O.K., guess which pop expression marks its anniversary this week

• On March 23, 1839, the initials “O.K.” are first published, in The Boston Morning Post. Meant as an abbreviation for “oll correct,” a popular slang misspelling of “all correct,” OK steadily made its way into the everyday speech of Americans.

• On March 18, 1852, in New York City, Henry Wells and William G. Fargo join with several other investors to launch their namesake business. In July 1852, Wells Fargo & Co. shipped its first loads of freight from the East Coast to mining camps scattered around northern California.

• On March 17, 1901, paintings by the late Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh are shown in Paris. Eleven years earlier, van Gogh had committed suicide without any notion that his work was destined to win acclaim beyond his wildest dreams. In his lifetime, he had sold only one painting.

• On March 19, 1916, eight Curtiss “Jenny” planes of the First Aero Squadron take off from Columbus, N.M., in the first combat air mission in U.S. history. They flew a support mission for the 7,000 U.S. troops who invaded Mexico to capture Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa.

• On March 22, 1929, Will Rogers signs with Fox to write and star in four films for $600,000. His films included “Happy Days” (1929), “A Connecticut Yankee” (1929) and “Ambassador Bill” (1931). In 1930, Rogers’ radio show — full of his trademark humor and thoughtful political observations — was a hit.