“Little House Author Dies” and “Deep Blue vs. World Chess Champion” - This Day in History – Feb 10th

“Little House,” author, Laura Ingalls Wilder dies

Back in 1957, author Laura Ingalls Wilder, the writer of children’s novels that would be developed into a successful family television series, Little House on the Prairie died on this day at the age of 90 in Mansfield, MO.  The stories were based on Ms. Wilder’s childhood while growing up on the American frontier that featured the regions of Wisconsin, Kansas, Minnesota and Iowa.

History.com commented that, “In 1894, after several years of drought in South Dakota, the Wilders traveled by covered wagon to Mansfield, Missouri, in the Ozarks, where they established a farm.

Years later, Laura Ingalls Wilder began contributing essays to local newspapers. In 1932, Wilder, then in her 60s, published her first novel, “Little House in the Big Woods,” an autobiographical account of pioneer life in Wisconsin.

The book became a success, and she went on to publish seven more novels based on her experiences growing up on the American frontier in the 1870s and 1880s. These books, including “Little House on the Prairie” (1935), “On the Banks of Plum Creek” (1937) and “The Long Winter” (1940), chronicled the joys and hardships (including illnesses, crop failures, blizzards, fires and grasshopper plagues) that Wilder and her family experienced.

A ninth novel, “The First Four Years,” (1971) was published posthumously, as were several other books based on Wilder’s journals and letters. Wilder’s daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, an author and journalist, is believed to have helped edit her mother’s books, although the exact extent of her collaboration is unknown.”

Ms. Wilder’s home in Missouri called the Rocky Ridge Farm, is now a museum and tribute to her literary work.

Kasparov vs. Deep Blue in historic Chess Match

Back in 1996, the first of a six game match between the reigning world chess champion, Garry Kasparov debuted against the IBM computer called, “Deep Blue.” 

History.com stated that, “Garry Kasparov, considered one of the greatest players in the history of chess, was born April 13, 1963, in the Russian republic of Azerbaijan. At 13, he was the Russian junior chess champ and in 1985, at 22, he became the youngest world champion in history when he defeated Anatoly Karpov.” 

“Deep Blue’s origins date back to 1985, when Carnegie Mellon University doctoral student Feng Hsiung Hsu began developing a chess-playing computer called “ChipTest.” 

Kasparov won the first game, Deep Blue the second. The third, fourth and fifth matches were a draw.  Deep Blue would win the sixth game and the match with a score of 3.5 to Kasparov’s 2.5. 

This chess match’s victory for IBM was a successful publicity boost for IBM.  However, history.com acknowledged that, “A disgruntled Kasparov suggested Deep Blue had been aided by some sort of human assistance during the games, charges that IBM denied. Kasparov demanded a rematch, but instead, IBM retired Deep Blue.  Kasparov retained his world chess champion title until 2000. In March 2005, he announced his retirement from professional chess.”

All History facts provided from the link below:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-secretary-of-war-resigns?catId=16