On This Day for May 17 - School segregation outlawed by U.S. Supreme Court, Edward Jenner is featured, and more

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, click here to view. May 17 FEATURED BIOGRAPHY Edward Jenner READ MORE   FEATURED EVENT 1954 School segregation outlawed by U.S. Supreme Court READ MORE   Advertisement Advertisement   MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY 2004: Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage as it began issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. [Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about U.S. states.] 1996: U.S. President Bill Clinton signed Megan's Law , which required that law-enforcement officials notify local schools, day-care centres, and residents of the presence of registered sex offenders in their communities. 1939: The first televised sporting event in the United States—a collegiate baseball game between Princeton and Columbia—aired on NBC. [Take our sports quiz.] 1918: Swedish operatic soprano Birgit Nilsson, who was celebrated as a Wagnerian interpreter and known for her powerful, rich voice, was born in Västra Karup. [Test your knowledge of opera.] 1900: L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was first published, and it became a classic of children's literature; the 1939 film adaption is among the most beloved movies in American cinema. [ Take our quiz about children's authors.] 1875: The first Kentucky Derby was run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and the winning horse was Aristides. [Test your knowledge of famous horses.] SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY 1936 Dennis Hopper American actor, director, and writer 1956 Sugar Ray Leonard American boxer and television commentator 1866 Erik Satie French composer 1749 Edward Jenner English surgeon 1886 Alfonso XIII king of Spain 1971 Máxima queen consort of the Netherlands SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY   Advertisement   FOLLOW: To unsubscribe from Britannica e-mails, click here. Encyclopædia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 United States © 2021 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Privacy Policy • Help