1927 - 1946 - Althea Gibson

By dbloom

  • Helen Wills wins first of eight Wimbledon titles, a milestone in women's sports

    Moody, who won a total of 31 Grand Slam titles, was the first female athlete to become a global celebrity during an explosion of interest in sports that included women.
    F. HW d. Elia de Alvarez; 6-2, 6-4. First American in twenty years to win the Wimbledon title.

  • AG born in Silver, SC - Clarendon County

  • AG moves to Harlem

    1930 census Althea lives with her aunt Sallie Dwyer at W. 146 St.

  • AG Police Athletic League paddle ball champ

    1938-1942

  • Budge McDaniels interracial exhibition match - Cosmopolitan

    Don Budge d. Jimmie McDaniels; 6-1, 6-2

  • American Tennis Association Tournament - Wilberforce

    Agnes Lawson wins women's singles.
    Jimmie McDaniels wins mens singles.
    Peters sisters win doubles.
    Flora Lomax and William Hill win mixed.

  • AG meets Buddy Walker

    Walker buys AG her first tennis racket and encouraged her to practice hitting tennis balls.

  • Fred Johnson coaches AG

    Juan Serreals from the Cosmopolitan Tennis Club introduces Fred Johnson to AG (one arm coach).

  • American Tennis Association tournament-Tuskegee 25th anniversary

    Jimmie McDaniels wins men's singles and Flora Lomax wins women's.

  • NY State Open Championship Junior Girls Singles Championship - Cosmopolitan Club

    Girl's singles:
    Althea Gibson d. Nina Irwin; 6-3, 7-5. Newspapers reported Irwin won the match. AG's win is confirmed by an interview with Irwin's daughter and AG's book.

  • American Tennis Association Tournament National Girls Championship, Lincoln University

    AG is beaten in the finals by Nana Davis at the ATA's National girls championship.

  • NY State Junior Girls Champion-Cosmopolitan

    Girl's singles:
    F. AG d. Jean Branche; 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. Afro American 28 Aug 1943 and Philadelphia Tribune 4 Sep 1943.

  • No ATA Tournament in 1943

    ATA cancels National Tournament due to war time restrictions.

  • Mysterious Girls

    AG plays on the Harlem Mysterious Girls Athletic Club team with manager Marsden Burnell.

  • Exhibition interracial tennis match at ATA

    Alice Marble/Robert Ryland against Reginald Weir/Mary Hardwicke

  • American Tennis Association Tournament-Cosmopolitan Tennis Club, NYC

    Girls singles:
    F. AG d. Nana Davis; 6-1, 6-3
    FYI, Dr. Johnson played mixed doubles with Miss Catherine Jones. He would have seen AG play at this event.
    Afro American 26 Aug.

  • American Tennis Association Tournament, 28th annual -Cosmopolitan Tennis Club

    Girl's singles:
    F. AG d. Jean Branch (Cleveland) to win; 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
    Atlanta Daily World Aug 28 1945 and Afro American 25 Aug 1945.

  • Isaac Woodward WWII A/A veteran is blinded by police

    Isaac Woodward, WWII veteran is physically abused by police in SC and blinded

  • Columbia Race Riot - Columbia, TN

    https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/the-columbia-race-riot-1946/

  • Frank Forbes, first negro judge in a World Championship boxing match

    A/A Frank Forbes is the first negro boxing judge in a world championship game. Joe Louis defeated Billy Conn.

  • Eastern Sectional Tournament-Scotch Plains, NJ

    Women Singles:
    Q. AG d. Nana Davis; 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
    S. AG d. Frances Gittons; 6-4, 6-2.
    F. AG d. Lillian Van Buren; 6-4, 6-3.
    Women's Doubles:
    F. Van Buren/Eoline Thorton d. AG/Doris Miles; 7-5, 6-3.
    Mixed doubles:
    F. AG/Louis Graves d. Eoline Thornton/John Chandler; winners by default
    Afro American 03 Aug 1946, Cleveland Call and Post 10 Aug 1946, Courier News 29 July 1946.

  • New York State Tennis Association Tournament

    Women's singles:
    F. AG d. Nana Davis,6-4, 4-6, 6-2. This is AG's first year in women's division. NYAN 17 Aug 1946 (only published account).

  • American Tennis Association Tournament-Wilberforce

    Women's singles:
    Roumania Peters d. AG; 6-4, 7-9, 6-3.
    Dr's. Eaton and Johnson invite her South for a training program. Pittsburgh Courier 31 Aug 1946 and Afro American 31 Aug 1946.

  • President's Committee on Civil Rights established

    As a result of the Isaac Woodward abuse Pres. Truman creates this committee to investigate civil rights in America.