Presidents
Black History
Lovers
February
Lincoln/Darwin
100
22 and 24 U.S. president
Who is Grover Cleveland?
100
He was an American physician, surgeon, and medical researcher. He researched in the field of blood transfusions, developing improved techniques for blood storage, and applied his expert knowledge to developing large-scale blood banks early in World War II.
Who is Charles R. Drew? As the most prominent African American in the field, Drew protested against the practice of racial segregation in the donation of blood, as it lacked scientific foundation, and resigned his position with American Red Cross, which maintained the policy until 1950.
100
Their love was "radioactive."
Who are Pierre and Marie Curie? Read: Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie, A Tale of Love and Fallout
100
The most popular vegetable in the U.S.A.
What is the potato? (February is "official" potato lovers month)
100
Like John Lennon and Paul McCartney, both Lincoln and Darwin suffered this loss before the age of 18.
What is lost their mothers?
200
Only U.S. president born in New Jersey.
Who is Grover Cleveland? Born on March 18, 1837, in Caldwell, Cleveland spent his first five years in New Jersey before moving to upstate New York. His birthplace is now a national park and museum located at 207 Bloomfield Avenue in Caldwell.
200
First successful desegregation case in the U.S.
What is Clark v. Board of School Directors? In 1868, Susan Clark, a 12 year-old African American, sued the local school board of Muscatine, Iowa, because she was refused admittance into Grammar school no. 2. Clark's father, Alexander, said that the segregation was a violation of Iowa law and the Iowa State Constitution. Iowa trial court and state district court sided with Clark. The Iowa Supreme Court upheld the district court's decision upon appeal.
200
Greek version of Cupid
Who is Eros? (erotic is derived from)
200
The two zodiac signs associated with this month.
What are Aquarius (until February 19) and Pisces (February 20 onwards)?
200
The year On the Origin of Species was published and that John Brown raided Harper's Ferry?
What is 1859?
300
Only U.S. president to serve previously as a public executioner.
Who is Grover Cleveland? Grover Cleveland was the only president to officially serve as an executioner (hangman). As the sheriff of Erie County, New York, he performed the role on multiple executions and earned the nickname "Buffalo Hangman."
300
The African American woman whose cancer cells are the source of the HeLa cell line, the first immortalized cell line and one of the most important cell lines in medical research to this day.
Who is Henrietta Lacks? For more on Ms. Lacks read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
300
Oedipus
Who is his mother? (Jocasta)
300
Roman Festival of Purification
What is "Februa," the Latin term from which our word for this month is derived? It is a holiday you would reserve for an ex-lover… not a new or cherished one! Celebrated from February 13th – 15th, this was basically a “spring cleaning” holiday in which you would purge all unnecessary and toxic things out of your life – physically and spiritually!
300
Both men suffered this common 19th century familial loss.
What is buried a pre-teen child? (Edward or "Eddie" shortly before his fourth birthday, and Anne Elizabeth at ten).
400
The first U.S. president to call his residence in Washington, D.C. the "White House." Prior to his term, it had been called the Executive Mansion or the President’s House.
Who is TR? (Bully for him!)
400
Because of persistent requests by the students, this facility was renamed Jack Trice Stadium, making it the only one in Division I FBS named for an African American.
What is the former Iowa State University Cyclone Stadium? In 1975, the stadium's playing field was named in honor of Jack Trice, Iowa State's first African American athlete and the school's first athlete to die of injuries sustained during a Cyclone athletic competition (1923). [Probable murder by the Minnesota Gophers team; ISU did not play Minnesota again until 1989!]
400
Odysseus (Ulysses in Roman mythology)
Who is his wife? (Penelope)
400
Around the time of the founding of Rome, the calendar had 10 months. When introduced, this month was given 29 days and put at the beginning of the calendar year, while this month was given 23 days and put at the end.
What are January and February?
400
February 12, 1809
What is their shared birthday and birth year?
500
Given this U.S. president's first name, it is appropriate that he is the first president to have electricity in the "Executive Mansion." [I did not want to be anachronistic and say "the White House!!]
Who is Benjamin "Franklin" Harrison? [Actually, many early 20th & 19th century presidents did have not middle names, including Wilson, Roosevelt, McKinley, Cleveland, Harrison, Johnson, Lincoln, Buchanan, Pierce, Fillmore, Taylor, Tyler, Jackson, Monroe, Madison, Jefferson, Adams, and Washington.] Even so, he was reportedly afraid of the new energy source, and would not touch the switches!
500
The U.S. president that issued an executive order banning segregation in the military.
Who is Harry S. Truman? (July 26, 1948)
500
Grace Kelly
Who is Rainier III, Prince of Monaco?
500
Australia's "February".
What is our August?!?!
500
Both men championed this "slave's cause."
What is abolitionism? In a letter to New England botanist Asa Gray, Darwin wrote: “[I wish] that the North would proclaim a crusade against slavery … Great God, how I should like to see the greatest curse on earth, slavery, abolished.”
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