1917 Fun Facts: Amazing Trivia About The Year We All Need To Know

If you love studying history, then the history of 1917 will surely fascinate you.

While one of the most notable matters of 1917 was the USA joining the ongoing First World War by declaring an attack on Germany, a great number of other key occurrences also took place. From evolving fashion trends to various developments in the field of sports, 1917 was eventful in ways more than one.

A look into the history of 1917 shows that the year was quite prominently shaped by the ongoing war. This was especially true in the worlds of fashion and literature. In fashion, clothing items were made for serving necessary purposes rather than for frivolous reasons.

In literature, a number of war poets rose to prominence. In sports, various major championships were canceled, but several sporting events did take place, uniting people during a tough time. Quite a few exciting developments also took place in 1917, one of which was Einstein's first published work related to the subject of cosmology.

To know more about 1917, keep reading! You can also check out 1919 fun factsand1926 fun facts. 

Fun Facts About The Year 1917

While 1917 was marked by the ongoing First World War and the beginning of the involvement of the US in the war by declaring an attack on Germany, it is hard to believe that fun and interesting things occurred in 1917.

However, there are quite a few fun facts associated with 1917, that will surely make for a great read!

The infamous gangster and mob boss Al Capone is often remembered by the name Scarface. The birth of this nickname occurred in 1917.

While working at a Brooklyn nightclub, Capone insulted a woman, which caused her brother to get into an altercation with him. The result of this fight was Al Capone receiving three slashes from a knife on his left cheek, thus getting the nickname Scarface.

With exciting developments in almost every aspect, even science wasn't left far behind. While Einstein had already developed the 'General Theory of Relativity' in 1917, he applied the principles of the theory in the sphere of cosmology.

This was Einstein's first published work related to cosmology, which proposed that the universe was a static model. His proposal was further supported by his introduction of a constant coefficient, known as the cosmological constant.

The acronym 'OMG' has been quite popular for a while now. You might be thinking that this acronym was invented by the youth of present times, but quite interestingly, 'OMG' which usually stands for 'Oh My God', was first used in 1917, by Lord Fisher in a letter to Winston Churchill.

The year was also the title of a movie called '1917' which was directed by Sam Mendes. Sam Mendes based the story partially on his grandfather's experience during the war. Sam Mendes shot the movie in one continuous, single take.

Facts About Famous Poets And Writers In 1917

Perhaps, one of the main reasons why the year 1917 was so special was because of the prolific writers and poets of the time, who brilliantly upheld what was going on around them. Even to this day, various forms of literature continue to provide insight into the years of the First World War, including the year 1917.

One of the most notable poets of the war era was Wilfred Owen. Owen was a soldier in the British Army, and the atrocities observed by him while being on duty inspired him to compose some of the most thought-provoking war poetry.

In fact, all his poems were composed over the span of a year from 1917-1918.

Unfortunately, most of Owen's works were published after his death in 1918, when he was just 25 years old. One of Owen's biggest influences was another British war poet and soldier, Siegfried Sassoon, who released 'Soldier's Declaration' in 1917, to take a stand against the prolonging of the First World War.

In the United States, the Pulitzer Prize was first awarded in the year 1917. The winners of the first-ever Pulitzer Prize, who created history, were Maude H. Elliott, Laura E. Richard, and Florence Hall, for their composition of the biography of Julia Ward Howe, a famous activist.

Herbert B. Swope also received a prize for his work in journalism and Jean Jules Jusserand, for his work in history.

Among the female authors of the time, Virginia Woolf became quite a popular name.

In 1917, Woolf, along with her husband Leonard Woolf, founded the Hogarth Press, which was responsible for publishing a lot of Woolf's works. One of the most notable, and the first story penned by Virginia Woolf to have been published was 'The Mark On the Wall' in 1917.

This short story was a part of a two-part series, with the other short story titled 'Three Jews' written by Leonard Woolf, who was also a well-known English author.

Ernest Poole, one of the most famous American writers of the time, published his novel titled, 'His Family' in 1917. This novel was critically acclaimed, and in the following year, the first-ever Pulitzer Prize for fiction was awarded to Poole for this novel.

Facts About Fashion In 1917

Like every other aspect of history, even fashion trends are constantly evolving. So, the year 1917 was witness to a number of changes in both men's and women's clothing. In the United States, these changes were particularly triggered by the United States joining the First World War.

When it comes to women's clothing, before the beginning of the Great War, women invested in clothes that were a reflection of their social status. In fact, women of the upper class changed their clothes four times a day, from morning to evening.

With the onset of the war, life became tough, and the reflection of these hardships was observed on the clothing. So, clothes became much simpler, more economical, and overall toned down in appearance.

Previously, women wore dresses with smaller and tight waistlines, but in 1917, looser waistlines became more fashionable. In addition, women also stopped wearing flashy hats and bright colors.

In fact, one of the most noticeable changes was in the colors of the clothing, which were mostly dull toned like black and khaki, used to resemble the uniforms of the soldiers.

This year also marked the participation of more women in the workforce. Hence, the clothing became more practical and flexible. Tailored suits and shirtwaists became quite popular, in addition to V and square-necklined shirts.

During the war, wool became an expensive commodity. Hence, women's clothing was primarily made using a new type of fabric called 'serge'. In 1917, Coco Chanel made women's suits out of jersey material.

Coming to men's fashion, there were significant changes in this department as well. In 1917, three-piece suits became quite popular, consisting of a vest, sack coat, and trousers. At times, two out of the three pieces had contrasting colors.

The trousers were modified from previous cuts; the trousers were ankle-length instead of being longer. For special occasions, fancy coats and blazers became the go-to option. At times, blazers were also worn for relatively casual occasions.

Various kinds of hats were also quite popular among the men. Some of the most popular options were bowler hats, flat caps, and newsboy caps. Fedoras also began gaining popularity this year. While the men cut their hair at short lengths, they did curl their mustaches, further enhancing their facial features and overall appearance.

Facts About Sports In 1917

The history of sports also makes for a fascinating read. As one of the consequences, the world of sports was also affected by the ongoing First World War in 1917.

However, that does not mean nothing eventful occurred in this field. In fact, a number of sports were quite popular during that time, and notable events did happen in a number of different sports.

Some of the most popular sports of 1917 were football, baseball, boxing, tennis, and American football. For the soldiers, sports provided them with a necessary respite from the daily life of war. With the entry of the United States into the First World War, football became quite popular among the French and British soldiers as well.

While some of the major football championships were canceled due to the war, in the United States, the College Football National Championship did take place, which was won by the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

In the world of tennis, the American Men's and Women's Singles Championship were held, with Robert Lindley Murray from the USA winning the title from the men's section, and Molla Bjurstedt Mallory of Norway winning from the women's side.

Unfortunately, the prestigious Wimbledon Singles Championship remained uncontested this year.

In baseball, the World Series took place in which the Chicago White Sox showed exceptional performance and won against the New York Giants, with a score of winning four games against two. This was the second World Series victory of the Chicago White Sox.

The famous National Hockey League (NHL) was founded in 1917. After the formation of the NHL, the Seattle Metropolitans became the winners of the Stanley Cup in the 1916-1917 season. This game was also the first Stanley Cup final that took place in the United States. Prior to that, it was known as the Challenge Cup.

Another exciting development that took place this year was the introduction of the famous Converse or Chuck Taylor All-Stars, shoes specifically designed for basketball. The shoe was later redesigned in 1922.

Overall, the year 1917 is special because the developments in sports, fashion, and literature were heavily influenced by the war.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 1917 fun facts: amazing trivia about the year we all need to know then why not take a look at '20s fashion facts, or 1935 facts.