Massachusetts

Image of H. C. Lodge c. 1880 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On Sunday, May 12, 1861, “Battle Hymn of The Republic” was performed for the first time during a flag-raising ceremony at Fort Warren in Massachusetts. 

Image: The guardhouse (left) and sentry box (on right) at the entrance to Fort Warren about 1861 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

The Continental Army suffered a major defeat on May 12, 1780 as the British took Charles Town in South Carolina.

It was during this surrender that Americans were refused “honours of war” by the British which was a custom at the time, often (but not always) offered to defeated armies. Thousands of Americans were taken prisoner and many were sent to British prison ships. 

The following year, at Yorktown, George Washington was asked if the defeated British Army under Cornwallis should be offered “honours of war” and he said this… 

“The same Honors will be granted to the Surrendering Army as were granted to the Garrison of Charles Town.”

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Katharine Hepburn (on the left) with family in 1921

American actress Katharine Hepburn was born in Hartford, Connecticut on May 12, 1907. 

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Colonel French B. Woodall of Co. K, 16th Illinois Infantry Regiment and Co. C, 151st Illinois Infantry Regiment in uniform displaying sword of Confederate Brigadier General William T. Wofford after his surrender of Kingston, Georgia on May 12, 1865.  

Notice that this Confederate “surrender” occurred over a month after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.

Image via LOC, no known restrictions 

Tea and Reception – Main Hall, Lincoln Hospital and Home, New York, National Hospital Day, May 12, 1921.

Image via NYPL Digital Collections, no known restrictions 

FDR and Winston Churchill arriving the day before the Third Washington Conference (codenamed Trident) began on May 12, 1943.

The date for the invasion of Normandy was among the topics that were discussed.

Image via Alamy

Excavation of the Atlantic Avenue station, Boston Transit Commission 

May 12, 1903

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain 

Born May 12, 1928 Burt Bacharach was an accomplished songwriter, composer, musician, and record producer. Many of his most memorable songs were hits for Dionne Warwick and it’s estimated that over 1,000 artists have recorded his works. He’s shown here in a 1973 jam session with Stevie Wonder.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, no known copyright, public domain in the US.

Born May 12, 1918 Mary Kay Ash opened the 500-square foot “Beauty By Mary Kay” store in Dallas in 1963. Copying Tupperware’s home party business model Ash built a successful cosmetics empire over the next several decades. At her death in 2001 her fortune was almost 100 million dollars – not bad for a $5,000 investment.

Image by Lisa Koz via Wikimedia Commons, CCA-SA 4.0 International.

Army of the Potomac–The Struggle for the Salient, near Spotsylvania, Virginia. May 12, 1864.  

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain 

New building of the American Red Cross Society dedicated and formally opened by President Wilson on May 12, 1917, Washington, D.C.

It cost about $800,000 to build. 

Image via LOC, no known restrictions