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    Sept. 20: Patent Leather Birthday, National Punch Day, the Cosby Show Premiered, National Research Council Anniversary

    By | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Mon, Sep 12, 2011

    Patent Leather Birthday

    It's shiny, it's colorful, what's not to love? Seth Boyden made the first patent leather in the U.S. on Sept. 20, 1819. In his Newark, N.J., tannery he "treated leather with coating based on linseed-oil to give it a high gloss finish, was mostly used for fancy work and for shoes" according to Today in Science. Patent leather has since been a favorite for children's holiday outfits.

    Glossy accessories still make an appearance in fashion trends every few years. It was used by Gucci in 2006-2007 and Proenza Schouler in 2004 according to Fashion Era. Dig out your favorite patent leather pumps, belt or purse, it's patent leather's day to shine.

    National Punch Day

    You don't need to wait for a Colonial-style wedding feast to enjoy a cup of punch. In Colonial America families hosted weddings at home and served large quantities of food. The meal may have featured fish, roasted pig and pumpkin casserole. A hollowed rock was used as a punch bowl where guests could spoon out hard cider flavored with sugar and citrus fruits according to "The Thirteen Colonies Cookbook" by Mary Donovan.

    Punch is a versatile beverage to make with or without alcohol. Start with a fruit juice base.

    'Tis the season for a batch of apple cider or cranberry punch. Spook guests on Halloween with some Floating Hand Punch.

    "The Cosby Show" Premiered

    Times were changing. Television audiences said goodbye to some favorite shows including "Happy Days," "One Day at a Time" and "Three's Company." Enter a new family comedy with two super successful parents (a doctor and a lawyer) and five kids. The award-winning starring Bill Cosby show kept audiences laughing until its final show on April 30, 1992.

    National Research Council's First Meeting

    The group was formed to encourage "the investigation of natural phenomena" which sounds like more like the premise for a new SyFy show than a national council. President Woodrow Wilson encouraged the investigations for American business and national security. The first meeting of the National Research Council , tasked with studying Antarctica, NASA, adult literacy, vaccines and more, first met on Sept. 20, 1916.

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