May 1 » Spanish–American War: Battle of Manila Bay: The Asiatic Squadron of the United States Navy destroys the Pacific Squadron of the Spanish Navy after a seven-hour battle. Spain loses all seven of its ships, and 381 Spanish sailors die. There are no American vessel losses or combat deaths.
June 11 » The Hundred Days' Reform, a planned movement to reform social, political, and educational institutions in China, is started by the Guangxu Emperor, but is suspended by Empress Dowager Cixi after 104 days. (The failed reform led to the abolition of the Imperial examination in 1905.)
July 8 » The death of crime boss Soapy Smith, killed in the Shootout on Juneau Wharf, releases Skagway, Alaska from his iron grip.
August 12 » The Hawaiian flag is lowered from ʻIolani Palace in an elaborate annexation ceremony and replaced with the flag of the United States to signify the transfer of sovereignty from the Republic of Hawaii to the United States.
September 13 » Hannibal Goodwin patents celluloid photographic film.
October 18 » The United States takes possession of Puerto Rico from Spain.
Day of death December 8, 1977
The temperature on December 8, 1977 was between 4.2 °C and 12.3 °C and averaged 8.5 °C. There was 0.4 mm of rain during 0.6 hours. There was 1.3 hours of sunshine (16%). The partly or heavily clouded was. The average windspeed was 3 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the south east. Source: KNMI
In The Netherlands , there was from Friday, May 11, 1973 to Monday, December 19, 1977 the cabinet Den Uyl, with Drs. J.M. den Uyl (PvdA) as prime minister.
In The Netherlands , there was from Monday, December 19, 1977 to Friday, September 11, 1981 the cabinet Van Agt I, with Mr. A.A.M. van Agt (CDA/KVP) as prime minister.
January 18 » Australia's worst rail disaster occurs at Granville, Sydney killing 83.
February 18 » The Space Shuttle Enterprise test vehicle is carried on its maiden "flight" on top of a Boeing 747.
April 5 » The US Supreme Court rules that congressional legislation that diminished the size of the Sioux people's reservation thereby destroyed the tribe's jurisdictional authority over the area in Rosebud Sioux Tribe v. Kneip.
May 14 » A Dan-Air Boeing 707 leased to IAS Cargo Airlines crashes on approach to Lusaka International Airport (now Kenneth Kaunda International Airport) in Lusaka, Zambia, killing six people.
October 14 » Anita Bryant gets a pie thrown in her face at a news conference in Des Moines by gay rights activist Tom Higgins for her anti-LGBT commentary.
October 20 » Rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd's airplane crashes. Lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines perish in the crash.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: Charles Olson, "Olson's Tree", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/olsons-tree/P373.php : accessed January 3, 2026), "Grace Zillifro (1898-1977)".
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