1985 Newspaper Headlines
Learn about the year’s most fascinating events through authentic 1985 newspaper articles, chronicling events as they happened. First hand accounts of 1985 headlines are an insightful way to learn about history, and the effect that it had in shaping modern society as we know it today. It was during this year that a “Live Aid” concert raised over $50 million for famine in Africa.
The first blood test to identify the AIDS virus was approved in the U.S., Windows 1.0 was released, and South Africa ended its ban on interracial marriage. All of these events and more are covered in original 1985 newspapers. Historical newspapers are a fabulous gift idea for anyone interested in history, or with a particular connection to any given year in history.
17th January 1985
British Telecom announces it is going to phase out its famous red telephone boxes.
20th January 1985
U.S. President Ronald Reagan is privately sworn in for a second term in office. He is publicly sworn in the following day.
10th February 1985
Nelson Mandela rejects an offer of freedom from the South African government.
11th March 1985
Mohammed Al Fayed buys the London-based department store company Harrods.
15th April 1985
South Africa ends its ban on interracial marriages.
11th May 1985
A fire engulfs a wooden stand in the Valley Parade stadium in Bradford during a football match. Fifty-six people are killed.
29th May 1985
Thirty-eight spectators are killed in rioting on the terraces during the European Cup final between Liverpool FC and Juventus at the Heysel Stadium in Belgium. As a result, all English football teams are banned from European competition for five years. Liverpool serve a further ban of one additional year.
4th July 1985
Ruth Lawrence achieves a first in mathematics at Oxford University at just thirteen-years-old. She therefore becomes the youngest British person ever to earn a first-class degree and the youngest known graduate of Oxford University.
13th July 1985
“Live Aid” pop concerts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and London raise over £50 million for famine relief in Ethiopia.
6th August 1985
In Hiroshima, tens of thousands mark the 40th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city.
1st September 1985
A joint American-French expedition locates the wreck of the RMS Titanic.
19th September 1985
An earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale strikes Mexico City. More than 9,000 people are killed, 30,000 injured, and 95,000 left homeless.
28th September 1985
The 1985 Brixton race riots are sparked with the shooting of Dorothy “Cherry” Groce by the Metropolitan Police.
1st October 1985
The Israeli air force bombs the Palestine Liberation Organisation Headquarters near Tunis.
18th October 1985
The Nintendo Entertainment System is released in American shops.
19th November 1985
In Geneva, U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev meet for the first time to attempt to end the Cold War.
20th November 1985
Microsoft Corporation releases the first version of Windows, Windows 1.0.
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