Major Events of September 1912: 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 1912 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of September 1912: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Sep 1912 Lincoln Highway Unveiled by Carl G. Fisher: Entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, President of the Prest-O-Lite Company and founder of the Indianapolis 500 race, hosted a pivotal dinner with automotive industry colleagues in Indianapolis. During this gathering, he unveiled his ambitious vision for the Lincoln Highway, a transcontinental auto trail connecting New York City to San Francisco. Fisher's passionate declaration, 'A road across the United States - Let's build it before we're too old to enjoy it!' marked a significant moment in American transportation infrastructure. The highway, which would strategically pave roads to connect existing highways, was ultimately completed in 1925, revolutionizing cross-country travel.
02 Sep 1912 Lincoln Highway Project Unveiled: Carl G. Fisher, renowned entrepreneur and Indianapolis 500 founder, publicly announced his ambitious plans for the Lincoln Highway, a groundbreaking transcontinental auto trail connecting New York City to San Francisco, which would revolutionize American transportation infrastructure.
03 Sep 1912 DUPE: Schoenberg's Orchestral Premiere: Arnold Schoenberg's groundbreaking Opus No. 16, 'Five Pieces for Orchestra', composed in 1909, received its first public performance. Sir Henry Wood conducted the premiere at London's Queen's Hall, introducing audiences to Schoenberg's innovative musical style.
04 Sep 1912 Albanian Independence Movement Gains Ground: Albanian rebels successfully pressured the Ottoman Empire to negotiate and meet their political demands, marking a significant step towards Albanian autonomy and eventual independence. This event was part of the broader decline of Ottoman imperial power in the Balkan region during the early 20th century.
05 Sep 1912 Racial Tension in Forsyth County: Ellen Grice, a 22-year-old white woman in Forsyth County, alleges a Black man attacked her home while her husband was absent. This accusation leads to the arrest of five Black men, reflecting the deeply racist legal and social dynamics of early 20th-century America, where unsubstantiated claims could result in immediate and unjust persecution of Black individuals.
06 Sep 1912 French Suppression of Moroccan Uprising: On September 6, 1912, French colonial forces decisively ended the uprising led by Moroccan pretender Ahmed al-Hiba in a significant battle at Sidi Bou Othmane. This military engagement was part of the broader French colonial efforts to maintain control over Morocco, highlighting the tensions and resistance against European imperial expansion in North Africa during the early 20th century.
07 Sep 1912 Lincoln Highway Project Launched: Carl G. Fisher, an influential automotive industry leader, publicly unveiled ambitious plans for the Lincoln Highway, a groundbreaking transcontinental road that would revolutionize transportation and connectivity across the United States.
08 Sep 1912 Founding of the Argentine Air Force: On September 8, 1912, the Argentine Air Force was officially established as a military flying school located in El Palomar, Buenos Aires. This marked a significant milestone in Argentina's military aviation history, laying the groundwork for the country's future aerial defense capabilities and technological development.
09 Sep 1912 Theodore Roosevelt Advocates for Women's Suffrage: Former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt actively supported women's voting rights by encouraging women in Washington State to register and participate in the upcoming Presidential election. His public stance emphasized that voting was not just a privilege but a civic responsibility for women, contributing to the growing momentum of the women's suffrage movement.
11 Sep 1912 First Pilot Captured as Prisoner of War: Italian Army Captain Riccardo Moizo became the first pilot in history to be captured as a prisoner of war after his Nieuport airplane was forced to land in enemy territory, marking a significant moment in military aviation history.
12 Sep 1912 Franco-Russian Convention Ratified: French Prime Minister Raymond Poincaré signed a critical diplomatic agreement in Moscow with the Russian Empire, ratifying the Franco-Russian Convention. This strategic alliance stipulated that if the German Empire mobilized its troops, both France and Russia would respond in kind, further solidifying the geopolitical tensions leading up to World War I.
13 Sep 1912 Formation of the Balkan League: The Balkan League, a strategic military alliance between Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro, was established under Russian diplomatic influence in the spring of 1912. The primary objective of this coalition was to challenge Ottoman control over Macedonia and the remaining European territories of the Ottoman Empire. This alliance would soon lead to the First Balkan War, dramatically reshaping the geopolitical landscape of southeastern Europe.
14 Sep 1912 Groundbreaking of the Trans-Australian Railway: On September 14, 1912, a significant milestone in Australian infrastructure was achieved with the groundbreaking ceremony for the Trans-Australian Railway. Governor-General Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson presided over the event, symbolically turning the first sod to mark the commencement of this ambitious transcontinental railway project. This railway would eventually connect the eastern and western parts of Australia, playing a crucial role in the nation's transportation and economic development.
15 Sep 1912 Balkan Conflict Erupts: Tensions between the Ottoman Empire and Montenegro escalate into open warfare in Albania, marking another volatile moment in the complex geopolitical landscape of the Balkan region during the early 20th century. This conflict was part of the broader instability preceding the Balkan Wars.
