- Dec 3 12th Heisman Trophy Award: Glenn Davis, Army (HB)
US Wants Franco Out
Dec 3 US government asks UN to order dictator Francisco Franco out of Spain
Committee on Civil Rights
Dec 5 US President Harry Truman creates Committee on Civil Rights by Exec Order #9808
Hesse Nobel Literature Prize
Dec 10 German/Swiss novelist Hermann Hesse wins the Nobel Prize in Literature "for his inspired writings which, while growing in boldness and penetration, exemplify the classical humanitarian ideals and high qualities of style"
Williams Records with Sterling
Dec 11 Hank Williams begins to record on Sterling label
- Dec 11 Spain suspended from UN
- Dec 11 United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is established by resolution 57(I) of the UN General Assembly
- Dec 12 'Tide' laundry detergent introduced
- Dec 12 Abandoned ice plant in Manahttan, New York City, collapses during a fire, shearing a tenement building next door, killing 38
Rockefeller's Gift
Dec 12 The United Nations accepts six Manhattan blocks as a gift from John D. Rockefeller Jr.
- Dec 14 "Three to Make Ready" closes at Adelphi Theater NYC after 323 performances
- Dec 14 General Assembly of United Nations votes to construct headquarters in New York City [1]
- Dec 14 Togo made a trusteeship territory of UN
- Dec 15 Giants Filchock & Hapes suspended by NFL, didn't report bribe attempt
- Dec 15 National Football League Championship, Polo Grounds, NYC: Chicago Bears beat New York Giants, 24-14; record attendance 58,346 at final NFL title game played at Polo Grounds
- Dec 16 1947 NFL Draft: Bob Fenimore from University of Oklahoma A&M first pick by Chicago Bears
Christian Dior Founded
Dec 16 French fashion designer Christian Dior and his backer Marcel Boussac found fashion house Christian Dior
- Dec 16 Thailand joins the United Nations
- Dec 17 US V-2 rocket reaches 183 km, White Sands Proving Grounds, New Mexico
- Dec 18 TV's 1st network dramatic serial "Faraway Hill" ends 2 month run in US
"Pacific 1860"
Dec 19 Noël Coward's musical "Pacific 1860" premieres in London
Ho Chi Minh Attacks French
Dec 19 War breaks out in Indochina as Ho Chi Minh attacks French in Hanoi
"It's a Wonderful Life"
Dec 20 Christmas classic "It's a Wonderful Life" film, directed by Frank Capra, starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore premieres in New York
Milhaud's 2nd Symphony
Dec 20 Darius Milhaud's 2nd Symphony, premieres with the Boston Symphony conducted by the composer; the work was commissioned as a memorial to the wife of group's music director Serge Koussevitzky
- Dec 21 "If the Shoe Fits" closes at Century Theater NYC after 20 performances
- Dec 21 Earthquake in South Japan, kills 1,086
"Minstrel Show"
Dec 21 Morton Gould's "Minstrel Show" premieres in Indianapolis
- Dec 22 "Bal Negre" closes at Belasco Theater NYC after 54 performances
- Dec 22 Cleveland Browns beat NY Yankees 14-9 in AAFC championship game
- Dec 23 Belgian Council of State forms
- Dec 23 Highest daily ridership in NYC subway history - 8.8 million fares
- Dec 23 University of Tennessee refuses to play Duquesne University after they suggested they may use a black player in their basketball game
- Dec 24 French Fourth Republic is founded
- Dec 24 US General MacNarney gives 800,000 "minor Nazis" amnesty
- Dec 25 Constitution accepted in Taiwan
Music Premiere
Dec 26 Duke Ellington and John La Touche's musical "Beggar's Holiday" opens at Broadway Theater, NYC; runs for 111 performances
- Dec 26 Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas opens (start of an era)
- Dec 26 Sammy Fain and George Marion Jr's musical "Toplitzky of Notre Dame" opens at Century Theater ,NYC; runs for 60 performances
US Defeats Australia
Dec 28 Davis Cup Men's Tennis, Melbourne, Australia: Jack Kramer & Ted Schroeder give US unassailable 3-0 lead; beat Australians John Bromwich & Adrian Quist 6-2, 7-5, 6-4; ends 5-0
- Dec 31 French troops leave Lebanon
- Dec 31 US President Harry Truman officially proclaims end of WW II
Authors
Civil Rights Activists
Inventors
Kings
Revolutionaries
Scientists