1902 Trivia, History, and Fun Facts |
Top Ten Baby Names of 1902Mary, Helen, Anna, Margaret, Ruth, John, William, James, George, Charles |
US Life Expectancy(1902) Males: 49.8 years, Females: 53.4 years |
Firsts, Inventions and WondersThe Fuller Building (now called the Flatiron Building) at 175 Fifth Avenue in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, was completed. The Texas Oil Company (Texaco) was formed. (oops!) – The Greek symbol Caduceus (two snakes on a winged pole) was mistakenly used as the emblem for the US Medical Corps instead of the Rod of Asclepius (one snake climbing a pole), the true Greek symbol for medicine. We still use the wrong one. J C Penney opened his first store in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The American Automobile Association (AAA) was founded in Chicago. Alfred Thayer Mahan (1840-1914) first invented the term ‘Middle East’ in the September 1902 issue of London’s monthly National Review. Carnegie Institution for Science (CIS) was founded in Washington, DC, with a $10 Million grant from Andrew Carnegie. Denmark became the first country to adopt fingerprinting to identify criminals. The Electric Theatre, the first full-time movie theater in the United States, opened in Los Angeles, California. |
The Most Popular Singers and Artists of 1902 includeArthur Collins, Charles D’ Almaine, Joe Belmont, S.H. Dudley, Edward M. Favor, Byron G. Harlon, The Hayden Quartet, Mina Hickman, Silas Leachman, Jules Levy, Aldrich Libbey, Harry Macdonough, Jere Mahoney, The Metropolitan Orchestra, J.W. Meyers, Dan Quinn, William Redmond, John Philip Sousa’s Band, Len Spencer, Frank Stanley, Cal Stewart, Fred Van Epps, Bert Williams |
Pop Culture Facts & HistoryA Trip to the Moon (Le Voyage Dans la Lune), directed by Georges Méliès, is recognized as the first Science Fiction film. The Cecil Rhodes Scholarship fund was established. Brooklyn, NY, toymaker Morris Michtom named his Teddy Bear doll after US President Teddy Roosevelt. Paleontologist Barnum Brown discovered remains of a Tyrannosaurus Rex near the town of Jordan, Montana. Michigan beat Stanford 49-0 in the Tournament East-West Football Game, which would later be known as the Rose Bowl Game 1902 was about the time Trains were used more than Horses for transportation. Marie and Pierre Curie isolated the radioactive element radium chloride. Grawlix, or obscenicons (like #@$%&!) as swear words in comics, were first seen in The Katzenjammer Kids in 1902. |
The HorribleThe volcanic eruption of Mt. Pelée on the French-Caribbean island of Martinique on May 8, 1902, killed between 30 and 40 thousand people. The Yacolt Burn is the collective name for dozens of September fires in Washington and Oregon, killing ~70 people. |
A MysteryAlbert Einstein and his wife Mileva Maric had a daughter in 1902 named Lieserl before they were married. Her existence was only discovered in 1986. Einstein is believed to have never met her, and what happened to her is a mystery. |
Nobel Prize WinnersPhysics – Hendrik Antoon Lorentz and Pieter Zeeman |
Popular and Best-selling Books From 1902Fiction Bestsellers: |
Other Books of NoteThe Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter |
SportsAmerican League Baseball Champions: Philadelphia Athletics |
More 1902 History ResourcesMost Popular Baby Names (BabyCenter.com) |