Born in 1941
Turns 85 in 2026
Gifts for someone born in 1941
1941 Front PageTheir name. The news from their year.Unframed from $36.50Add their name
Their birth chartThe sky as astrology reads it, cast for one birth.Unframed from $36.50
The Years We Were BornThe whole family, together in years.Unframed from $36.50
Our Story timelineTheir life, told in your words.Unframed from $36.50
Front Page: Canada edition. The year is filled in; add their name in the editor. “Your name” is a placeholder. Light news is selected. A new keepsake, not an original newspaper.
BACK TO 1941 · Canada
A little history to go with their gift.
Konrad Zuse completed the programmable Z3 computer, Disney’s Dumbo opened in New York, and the New York Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series. These records bring together early computing, animated cinema and a championship played between city rivals.
What happened in 1941?
Congress Approves the Lend-Lease Act
The Lend-Lease Act gave the president authority to transfer or lend defense supplies to countries whose support he considered important to the defense of the United States.
National Archives and Records Administration · Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
Britain Sets Rules For Utility Clothing
Britain introduced its Utility Clothing Scheme in 1941, regulating garments to conserve scarce materials and keep clothing affordable.
Victoria and Albert Museum · Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Ansel Adams Began A National Park Photo Project
In 1941, the National Park Service commissioned Ansel Adams to create a photo mural for the Interior Department building in Washington, D.C.
National Archives and Records Administration · U.S. Department of the Interior
A Pinocchio Song Won The Oscar
The song from Pinocchio received the 1941 Academy Award for Music (Song).
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences · Gateway to Oklahoma History, Oklahoma Historical Society
Firsts and new ideas
Zuse Completed an Early Programmable Computer
Konrad Zuse completed the Z3 in 1941, an electromechanical computer that could carry out programmed calculations.
Genes guide chemistry
George Beadle and Edward Tatum used bread mold in 1941 experiments that linked genes to particular chemical reactions.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · National Human Genome Research Institute
Number ones and music in 1941
Chart positions belong to the country and chart named in each record.
Bob Dylan Was Born In Duluth
Robert Zimmerman, later known professionally as Bob Dylan, was born in Duluth in 1941.
Joan Baez Was Born On Staten Island
Joan Baez was born in New York City in 1941 and later became a prominent folk singer.
National Women’s History Museum · Joan Baez official website
Prices and everyday money in 1941
Canada figures in the money of the time. Units and sources matter: these are not today's prices.
| Item or measure | Then | Unit and source |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee, regular | $0.442 | 1 lb Dominion Bureau of Statistics, Prices Division |
| Bread, loaf | $0.067 | 1 lb Dominion Bureau of Statistics, Prices Division |
| Fresh milk | $0.118 | 1 quart Dominion Bureau of Statistics, Prices Division |
| Eggs | $0.364 | 1 dozen Dominion Bureau of Statistics, Prices Division |
Planning the birthday
Someone born in 1941 turns 85 in 2026. Before their birthday they are one year younger. Choose the birth year for the print; add the full date in the editor if you know it.
See milestone birthdays this year