What happened in January 1952?
The top front-page story of each day in January 1952, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Jan 1🏒 Canadiens Win Again – Montreal Canadiens defeat Detroit Red Wings 5-3, despite Gordie Howe's three goals for the Wings.
- Jan 2🌍 U.N. Sessions Renewed – The United Nations resumes sessions in Paris with five of the seven assembly groups meeting, and three nations joining the Security Council.
- Jan 3🏆 Stanford Wins Cash Bowl – Stanford defeats Illinois in the Cash Bowl, earning about $85,000, double the Rose Bowl winner's share.
- Jan 4🌍 Canada's Economic Growth – Canada enters a period of surging development, with significant growth in industries fed by oil and gas from Alberta's fields.
- Jan 5🌍 U. S. Rejects Soviet Proposal – U.S. dismisses Soviet request to bring truce talks to the U.N., citing potential disruptions to negotiations.
- Jan 6🏃 Wilt Sets Record – Wilt Chamberlain sets a flat-track record for the two-mile race with a time of 8:59.5, outpacing Ashenfelter by 120 yards.
- Jan 7🏆 Best in Show Awarded – Biggs' American Cocker Spaniel wins Best in Show at national specialty, topping a field of 242 dogs.
- Jan 8🏨 Atlantic City Fire – A major fire in Atlantic City destroys four hotels and two boardwalk blocks, causing significant damage to the New Jersey resort area.
- Jan 9🏛️ Malenkov Receives Lenin Award – Deputy Premier Georgy Malenkov, aged 50, is honored with the Order of Lenin, recognized as Stalin's 'Co-adviser'.
- Jan 10🚢 Boats in Streets – Boats are showcased at the Annual Exhibition, including a massive 21,600-pound engine, creating a unique spectacle in the city.
- Jan 11🚢 Enterprise Sinks – The ship Enterprise sinks off the coast of England; Captain Carlsen and crew member saved by a British tug.
- Jan 12🏛️ Bonn Ratifies Coal-Steel Pool – West Germany's parliament adopts the Schuman Plan for a coal and steel community, marking a significant step in European integration.
- Jan 13🔬 Transistor Breakthrough – Experts see the tiny transistor, the size of a corn kernel, as a foundation for a new electronics industry.
- Jan 14🏔️ Miss Burr Wins Ski Title – American skier Miss Burr takes the Swiss Ski Championship, leading a strong field ahead of the Olympics.
- Jan 15🏟️ Olympic Snowfall Welcome – Oslo officials celebrate a 4-inch snowfall, providing ideal conditions for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games.
- Jan 16🌾 U.S. Grain Board Issues – Congress informed of a significant shortage attributed to irregularities within the U.S. Grain Board.
- Jan 17👶 Crown Prince Born – Queen Narriman of Egypt gives birth to a son, Ahmed Fuad, celebrated with a 101-gun salute over Cairo.
- Jan 18⚛️ Atomic Expansion Approved – President Truman approves a significant expansion of atomic energy capabilities, marking a pivotal moment in U.S. nuclear policy.
- Jan 19🏔️ Alpine Skiers Compete – 100 alpine skiers, including teams from Dartmouth and Middlebury, begin competition in the Constant Memorial event.
- Jan 20🎭 Broadway Critic Impressed – A visiting critic praises the dramatic opportunities available to younger actresses in Broadway productions.
- Jan 21🏒 Soviet Hockey Bid Denied – The International Olympic Committee rejects the Soviet Union's request to enter a hockey team for the Oslo Olympic Games.
- Jan 22⛷️ Skiing Facilities Improved – Stowe extends Nose Dive Trail and lays out a new slalom course for upcoming U.S. title events.
- Jan 23🌍 Canadian Dollar Parity – The Canadian dollar reaches parity with the U.S. dollar for the first time since 1939, attributed to capital flows into investments.
- Jan 24🔬 New Telegram Machine – Western Union engineers unveil a new push-button telegram machine, with 5,000 units already in use across offices.
- Jan 25🌍 Mass U.N. Entry Support – Syria, Sweden, and Denmark back the Soviet plan to admit 14 nations to the United Nations at once.
- Jan 26🗺️ Yugoslavia Ends Labor Direction – Yugoslav Government announces the end of manpower direction, marking a significant shift away from Soviet policies.
- Jan 27🏛️ U.N. Votes Aid – $250 million voted by U.N. for Arab refugee plan and Palestine Conciliation Commission support.
- Jan 28🏛️ New Cairo Regime Set – Farouk establishes a new regime as riots subside, appointing Maher as Premier to seek friendly ties with Britain.
- Jan 29⚛️ Atom Data Exchange – U.S. and Canada trade atomic data under new law, marking a significant step in nuclear cooperation.
- Jan 30🏛️ U.N. Votes Against Soviet – U.N. committee finds Soviet Union guilty of violating the 1945 China Pact, supporting Chiang's claims, with a vote of 24 to 9.
- Jan 31🌾 Topsoil Cracked in Quake – Vermont experiences unusual geological activity as cracks appear in topsoil following a series of minor earthquakes.
Happy Birthday! 1952 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1952 in real headlines. See the 1952 book →
Born in January? Pick the day
Every birthday in January has its own On This Day in Headlines book: