What happened in July 1960?
The top front-page story of each day in July 1960, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Jul 1🌍 Somalia Becomes Republic – Somalia merges former Italian trusteeship area with Somaliland, declaring itself a free republic.
- Jul 2🌍 World Drive Against Hunger – F.A.O. launches a global five-year campaign aimed at eradicating hunger and promoting food security worldwide.
- Jul 3🌍 Planets Quiver in Chile – Seismographs detect plucked-string reaction for the first time during a significant quake in Chile.
- Jul 4🏌️ Metz Wins Golf Title – Metz defeats Horne by 2 and 1 to claim the World Senior Golf Crown, winning three of the last four holes in a thrilling finish.
- Jul 5🌍 Undersea Sounds Record – Columbia researchers achieve a record by receiving undersea sounds over 12,000 miles, quadrupling the previous distance record.
- Jul 6🎨 Big Picasso Show Opens – A major exhibition of 269 works by Pablo Picasso opens in London, celebrating the artist's extensive career.
- Jul 7🏛️ Ballet Cheered in Paris – Opera audience hails 'Pas de Dieux,' a ballet staged by American dancer Kelly, showcasing artistic excellence.
- Jul 8⚛️ Atomic Fuel Plant Dedicated – Thirteen nations dedicate a site in Belgium for processing used uranium, promoting unity in Europe.
- Jul 9🔬 G.E. Patents Gauge – G.E. patents a new gauge to measure cosmic dust in the atmosphere, showcasing innovative advancements in scientific research.
- Jul 10🏅 Johnson Sets Decathlon Record – Johnson registers 8,683 points, setting a new decathlon mark and securing a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.
- Jul 11🏗️ New City to Rise – Moroccan resort Agadir, devastated by an earthquake, will be rebuilt with enhanced structures to withstand future shocks.
- Jul 12⛵ Sailing Trials Lead – Allen gains lead in Olympic sailing trials, finishing first in Finn class, showcasing competitive spirit.
- Jul 13🌍 Nations Gain Freedom – Congo, Central African Republic, and Chad gain sovereignty through pacts signed with France in Paris.
- Jul 14🏙️ Housing Growth Report – Survey finds apartment growth is transforming Fairfield County into a semi-urbanized area.
- Jul 15✈️ Boeing 707 Anniversary – Boeing celebrates the 6th anniversary of the 707 prototype's maiden flight, showcasing its impact on commercial aviation.
- Jul 16📜 Ancient Tablets Discovered – Sumerian tablets found praise intelligence and charity, offering farming advice on barley storage and labor.
- Jul 17🏅 U.S. Duo Wins Davis Cup – Buchholz and McKinley secure victory against Canada, clinching the Davis Cup series with a decisive match.
- Jul 18🔬 U.S. Expands Scientific Grants – 54 colleges receive funding to upgrade laboratories, emphasizing basic research and granting institutions more autonomy.
- Jul 19🏛️ Congo Secession Crisis – Premier of Katanga demands U.N. recognition of independence, threatening peace efforts and stability in the region.
- Jul 20🔬 Elizabeth Hails Science – Queen Elizabeth speaks at the Royal Society's tercentenary, emphasizing the importance of scientific advancement.
- Jul 21⚽ Scoreless Tie Match – Sweden and Brazil end in a scoreless tie, while Milosevic leads Yugoslavia to a 3-0 victory at Polo Grounds.
- Jul 22🖼️ Oldest American Art Found – 30,000-year-old fossil discovered in Mexico revises the timeline of human arrival in North America.
- Jul 23🌍 Congo Signs Pact – Congo signs a pact with a U.S. company to tap resources, with Premier Lumumba praising the project before his trip.
- Jul 24🌍 China-Cuba Sugar Pact – Red China signs a five-year agreement to buy 500,000 tons of Cuban sugar annually, strengthening diplomatic ties.
- Jul 25🏆 Emerson Wins Swiss Title – Emerson defeats Davies to claim the Swiss tennis title, while Maria Bueno secures victory in the women's final.
- Jul 26🌍 Soviet Releases Pilot – The Soviet Union transfers the body of a U.S. pilot, an RB-47 airman, after delays mar the transfer rites.
- Jul 27🌍 Geodesists Open Assembly – 12,000 scientists gather in Helsinki to discuss global issues related to Earth and space.
- Jul 28🌍 U.N. Hails Congo Efforts – U.N. Chief Dag Hammarskjold praises the organization's operation in Congo as its biggest single effort, awaiting key issues.
- Jul 29🚀 U.S. Space Program Plans – The U.S. announces a comprehensive space program for the 1960s, planning 260 manned flights over the next decade.
- Jul 30🔬 First Anti-Polio Vaccine – Lederle receives the first U.S. patent for a live anti-polio vaccine, marking a significant advancement in public health.
- Jul 31🌍 Africa's Independence Crisis – The Congo crisis highlights Africa's transition from colonialism to independence, urging global support for new nations.
Happy Birthday! 1960 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1960 in real headlines. See the 1960 book →
Born in July? Pick the day
Every birthday in July has its own On This Day in Headlines book: