Labor leaders Bessie Abramowitz and Sidney Hillman announced their engagement while leading the clothing workers' contingent in the Chicago May Day Parade.

The American Jewish Committee announced publication of a guidebook by Gladys Rosen suggesting ways to recognize Jewish contributions to the United States during the Bicentennial celebrations.

Lillie Steinhorn retired from the Social Security Administration as the longest-serving federal employee on record.

Birth of Metropolitan opera soprano Roberta Peters.

Barbara Dobkin, the Founding Chair of the Jewish Women's Archive, receives an honorary degree from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

Birth of Nacha Rivkin, the founder of the first girls' yeshiva in the U.S.

Publication of "The Fountainhead," the most famous novel by Ayn Rand, the controversial founder of Objectivism.

Writer Maxine Kumin won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry for her collection "Up Country: Poems of New England."

Poet Muriel Rukeyser received a $1000 award from the National Institute of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Traditionalist Esther Ruskay spoke on "The Revival of Judaism" at the founding meeting of the New York section of the National Council of Jewish Women.

Jazz singer Sylvia Blagman Syms died of a heart attack at age 74 while receiving a standing ovation after a performance.

Birth of operatic and popular singer Alma Gluck.

Amy Eilberg became the first woman ordained as a Conservative Rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary's commencement exercises in New York City.

Tennis player, promoter, and women's advocate Gladys Heldman released the first issue of "World Tennis Magazine."

Jennifer Gorovitz became CEO of the San Francisco-based Jewish Community Federation, making her the first female CEO of a major Jewish federation.

Mayyim Hayyim, a progressive community mikveh and education center in Newton, Massachusetts, opened its doors.

In 1902, Jewish women on the Lower East Side organized a massive boycott of the kosher beef industry, demanding lower prices.

Angela Warnick Buchdahl was invested as the first Asian American cantor. Two years later, she became the first Asian American rabbi.

Birth of Yiddish theatre star Bertha Kalich.

Veteran journalist Jane Eisner was appointed to be the first female editor of the "Forward."

Lily Winner published an essay titled "American Emigrés" arguing for open immigration to the United States in "The Nation."

Sandy Sasso became ordained as the first female Reconstructionist rabbi by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia.

Comedian Gilda Radner died of ovarian cancer at the age of 42.

The proprietors of the Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel in Atlantic City apologized to Bertha Rayner Frank for her experience with anti-Jewish discrimination at their hotel.

The Clara de Hirsch Home for Working Girls, a residence and vocational training center for young women, opened its doors.

Susan Sontag's last essay, "Regarding the Torture of Others," was published in the "New York Times Magazine."

Psychologist Carol Gilligan published "In a Different Voice," the first book to argue that women's psychological development could not be understood by studying men.

Birth of opera star and arts advocate Beverly Sills.

Belle Moskowitz, who became the most important female political activist of her day, passed a bill through the New York State Assembly requiring major NY dance halls to obtain a license.

New York City women, led by activist Clara Shavelson, picketed Manhattan butcher shops to demand a reduction in the price of meat.

Birth of Lizzie Black Kander, a leading Jewish social reformer in Milwaukee and author of the still-in print "Settlement Cookbook."

The Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond celebrated Jewish American Heritage Month by unveiling the Jewish-American Hall of Fame plaque honoring Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine Dr. Gertrude Elion.

Birth of influential dancer and choreographer Pearl Lang.

Adah Isaacs Menken, a racy actress whose cult of personality brought her stardom, gave her last performance.

Birth in New York City of Ruth Hagy Brod, who would have a varied career in journalism, publishing, and public service.

War memorial by Bashka Paeff dedicated in Kittery, ME