JUNE 2 | Birthdays and Events
Famous Birthdays
People born on June 2
Edwin Way Teale
Died: October 18, 1980
Environmentalist and photographer who documented environmental conditions around the U.S.
Robert Morris Page
Died: May 15, 1992
Physicist who helped develop and refine radar technology.
Dorothy West
Died: August 16, 1998
American novelist, short-story writer, and magazine editor associated with the Harlem Renaissance. She was one of the few Black women writers to be published in major literary magazines during the 1930s and 40s.
Ruth Atkinson
Died: June 1, 2026
Pioneering female comic book writer and artist who created Millie the Model, later changed to Marvel Comics.
Pete Conrad
Died: July 8, 1999
Astronaut who was the third person to walk on the moon.
Sally Kellerman
Died: February 22, 2022
Actress fondly remembered for her role as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in M*A*S*H (the film).
Jerry Mathers
Actor who played "The Beaver" on Leave It To Beaver.
Gilbert Baker
Died: March 31, 2017
Gay rights activist and designer of the rainbow flag.
Wayne Brady
Improv comedian recognized from Whose Line Is It Anyways?
Historical Events on June 2
Events that occurred on June 2 throughout history
The P. T. Barnum begin their first tour in the U.S.
P. T. Barnum and his circus begin their first tour in the U.S.
the single-thread sewing machine is patented.
James Gibbs patents the single-thread sewing machine using a rotating hook.
Charles Roll becomes the first man to make a non-stop double crossing of the English Channel by plane.
Co-founder of Rolls-Royce Limited, Charles Roll becomes the first man to make a non-stop double crossing of the English Channel by plane.
President Calvin Coolidge signs the Indian Citizenship Act into law
President Calvin Coolidge signs the Indian Citizenship Act into law, granting citizenship to all Native Americans born within the territorial limits of the U.S. Also known as the Snyder Act, the law granted full U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans born within the territorial limits of the U.S.
Kraft rolls out Velveeta cheese.
Kraft rolls out Velveeta cheese as a "pasteurized prepared cheese product." The cheese product was originally invented in 1918 by Emil Frey of the Monroe Cheese Company in New York. The company and invention was acquired by Kraft Foods.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorizes the first swimming pool built inside the White House.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorizes the first swimming pool built inside the White House. The pool was built as physical therapy for his polio diagnosis and financed by private donations to the New York Daily News.
Babe Ruth announces his retirement.
Babe Ruth announces his retirement, ending a 22-season career that yielded 714 home runs and 10 World Series titles.
New Jersey allows casino gambling in Atlantic City.
New Jersey allows casino gambling in Atlantic City. The gambling included the New Jersey Lottery, horse racing, off-track betting, charity gambling, amusement games, and social gambling.