This Week in History

US-Russia Relations EstablishedThis week in 1933 the US established diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, Oklahoma became the 46th state in 1907 (see this Encyclopedia Britannica educational film from 1942 to learn more about OK, “land of the red men”), Burgess Meredith was born in 1908 (listen to Pepper Young’s Family starring Meredith), in 1873, W. C. Handy, the American composer known as the “father of the blues,” was born (listen to a version of his song “St. Louis Blues“), and the first Polaris A-Submarine was launched in 1960 (bringing “90% of Russia’s major cities within striking range”). If you prefer live music, listen to any of these 90 live concerts recorded on November 16th throughout the years.

 — Alexis