The first African American to perform with the prestigious Metropolitan Opera, famed vocalist Marian Anderson is later hailed as the greatest contralto of her time.

The American Negro Academy, an early scholarly society, is founded by Reverend Alexander Crummell and W.E.B. DuBois. Officers included S.G. Atkins, principal of the Slater Normal School; L.B. Moore, dean of Howard University; and W.H. Crogman, president of Clark University. Anna Julia Cooper is the only female member. The academy is the first in the United States to bring black intellectuals from all over the world together to foster scholarship.

Harriet Ann Jacobs, who wrote her autobiography "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" dies on this date in Washington, D.C.

Annie Rosetta Hall, educator, is born in Hardwick, Georgia.

Jazz clarinet and soprano saxophone player Sidney Bechet was born on this date in New Orleans, Louisiana. Bechet played with the Duke Ellington Orchestra and Louis Armstong during his career. His best known musical number is Summertime.

William Barry patented his postmarking and canceling machine on this date.

Robert Adger organizes the Afro-American Historical Society in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Andrew J. Beard, a former slave turned railroad worker, patented the "Jenny Coupler" on this date. The device is designed to automatically attach train cars together, thus avoiding the dangerous work of having to place a pin between two moving train cars at exactly the right moment. Beard himself lost a leg while attempting this, thus leading to his interest in improving the system. He was awarded $50,000 for his invention, and modern trains use only a slightly modified version.

John Love patented his pencil sharpener on this date.

Domestic Amazon Brooks is born

J.A. Sweeting patented his cigarette-rolling device on this date.