November 14, 2026 – Historical Events & Birthdays
November 14 has ties to early Arizona history, civil rights, American literature, space exploration, sports and the arts. The date also marks the birthdays of influential creators, public servants and athletes.
🌍 Politics & World History
1864 – Quartz Rock Saloon opens in Prescott
William Hardy opened the Quartz Rock Saloon in Prescott, Arizona Territory, on November 14, 1864. The business is commonly associated with the early history of Prescott’s Whiskey Row, although accounts of the city’s “first saloon” differ.
1732 – Library Company appoints its first librarian
The Library Company of Philadelphia, founded by Benjamin Franklin and associates, signed a contract with its first librarian on November 14, 1732. The institution later served as an important library resource for Congress before the Library of Congress was established.
1901 – Roosevelt withdraws Arizona land for Native homesteads
President Theodore Roosevelt issued an executive order withdrawing specified lands adjoining the Moqui and Navajo reservations from sale on November 14, 1901. The lands were held pending homestead settlement by Native residents.
1960 – Ruby Bridges enters a previously all-white New Orleans school
Six-year-old Ruby Bridges entered William Frantz Elementary School on November 14, 1960, escorted by federal marshals. Her enrollment became one of the enduring images of court-ordered school desegregation and the civil-rights era.
1970 – Marshall University football team dies in plane crash
A chartered aircraft carrying Marshall University’s football team, coaches and supporters crashed near Huntington, West Virginia, on November 14, 1970, killing all 75 people aboard.
🔬 Science & Technology
1949 – CSIRAC runs for the first time
Australia’s CSIR Mk 1 computer, later called CSIRAC, first ran on November 14, 1949. Designed by Trevor Pearcey and Maston Beard, it became Australia’s first stored-program electronic digital computer.
1969 – Apollo 12 launches for the Moon
NASA launched Apollo 12 from Kennedy Space Center on November 14, 1969. The mission became the second crewed lunar-landing mission and demonstrated a precise landing near the Surveyor 3 spacecraft.
1981 – Space Shuttle Columbia completes its second flight
NASA’s STS-2 mission concluded on November 14, 1981, when Columbia landed after its second crewed flight. The mission marked the first time a crewed spacecraft had been flown into orbit twice.
🎭 Culture & the Arts
1851 – Moby-Dick is published in the United States
Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick; or, The Whale was published by Harper & Brothers in New York on November 14, 1851, following its earlier British publication under the title The Whale.
1941 – Suspicion premieres
Alfred Hitchcock’s psychological thriller Suspicion, starring Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine, premiered on November 14, 1941. It was Hitchcock’s first film with Grant.
1980 – Raging Bull premieres in New York
Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed film Raging Bull opened in New York City on November 14, 1980. Robert De Niro starred as boxer Jake LaMotta.
1988 – Murphy Brown debuts on CBS
The television sitcom Murphy Brown, starring Candice Bergen, premiered on November 14, 1988. The series became one of American television’s prominent political and cultural comedies.
⚽ Sports
1943 – Sid Luckman throws seven touchdown passes
Chicago Bears quarterback Sid Luckman threw seven touchdown passes and recorded 433 yards in a 56–7 victory over the New York Giants on November 14, 1943.
1964 – Gordie Howe becomes the NHL’s leading scorer
Gordie Howe scored his 627th combined regular-season and playoff goal on November 14, 1964, surpassing Maurice “Rocket” Richard’s record.
1993 – Don Shula becomes the NFL’s winningest coach
The Miami Dolphins’ victory over Philadelphia on November 14, 1993, gave coach Don Shula his 325th career win, moving him past George Halas.
🎂 Notable Birthdays – November 14
1900 – Aaron Copland
American composer Aaron Copland wrote works including Appalachian Spring, Rodeo and Fanfare for the Common Man, helping shape a distinctly American classical sound.
1904 – Dick Powell
American singer, actor, director and producer Dick Powell starred in 1930s musicals and later became known for film noir and television crime dramas.
1906 – Louise Brooks
American silent-film star and dancer Louise Brooks is remembered for performances in Pandora’s Box and Diary of a Lost Girl.
1907 – William Steig
American cartoonist, illustrator and children’s author William Steig wrote books including Sylvester and the Magic Pebble and Shrek!.
1939 – Wendy Carlos
Electronic-music pioneer Wendy Carlos helped popularize the Moog synthesizer with Switched-On Bach. Her film-score work included A Clockwork Orange and The Shining.
1954 – Condoleezza Rice
American diplomat and scholar Condoleezza Rice became the first Black woman to serve as U.S. national security adviser and secretary of state.
1966 – Curt Schilling
American Major League Baseball pitcher Curt Schilling was a three-time World Series champion and a prominent postseason performer with the Phillies, Diamondbacks and Red Sox.
1840 – Claude Monet
French Impressionist painter Claude Monet created works including Impression, Sunrise and the Water Lilies series, helping define modern painting.
Summary
From the early history of Prescott and Arizona’s Native homesteading policy to Apollo 12, Ruby Bridges and major milestones in literature, film and sports, November 14 connects regional history with notable moments in American life and culture.
