• On Nov. 21, 1877, Thomas Edison announces his invention of the phonograph, a way to record and play back sound. Although initially used as a dictating machine, the phonograph proved to be a popular tool for entertainment. Edison acquired an astounding 1,093 patents in his 84 years. • On Nov. 16, 1907, Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory collectively enter the United States as Oklahoma, the 46th state. Oklahoma’s name is derived from the Choctaw Indian words “okla,” meaning “people,” and “humma,” meaning “red.” • On Nov. 19, 1915, British airman Richard Bell Davies performs a daring rescue, swooping down in his ...