On this day in 1870, the Christian holiday of Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the United States.
On this day in 1945, representatives from 50 nations including the Republic of China, one of the U.N. founding members, signed the United Nations Charter in San Francisco. The charter would become effective Oct. 24.
On this day in 1974, the Universal Product Code was scanned for the first time to sell a package of Wrigley's chewing gum at the Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio.
On this day in 2008, Microsoft Chairman and co-founder Bill Gates ended his daily work at the company to focus on philanthropy.
On this day in 2009, "King of Pop" Michael Jackson died at 50.