Major Events of September 1910: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from September 1910 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of September 1910: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Sep 1910 Sacrorum Antistitum Promulgated: Pope Pius X officially promulgated the Sacrorum antistitum, mandating that all Roman Catholic bishops, priests, and teachers take an oath against the Modernist movement, which sought to challenge traditional Church teachings.
02 Sep 1910 First American Woman's Solo Flight: Pioneering aviator Blanche Stuart Scott made history by becoming the first American woman to complete a solo airplane flight. Her groundbreaking journey took place in Hammondsport, New York, after receiving just two days of instruction from aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss. This event was a significant milestone in women's participation in early aviation and challenged gender barriers of the era.
03 Sep 1910 New York Garment Workers Strike Concludes: A pivotal labor rights moment occurred with the conclusion of a nine-week strike involving 70,000 New York garment workers. The strike resulted in substantial economic disruption, with estimated losses of $100,000,000. Workers achieved significant victories, including mandatory union shops and a landmark work week standard: 9-hour days for five days, followed by a 5-hour day, establishing important labor protections.
04 Sep 1910 Time-Bomb Explosions in Peoria, Illinois: On September 4, 1910, two sophisticated time-bombs were detonated in Peoria, Illinois, targeting a railroad yard and a nearby bridge. The devices were meticulously constructed using an alarm clock as a timing mechanism, a detonator, and the highly volatile explosive nitroglycerine. These coordinated explosions raised significant concerns about public safety and potential terrorist activities during the early 20th century.
05 Sep 1910 Marie Curie's Groundbreaking Radium Isolation: Marie Curie, the pioneering physicist and chemist, presented a revolutionary scientific breakthrough to the French Academy of Sciences at the Sorbonne. She successfully developed a process to isolate pure radium from its ore, a critical advancement in understanding radioactive elements and laying groundwork for future scientific and medical research.
06 Sep 1910 Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club Established: The Saskatchewan Roughriders, one of Canada's most iconic professional football teams, were founded in Regina, Saskatchewan. This marked the beginning of a significant sports organization that would become a cornerstone of Canadian Football League (CFL) history and prairie sports culture.
07 Sep 1910 Death of Dr. Emily Blackwell, Pioneer Physician: Dr. Emily Blackwell, a groundbreaking medical professional who was the second American woman to earn a medical degree, died at 83, having made significant contributions to women's advancement in medicine.
08 Sep 1910 East River Tunnels Connect Manhattan and Long Island: In a significant transportation milestone, the East River Tunnels were officially opened, establishing a crucial subway connection between Manhattan and Long Island. The tunnels, which opened precisely ten minutes after midnight, represented a major engineering achievement that would transform urban mobility and regional connectivity in New York City.
09 Sep 1910 Tragic Sinking of Pere Marquette No. 18 in Lake Michigan: On September 9, 1910, the car ferry Pere Marquette No. 18 experienced a catastrophic maritime disaster midway across Lake Michigan. Thanks to the recently introduced wireless radio technology, operator Stephen F. Sczepanek was able to call nearby ferry Pere Marquette No. 17 for assistance during the vessel's sudden sinking. Despite evacuation efforts, the ship went down rapidly, resulting in the tragic loss of 29 lives, including Sczepanek and two passengers. Fortunately, 33 crew members and passengers were rescued, highlighting the emerging importance of maritime communication technologies in emergency situations.
10 Sep 1910 General Motors Financial Crisis Meeting: On September 10, 1910, William C. Durant, Chairman of General Motors, held a critical financial meeting at Chase Bank to address the corporation's impending bankruptcy. This meeting was pivotal in the early history of General Motors, as Durant sought to secure financial backing and prevent the collapse of the then two-year-old automobile company. Durant's negotiations would prove crucial in keeping General Motors solvent during a challenging period of early automotive industry development.
11 Sep 1910 Mexico's Massive Casiano Oil Strike: A monumental oil gusher erupted at Casiano No. 7, owned by Edward L. Doheny's Mexican Petroleum Company, marking a transformative moment in Mexico's economic history. The well produced an unprecedented 60,000 barrels per day, signaling the beginning of Mexico's emergence as a major global oil producer. This event would have profound implications for the country's economic development and international energy dynamics.
12 Sep 1910 First Female Police Officer in the United States: Alice Stebbins Wells, a pioneering former social worker, became the first woman police officer with full arrest powers in the United States. She made history by joining the Los Angeles Police Department, breaking significant gender barriers in law enforcement and paving the way for future female officers.
13 Sep 1910 Sufi Missionary Begins Global Journey: Inayat Khan, a prominent Sufi mystic and musician, embarked on a transformative journey from Mumbai to Europe, with the mission of introducing and spreading Sufism to Western audiences. This voyage would play a crucial role in bridging Eastern spiritual traditions with Western philosophical and religious thought.
14 Sep 1910 Huo Yuanjia's Nationalist Martial Arts Victory: Huo Yuanjia achieved a remarkable victory by defeating challengers from France, Britain, Russia, and Japan, significantly boosting Chinese national pride and challenging Western perceptions of Chinese martial prowess.
15 Sep 1910 First General Elections in the Union of South Africa: The Boers and Afrikaners successfully participated in and won the inaugural general elections following the formation of the Union of South Africa, marking a significant milestone in the country's political transition and representation of Afrikaner political power.
