October 15

On October 15, 1888, London investigators received a gruesome letter signed "Jack the Ripper" and known as the "From Hell" letter. It arrived during one of the most infamous unsolved serial murder cases in history. The letter contained a human kidney preserved in spirits and cryptic messages that fueled public fear. Its authenticity remains debated among historians, but it amplified media sensationalism surrounding the murders. The chilling correspondence illustrated the murderer's taunting relationship with the press and police. It became one of the most haunting artifacts of the Jack the Ripper legend.

On October 15, 1951, Luis E. Miramontes, working at Syntex in Mexico City, successfully synthesized norethisterone. This synthetic progestin would become the active ingredient in the first widely used oral contraceptive pills. Miramontes's achievement followed earlier work by Carl Djerassi and colleagues on steroid chemistry. The new hormone allowed for reliable, reversible birth control, revolutionizing women's reproductive health worldwide. The introduction of oral contraceptives had profound social and cultural impacts, empowering women with greater autonomy over family planning. Norethisterone's synthesis is regarded as one of the 20th century's most significant pharmaceutical breakthroughs.

In Washington D.C., members of the Catholic Worker Movement publicly burned draft cards to protest U.S. involvement in Vietnam. This act took place under a newly enacted law that prohibited the mutilation of draft documents. When police arrested the protesters, it marked the first enforcement of the anti–draft card burning legislation. The demonstration highlighted growing domestic opposition to the Vietnam War. It set a precedent for civil disobedience tactics and inspired future anti-war protests across the country.

Activists Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale establish the Black Panther Party in Oakland, California, to advocate for African American self-defense. The organization’s Ten-Point Program demanded basic rights, housing, education, and an end to police brutality. Early members conducted armed patrols in black neighborhoods to monitor police activity. The Panthers also launched community programs, including free breakfast for children and health clinics. Their bold imagery and assertive stance energized the broader Black Power movement. Despite controversy and government surveillance, the party's message reshaped the struggle for racial justice in America.