1 December

On 1 December 1981, Sarah Jane Smith began working abroad for Reuters. She returned to the United Kingdom on 14 December. (TV: A Girl's Best Friend)

In 1944, the American Federation of Musicians' recording ban came to an end, allowing Duke Ellington — and others — to once again record their music. (PROSE: Atom Bomb Blues)

In 1955 while travelling home from work, civil rights activist Rosa Parks famously refused to give up her bus seat to white passengers when the bus became crowded enough that she was required to move due to racial segregation, leading to her arrest. This event was witnessed by the Thirteenth Doctor, Ryan Sinclair, Yasmin Khan and Graham O'Brien. (TV: Rosa)