1919

1919 was the 48th year after the founding of the city of Birmingham and the 100th anniversary of Alabama's statehood.

Events

• Joy Young's opens on 20th Street.
• Wallace Rayfield begins teaching at Industrial High School
• J. Chris Hartsfield succeeds Thomas Batson as Sheriff of Jefferson County
• Charles B. Williams succeeds James M. Shelborne as President of Howard College.
• Birmingham Flying Club founded.
• The Kiwanis Club of Birmingham hosts a national Kiwanis convention at the Tutwiler Hotel.

Births

• George M. Murray, Episcopal Bishop of Alabama
• March 17: Nat King Cole
• August 25: George Wallace
• September 23: Clettus Atkinson, Birmingham Post-Herald columnist

Context

1919 marked the end of World War I and saw the founding of the League of Nations. It was the year of the first Miss America pageant. Atatürk began the Turkish war of independence in 1919. The 18th amendment (Prohibition) was ratified and the 19th amendment (Women's suffrage) passed the legislature. The American Communist Party was established. The Cincinnati Reds were handed the World Series championship in the "Black Sox" scandal.