What happened in May 1952?
The top front-page story of each day in May 1952, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- May 1🚢 40-Year-Old Ship Retires – The Empress of Australia, a luxury liner and troop carrier, makes its final journey to the scrapyard.
- May 2🌍 New Canal Opens – A new 82-mile canal is inaugurated to irrigate Arizona's Gila Valley, transforming the desert into fertile land.
- May 3🏇 Kentucky Derby Today – Hill Gail, the 6-5 favorite, draws No. 1 post position in the Kentucky Derby with a field of 17 horses competing.
- May 4🏛️ Churchill Pledges Steel Bill – Winston Churchill announces a drafted denationalizing measure for steel, aiming for implementation by year-end.
- May 5♟️ Gligoric, Pomar Chess Draw – Gligoric and Pomar share the lead in a chess tournament on the coast, while Kashdan rises to fourth place.
- May 6🌍 World Health Improvement – Reduction in deaths and gains in disease control reported at U.N. Geneva Assembly, highlighting global health progress.
- May 7🔬 New Cancer Hope – Research shows blood-making organs can yield a substance that nullifies effects of harmful X-rays, offering new hope for cancer treatment.
- May 8🎭 New One-Act Plays – Three new one-act plays by Sean O'Casey are performed by an Off-Broadway group, showcasing contemporary theater.
- May 9🏗️ Movable House Unveiled – Innovative team creates a plywood-plastic house in just 80 minutes, showcasing advancements in construction technology.
- May 10🔬 Electrified Water Innovation – New patents for electrified water and other technologies aim to protect against contamination and improve health.
- May 11🔬 Atom Accelerator Shown – The Cosmotron, a particle accelerator, is showcased to the public during Brookhaven's annual Visitors' Day.
- May 12🐋 Whaling Factory Ban – Argentina's court upholds a ban on the world's largest whaling factory ship, impacting whaling practices.
- May 13🏺 Ancient Cult Relics Found – U.S. expedition uncovers remarkable relics of an ancient Isthmian cult in Greece, including a statue and temple foundation.
- May 14🚢 Superliner Sea Trials – The United States, a 990-foot superliner, begins three-day sea trials with 1,700 aboard for final tests off Virginia.
- May 15⚛️ Australia-Britain Atom Test – Australia and Britain announce cooperation for the first atomic weapon test, involving three military services.
- May 16🔬 New Ore Extraction Process – American Cyanamid announces a new chemical method for ore extraction, promising reduced costs and increased cobalt output.
- May 17🔬 Cancer Reversed by Chemistry – Spontaneous vanishing of early cancer cells reported, backed by experiments from Dr. Rhoads at Memorial Center.
- May 18🌼 Colorful Shrubs Bloom – A few types of colorful shrubs will provide a succession of blooms from spring to fall, enhancing gardens and landscapes.
- May 19🎭 New Wilder Play Planned – Jed Harris to produce and direct 'Emporium,' a play by Wilder, originally started in 1948, set to debut in the fall.
- May 20🏆 Japan Wins Boxing Title – Shirai defeats Marino in Tokyo, claiming Japan's first world boxing title in flyweight division before 42,000 fans.
- May 21🔬 Brookhaven Fires Shot – Brookhaven National Laboratory fires a billion-volt shot, aiming to create matter from energy in a significant scientific breakthrough.
- May 22📞 AT&T Issues Debentures – AT&T announces a $500 million issue of 12-year debentures to fund new construction for phone service demand.
- May 23🎾 Trabert Wins Paris Match – Trabert defeats Malosse in Paris; Savitt, Mulloy, Dorfman, and Patty French also secure victories in tennis matches.
- May 24🔬 Astronomer Royal's Theory – British Astronomer Royal supports the theory that creation is an ongoing process, adding new insights to the scientific discourse.
- May 25⚓ Peruvians Parade Navy Power – Three destroyers and a modernized frigate arrive from the U.S. as President reviews the new naval strength.
- May 26🌧️ Record Rainfall in City – City experiences its wettest May 25 with a record 1.42-inch rainfall, marking the fifth rainy Sunday in six weeks.
- May 27🏛️ U.N. Approves Women's Rights – The U.N. Economic Council approves a draft convention on political privileges for women, marking a significant step for gender equality.
- May 28🏛️ Pope Opens Congress – Pope Pius XII opens the Eucharistic Congress in Barcelona, emphasizing hopes for peace during the event.
- May 29🏇 Aga Khan Wins Derby – Tulyar wins the English Derby, marking the Aga Khan's fifth victory in the event, watched by 500,000 spectators.
- May 30🌾 New Life for Columbia – Volunteers build 'Farm in a Day' in East Washington, marking the start of reclamation work on 1,000,000 acres.
- May 31🏇 Ruttman Wins 500-Mile Race – Ruttman, 22, sets a record speed of 128.922 mph to win the 500-mile auto race after the leader crashes out.
Happy Birthday! 1952 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1952 in real headlines. See the 1952 book →