1904 : Dr. Seuss born
On this day in 1904, Theodor Geisel, better known to the world as Dr.
Seuss, the author and illustrator of such beloved children's books as
"The Cat in the Hat" and "Green Eggs and Ham," is born in Springfield,
Massachusetts. Geisel, who used his middle name (which was also his
mother's maiden name) as his pen name, wrote 48 books--including some
for adults--that have sold well over 200 million copies and been
translated into multiple languages. Dr. Seuss books are known for
their whimsical rhymes and quirky characters, which have names like
the Lorax and the Sneetches and live in places like Hooterville.
Geisel, who was born on March 2, 1904, in Springfield, Massachusetts,
graduated from Dartmouth College, where he was editor of the school's
humor magazine, and studied at Oxford University. There he met Helen
Palmer, his first wife and the person who encouraged him to become a
professional illustrator. Back in America, Geisel worked as a
cartoonist for a variety of magazines and in advertising.
The first children's book that Geisel wrote and illustrated, "And to
Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street," was rejected by over two
dozen publishers before making it into print in 1937. Geisel's first
bestseller, "The Cat in the Hat," was published in 1957. The story of
a mischievous cat in a tall striped hat came about after his publisher
asked him to produce a book using 220 new-reader vocabulary words that
could serve as an entertaining alternative to the school reading
primers children found boring.
Other Dr. Seuss classics include "Yertle the Turtle," "If I Ran the
Circus," "Fox in Socks" and "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish."
Some Dr. Seuss books tackled serious themes. "The Butter Battle Book"
(1984) was about the arms buildup and nuclear war threat during Ronald
Reagan's presidency. "Lorax" (1971) dealt with the environment.
Many Dr. Seuss books have been adapted for television and film,
including "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" and "Horton Hears a Who!"
In 1990, Geisel published a book for adults titled "Oh, the Places
You'll Go" that became a hugely popular graduation gift for high
school and college students.
Geisel, who lived and worked in an old observatory in La Jolla,
California, known as "The Tower," died September 24, 1991, at age 87.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1904 : Dr. Seuss born
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=52365
1807 : Congress abolishes the African slave trade
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4804
1836 : Texas declares independence
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6824
1877 : Congress approves Hayes' election; Reconstruction ends
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4805
1972 : Pioneer 10 launched to Jupiter
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4806
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On this day in 1904, Theodor Geisel, better known to the world as Dr.
Seuss, the author and illustrator of such beloved children's books as
"The Cat in the Hat" and "Green Eggs and Ham," is born in Springfield,
Massachusetts. Geisel, who used his middle name (which was also his
mother's maiden name) as his pen name, wrote 48 books--including some
for adults--that have sold well over 200 million copies and been
translated into multiple languages. Dr. Seuss books are known for
their whimsical rhymes and quirky characters, which have names like
the Lorax and the Sneetches and live in places like Hooterville.
Geisel, who was born on March 2, 1904, in Springfield, Massachusetts,
graduated from Dartmouth College, where he was editor of the school's
humor magazine, and studied at Oxford University. There he met Helen
Palmer, his first wife and the person who encouraged him to become a
professional illustrator. Back in America, Geisel worked as a
cartoonist for a variety of magazines and in advertising.
The first children's book that Geisel wrote and illustrated, "And to
Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street," was rejected by over two
dozen publishers before making it into print in 1937. Geisel's first
bestseller, "The Cat in the Hat," was published in 1957. The story of
a mischievous cat in a tall striped hat came about after his publisher
asked him to produce a book using 220 new-reader vocabulary words that
could serve as an entertaining alternative to the school reading
primers children found boring.
Other Dr. Seuss classics include "Yertle the Turtle," "If I Ran the
Circus," "Fox in Socks" and "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish."
Some Dr. Seuss books tackled serious themes. "The Butter Battle Book"
(1984) was about the arms buildup and nuclear war threat during Ronald
Reagan's presidency. "Lorax" (1971) dealt with the environment.
Many Dr. Seuss books have been adapted for television and film,
including "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" and "Horton Hears a Who!"
In 1990, Geisel published a book for adults titled "Oh, the Places
You'll Go" that became a hugely popular graduation gift for high
school and college students.
Geisel, who lived and worked in an old observatory in La Jolla,
California, known as "The Tower," died September 24, 1991, at age 87.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1904 : Dr. Seuss born
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=52365
1807 : Congress abolishes the African slave trade
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4804
1836 : Texas declares independence
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6824
1877 : Congress approves Hayes' election; Reconstruction ends
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4805
1972 : Pioneer 10 launched to Jupiter
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4806
#########################################
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