16 Sep 1910 First Accredited Solo Airplane Flight by a Woman: Bessica Medlar Raiche made history on September 16, 1910, by completing the first officially recognized solo airplane flight by a woman. Her achievement was a significant milestone in early aviation and women's participation in emerging technologies.
17 Sep 1910 Fastest Professional Baseball Game in History: On September 17, 1910, a remarkable baseball game took place in the Southern Association, setting a record for the fastest professional game ever played. The Mobile Sea Gulls defeated the Atlanta Crackers with a score of 2-1 in an incredibly swift nine-inning match that was completed in just 32 minutes. This extraordinary game demonstrated an unprecedented level of efficiency and speed in professional baseball, highlighting the players' skill and quick gameplay.
18 Sep 1910 Telephone Transmission Breakthrough: On September 18, 1910, U.S. Army Brigadier General George Owen Squier made a groundbreaking technological demonstration by introducing the first system for multiplexing telephone transmissions. This innovation allowed multiple telephone conversations to be simultaneously transmitted over the same set of wires, significantly advancing telecommunications technology.
19 Sep 1910 First US Execution Based on Fingerprint Evidence: On September 19, 1910, a landmark legal and forensic science moment occurred in Chicago when Thomas Jennings was executed after being convicted of murdering Clarence Hiller. During a burglary gone wrong, Jennings broke into Hiller's home and killed the owner. Critically, he left behind fingerprints at the crime scene, which became pivotal forensic evidence. His conviction marked the first time in American legal history that fingerprint evidence was the primary basis for a capital punishment sentence, setting a significant precedent for forensic criminology and judicial standards.
20 Sep 1910 Thomas Edison's Helicopter Patent Application: Renowned inventor Thomas Edison applied for a U.S. patent (later granted as No. 970,616) for an innovative helicopter design. Although the machine was never manufactured, the patent demonstrated Edison's continued exploration of cutting-edge aviation technologies during the early 20th century.
21 Sep 1910 Deadly Interurban Streetcar Collision in Indiana: On September 21, 1910, a catastrophic collision between two interurban streetcars near Kingsland, Indiana, resulted in a tragic loss of 42 lives. The accident highlighted the significant safety challenges in early 20th-century public transportation systems, where rail technology was still developing and safety regulations were minimal. This incident likely prompted investigations into railway safety protocols and contributed to subsequent improvements in transportation infrastructure and passenger protection.
22 Sep 1910 Canadian Public Health Association Founded: The Canadian Public Health Association was established with an ambitious initial mission: launching a nationwide vaccination campaign targeting smallpox prevention for all children across Canada, demonstrating a progressive approach to public health.
23 Sep 1910 Fall of the Portuguese Monarchy: On September 23, 1910, King Manuel II of Portugal opened the Cortes (national parliament), but the session was quickly adjourned after challenges to the eligibility of nearly half the elected members. Within two weeks, this event would precipitate the complete overthrow of the Portuguese monarchy, leading to the establishment of the First Portuguese Republic.
24 Sep 1910 Nasir-el-Mulk Becomes Regent of Persia: On September 24, 1910, the National Council of Persia (Majlis) elected Nasir-el-Mulk as the regent for the young Shah Ahmad Shah Qajar, who was only 12 years old at the time. The election was a close vote, with Nasir-el-Mulk winning by a margin of 40 to 29 votes. This political transition highlighted the constitutional period of Persia, where the National Council played a significant role in governance and royal succession.
25 Sep 1910 University of British Columbia Site Selection: A provincial commission officially selected the Point Grey location, situated on the western edge of Vancouver, as the future home for the University of British Columbia. This strategic site, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and nestled in a picturesque landscape, would become a pivotal location for higher education in British Columbia.
26 Sep 1910 Suppression of Press Freedom in Travancore: Indian journalist Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai was arrested and exiled by the government of Travancore for publishing critical articles that challenged the ruling establishment. His arrest represented a significant moment of press censorship and political repression in early 20th century Kerala, highlighting the tensions between colonial-era governance and emerging journalistic freedoms.
27 Sep 1910 Mexican Presidential Re-Election Certification: On September 27, 1910, the Mexican Chamber of Deputies officially certified the re-election of long-serving President Porfirio Díaz and Vice-President Ramón Corral. This event was part of Díaz's extended political dominance, marking another term in his decades-long rule that would eventually lead to the Mexican Revolution.
28 Sep 1910 Birth of Two Notable Filipino Figures: On September 28, 1910, two significant Filipino personalities were born: Diosdado Macapagal, who would later become the 9th President of the Philippines, and Wenceslao Vinzons, a prominent politician and resistance leader during World War II.
29 Sep 1910 Committee on Urban Conditions Among Negroes Founded: The Committee on Urban Conditions Among Negroes was established in New York City by Mrs. Ruth Standish Baldwin and Dr. George Edmund Haynes. This organization was a pioneering effort to address urban challenges facing African Americans during the early 20th century, focusing on social welfare, economic opportunities, and racial equality in urban environments.
30 Sep 1910 Birth of Virginia Bruce: Virginia Bruce, a talented American actress and singer, was born on September 30, 1910. She would become a prominent figure in Hollywood during the Golden Age of cinema, appearing in numerous films and contributing to the entertainment industry of the early to mid-20th century.