René Jules Dubos, French microbiologist, environmentalist, and author (Health & Disease) whose research in isolating antibacterial substances from soil microorganisms led to the discovery of antibiotics, born (1901) and died (1982)

Robert Altman, American film director (Nashville, M*A*S*H), born (1925)

Sidney Poitier, Black Academy Award winning actor (Lilies of the Field, Blackboard Jungle, To Sir, with Love), born (1927)

Frederick Douglass, Black American anti-slavery leader, died at 77 (1895)

• The Road to Freedom: Using the WWW to Teach About Slavery
  For black slaves in America, the road to freedom was a long and difficult one. This week, Education World observes Black History Month by providing activities to help your students trace that journey and to learn about some of the heroes who paved the way to freedom. Included: Activities for teaching about slavery across the grades and the curriculum.
  

Robert E. Peary, American explorer of the Arctic credited with being the first to reach the North Pole, died at 63 (1920)

Joseph Hume, British social reformer, died (1855)

John Glenn became the first American astronaut to orbit Earth as he flew aboard the Friendship 7 Mercury capsule (1962)

• Space Sciences
  Resources and tools from our Science Center.
  

Metropolitan Museum of Art opened in New York City (1872)

• Inside Art
  Users travel "into" a painting to discuss the artist, motivation, and concepts.
  
• Museums & Galleries
  Resources from our database.
  
• Virtual Museums
  Resources from our database.
  
• Metropolitan Museum of Art
  The education section of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Web site has been created especially for children.
  
• LeWeb Louvre
  The highlight of the site is the Famous Paintings" section. Here, users will find images of some of the most famous paintings in the world.
  

First territorial legislature of Hawaii convened (1901)

• Great Sites for Teaching about Hawaii
  The best on the Web for teaching about Hawaii.
  

M. I .T. established the first U.S. collegiate architectural school (1865)

President George Washington signed the Postal Service Act establishing the U.S. postal service (1792)