Skip to Main Content

This Month in Business History

June

Color photograph of the CNN Center building entrance with a man standing on the sidewalk out front.
Josh Hallett, photographer. CNN - No Bias Here External February 13, 2007. Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ External

CNN Launched June 1, 1980

At 6 p.m. EST, the Cable News Network debuted from its headquarters in Atlanta, GA as the world's first 24 hour news station. From an initial viewer audience of barely over a million, CNN has grown to a formidable entity with international presence and worldwide renown.


Fair Labor Standards Act was Signed

The Fair Labor Standards Act signed in June 1938, created the right to a minimum wage and overtime pay.


Signing of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

One June 6, 1934, with the signing of the Securities Exchange Act, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Securities and Exchange Commission.


Black Wall Street in Tulsa, OK Destroyed on 6/1/1921

On May 31 and June 1, 1921, mobs of white residents attacked Black residents, homes, and businesses, as well as cultural and public institutions in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, OK, an oil boom city, also know as "Black Wall Street."


Founding of the Bureau of Labor Statistics

President Chester Arthur signed the bill that created the Bureau of Labor Statistics on June 27, 1884.


Alonzo Herndon, Founder of Atlanta Life Born

Alfonzo Herndon, born into slavery, went on to become one of the first African American millionaires.


Founding of The International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU)

On June 3, 1900 the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union was founded to represent workers in the textile industry who made women’s clothing.


National System of Interstate and Defense Highways Act Signed into Law

On June 29, 1956 the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act which created the U.S. interstate highway system was signed into law.