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The Chicago Herald and Examiner was founded in 1902 as the Chicago Morning American, then was renamed in 1907 as the Chicago Herald. It was renamed again when it merged with another paper to become the Chicago Herald-Examiner.

Felix the Cat got his start in 1919 in animated shorts, created by either Otto Messmer or Pat Sullivan or both, depending on whom you ask*. His popularity skyrocketed, so much so that he was introduced to the “funny pages” in 1923. Sunday strips continued through 1943, and a daily strip ran from 1927 to 1967. Felix continues to be revived and turns up in pop culture to this day.

*(the controversy continues to this day)

Red text on a white circular background in the center, with a black and white photograph of John Glenn in his astronaut gear around the rim

John Glenn was an astronaut and American politician who lived from 1921-2016. Glenn served in the marines before joining NASA as one of the Mercury Seven astronauts. At age forty he was the oldest member on the team. He was the first American to go into space on the Friendship 7 and orbit the planet, a risky endeavor in 1962. 

Glenn had difficulty breaking into politics, but eventually was elected to the US Senate for the state of Ohio in 1974. He was considered as a Vice Presidential candidate to Jimmy Carter in the 1976 presidential campaign, but was not selected. He also unsuccessfully ran for president in the 1984 election, though he remained popular amidst his constituents and held his senate seat for four terms. 

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Inspired by the perseverance of the Forty-Niners, General A. M. Winn established the Native Sons of the Golden West (NSGW) in 1875 to preserve California history. Winn limited membership to descendants of California pioneers who arrived before the state was admitted to the union. In 1886, a sister organization, Native Daughters of the Golden West (NDGW), was established by Lily O. Reichling. The Native Daughters also worked to protect California history. However, the Native Daughters focused on other projects including environmentalism and child welfare. In 1909, the two organizations began working together to help homeless children native to California. Their goal was to connect homeless children with childless homes.

While the Native Sons and Daughters cared deeply about native born Californians, including Native Americans, the organization opposed Asian and Mexican immigration, and worked to evacuate Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans in the 1940s. Today, the organizations state that all races are welcome to join.

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The Sydney Rescue Society, formed in 1890, was a philanthropic, non-denominational organization that ran refuges and homes for women and children in Sydney and its surrounding suburbs. The society formed eight years after the founder, G.E. Ardill, opened a Women’s Refuge  called 'Home of Hope for Friendless and Fallen Women’. The society was founded on the principles of the New Testament and campaigned for temperance, the reform of alcoholics and prostitutes, and the protection of infants, women, and girls. While the organization successfully helped many women and children, there was controversy surrounding Adrill’s use of pregnant women for labor in his commercial laundry facility. The profits from the laundry were used to finance Adrill’s other operations. Regardless of this criticism, the society is still in operation today albeit under a new name, Integricare Sydney, and has since identified other missions relevant to modern issues. 

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A blue and white illustration of a woman wearing a bonnet on a yellow background. A blue checkmark and text appears to the left of the illustration. 

In the fall of 1955, Standard Brands Incorporated, makers of Blue Bonnet Margarine, held a contest to elect “Blue Bonnet Sue’s Little Sister 1956.” Any person could send in as many entry ballots as they wished, checking the name of one of four little girls—not only would they decide which child would win the contest, but they would also be entered into a cash prize drawing.

In January of 1956 winners were announced. The title of Little Sister went to the daughter of an NYPD officer, Pat Boylan, 6. For her triumph Miss Boylan received $5,000 toward her future education. After drawing from more than 3,000,000 votes, the first prize of $10,000 was awarded to a woman in Texas, with additional prizes going to more than 3,000 voters. Among the winners: Miss Harriet Nesbitt, 4 years old, of Sewellton Kentucky, who won a cash prize of $500.