18861961

18861961 is most commonly read as a lifespan notation, written with a dash as 1886–1961. In biographical and archival contexts, this format indicates that an individual was born in 1886 and died in 1961. It is a standard shorthand used in encyclopedias, catalogs, and databases to identify people when only birth and death years are available or when concise disambiguation is needed.

As a historical span, 1886–1961 covers a period of rapid global change. It encompasses the late 19th century’s industrial expansion, the upheavals of the early 20th century, the two World Wars, the interwar and immediate postwar eras, and the early years of the Cold War. Technological progress—from electrification and mass production to aviation and early computing—transformed economies and societies. In science, this era saw foundational developments in physics, chemistry, and genetics, while in culture, modernist movements and shifting artistic currents reshaped literature, art, and cinema.

In practice, noting a lifespan like 1886–1961 helps readers distinguish individuals with similar names and provides a compact reference when full biographical details are unavailable. It also aids in organizing historical records, genealogies, and scholarly datasets by time period.

See also: 1886 in history; 1961 in history; lifespan notation; biographical date formats.