Worcester, Massachusetts Firsts

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[edit] Worcester firsts

Worcester resident Harvey Ball's iconic smiley face

The Declaration of Independence was first publicly read in Massachusetts by Isaiah Thomas in Worcester in July 1776.^[1]
The monkey wrench was invented by Loring Coes of the Coes Knife Company in 1840.^[2]
In 1847, the first commercial valentine was mass produced in Worcester by Esther Howland^[3].
Worcester blacksmith Albert Tolman is said to have invented the rickshaw in 1848 for a missionary traveling to South America (There are, however, numerous other theories about the origin of the rickshaw.)^[2]
Similarly, many lists of Worcester inventions include barbed wire, which seems to be dubious.^{[citation needed]}
The first national convention of women advocating women's suffrage was held in Worcester on October 23 and 24, 1850.^[2]
Worcester resident Joshua C. Stoddard invented the steam calliope in 1855^[4].
Candy Cummings is reputed to have thrown the first ever curveball pitch in Worcester in 1867 while playing for the Brooklyn Stars. It was a strike.^[2]
J. Lee Richmond of the Worcesters pitched the first perfect game in major league baseball history on June 12, 1880.^[2]
Candlepin bowling was first developed in Worcester in 1880.^{[citation needed]}
The founding meeting of the American Psychology Association was held at Clark University in 1892.^[5]
Worcester resident Henry Perky became the first to mass produce shredded wheat in 1895.^[2]
Between September 6-10, 1909, Sigmund Freud delivered his only American lectures at Clark University ("Five Lectures on Psycho-Analysis" later published as "On Psychoanalysis"). Carl Jung joined him, and William James attended.^{[citation needed]}
Albert A. Michelson, chairman of Clark University's Physics Department, was named America's first Nobel Prize Winner in 1902 for his experiments relating to his calculation of the speed of light.^[6]
Dr. Robert H. Goddard of Worcester Polytechnic Institute's class of 1908 and later Clark University patented the first liquid fuel rocket in 1914.
The birth control pill was developed by the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology in the Worcester suburb of Shrewsbury.^[2]
Charles Olson, a poet and Worcester native, coined the term "postmodern" in his 1958 essay "The Present is Prologue".^{[citation needed]}
Harvey Ball designed the world famous Smiley face in 1963.^[2]
Charles Hill Morgan patented a direct-action hydraulic elevator and installed the first one.^{[citation needed]}