16 Sep 1912 Uneventful Day in World History: On September 16, 1912, no significant global events were documented. While this day might seem unremarkable, it represents a moment of relative calm in the early 20th century, just two years before the outbreak of World War I. Such seemingly quiet days are important reminders that history is not always marked by dramatic events, but also by periods of routine and preparation.
17 Sep 1912 Battle of Derna during Italo-Turkish War: On September 17, 1912, a significant military engagement occurred during the Italo-Turkish War at Derna, located in modern-day Libya. The battle was intense and costly, resulting in approximately 2,000 Turkish and Arab casualties, while the Italian forces suffered 61 fatalities. This conflict was part of Italy's colonial expansion in North Africa and represented a critical moment in the region's geopolitical transformation.
18 Sep 1912 Uneventful Day in World History: September 18, 1912, appears to be a relatively quiet day with no significant recorded historical events. While no major global occurrences were documented, this period was part of the late pre-World War I era, characterized by growing international tensions and rapid technological and social changes.
19 Sep 1912 Birth of Ismail Yassine: Ismail Yassine, a prominent Egyptian comedian and actor who significantly influenced Arabic cinema and entertainment, was born on this day.
20 Sep 1912 Australian Defence Department Recommendation Approved: Sir Muirhead Collins, serving as the Secretary of the Australian Department of Defence, formally approved a strategic recommendation proposed by the Army Chief of Staff. This administrative decision likely represented an important moment in the early organizational development of Australia's military infrastructure during the pre-World War I era.
21 Sep 1912 Harry Houdini's Chinese Water Torture Cell Performance: On September 21, 1912, legendary escape artist Harry Houdini introduced one of his most famous and dangerous illusions - the Chinese Water Torture Cell. This groundbreaking public performance showcased Houdini's extraordinary skills in escapology, where he would be suspended upside down in a glass tank filled with water, challenging death and captivating audiences with his seemingly impossible escapes.
22 Sep 1912 Edwin Armstrong Develops Regenerative Circuit: On September 22, 1912, electrical engineer Edwin Armstrong successfully tested the regenerative circuit, a groundbreaking technological innovation that would significantly advance radio communication technology. This invention was crucial in improving the sensitivity and selectivity of radio receivers, laying important groundwork for future wireless communication developments.
23 Sep 1912 First Keystone Comedy Film Released: Mack Sennett, a pioneering filmmaker and founder of Keystone Studios, released the first Keystone Comedy film, marking a significant milestone in early American cinema. The Keystone Cops, a comedic troupe known for their slapstick humor and chaotic chase scenes, would become an iconic part of silent film comedy. This release helped establish a new genre of comedic filmmaking that would influence entertainment for decades to come.
24 Sep 1912 U.S. Military Intervention in Santo Domingo: In a significant display of early 20th-century American interventionism, U.S. Marines were deployed to Santo Domingo (now the Dominican Republic) to stabilize political unrest and protect American economic interests in the Caribbean region. This intervention was part of the broader 'Banana Wars' era, where the United States frequently used military force to maintain political and economic influence in Latin America.
25 Sep 1912 Founding of Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism: On September 25, 1912, Columbia University established its Graduate School of Journalism in New York City, marking a pivotal moment in professional journalism education. This institution would go on to become one of the most prestigious journalism schools in the United States, known for training generations of influential journalists and media professionals.
26 Sep 1912 Hurricane Helene Devastates Southeastern United States: On September 26, 1912, Hurricane Helene made a catastrophic landfall in Florida's Big Bend region as a powerful Category 4 hurricane. The storm cut a destructive path through multiple southeastern U.S. states, leaving unprecedented damage and loss of life in its wake. Particularly hard-hit was North Carolina, where approximately half of the total 230 fatalities occurred. The hurricane's extreme wind speeds and storm surge caused widespread destruction of infrastructure, agricultural lands, and coastal communities.
27 Sep 1912 W.C. Handy Publishes 'Memphis Blues': W.C. Handy, often referred to as the 'Father of the Blues', published 'Memphis Blues', a groundbreaking composition that significantly influenced the development of blues music. This landmark publication helped formalize and popularize the blues genre, marking a pivotal moment in African American musical history and setting the stage for future blues and jazz innovations.
28 Sep 1912 First Published Blues Song: W. C. Handy published 'The Memphis Blues' on September 28, 1912, a groundbreaking moment in American musical history. This publication is widely considered the first commercially published blues song, helping to formalize and popularize the blues genre that would profoundly influence 20th-century music.
29 Sep 1912 French and British Troops Land in Samoa: On September 29, 1912, a joint military expedition of French and British forces landed on the Samoan islands. This strategic deployment was likely part of the colonial geopolitical maneuvering of the early 20th century, reflecting the complex international relations and territorial ambitions of European powers in the Pacific region.
30 Sep 1912 Founding of Columbia School of Journalism: On September 30, 1912, the Columbia School of Journalism was officially established at Columbia University, fulfilling the vision of renowned newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer. This groundbreaking institution was created through a bequest in Pulitzer's will, with the aim of elevating journalism education to a professional and academic standard. The school would go on to become one of the most prestigious journalism programs in the United States, awarding the coveted Pulitzer Prizes and training generations of influential journalists.