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Vassar College Opened School of Physical Training
Matthew Vassar opened up Vassar College, which was originally an All-Girl college. A special school was opened at this time, called the School of Physical Training. This school provided classes in riding, gardening, swimming, boating, skating, and other physical activities that women should know how to do. All of these activities helped women become more active, while helping aquiring bodily strength and grace. -
Wellesley College Makes Gym for Women
Wellesley College is a private women's college in Wellesley, Massachusets. It is one of the Seven Sister Colleges, which means they are historically women's colleges. When the school opened, a gymnasium was built for women to exercise. A lake was also made for women to learn to ice skate, as well as for the first rowing program for women. At this time, this was a huge deal considering that women were not encouraged to be sporty. -
Women's Singles Added to Wimbledon
Tennis, among most sports at this time, was run snd played by men in the public eye. Although women did play, they were not allowed in major tournaments that could get them any recognition for their accomplishments. In 1884, women's singles was added to the Wimbledon Championships. This was a huge deal considering this championship was one of the largest in the world with one of the largest prizes for their winners. Maud Watson won this championship in both 1884 and 1885. -
First 19 Women Compete in Olympic Games
The 1900 Olympic Games were held in Paris, France. The Games opened on May 14th and closed October 28th. This was the first Olympic Games that we consider to be the "modern Olympic Games." The first 19 Women to compete in these Games participated in three sports. Those three sports were tennis, golf, and croquet. Charlotte Cooper was the first woman to win a gold medal for tennis, while Margaret I. Abbott was the first American woman to win a gold medal for golf. -
First Woman in Professional Baseball
Virne Mitchell, a pitcher who played for the Chatanooga Lookouts, was the first woman to play baseball on the professional level. Not only was she famous because of her professional accomplishment, but she got additional recognition for striking out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in an exhibition game. Later that year, the baseball commissioner banned women from playing baseball at the professional level. -
First Woman to Run Boston Marathon
News Piece on Kathrine SwitzerIn 1967, Katherine Switzer completed a feat that was unheard of at this time; she was the first woman to ever register and complete the Boston Marathon. At this time women weren't even allowed to enter so technically her completion of the marathon didn't count until 1972, when women were allowed to enter. At one point during the race, an official actually tried to kick her out of the race while trying to rip her running number off of her. Luckily, she finished the race and became history. -
Title IX Was Brought Into Play
Katie Couric on Title IXIn 1972, Title IX was created to ensure that no one "is excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance" based on sex. While athletics is the category most publicized from benefitting from Title IX, there are many other categories that benefit from this Act, such as Higher Education, Career Education, Education for Moms, and Employment. -
First Woman to Climb Mt. Everest
Climbing Mt. Everest is something only attemped by the most advanced of extreme athletes. This feat consists of climbing to extreme heights while braving the unpredicatable frigid climates. While only few men accomplished this journey starting in 1953, the first woman to make the ascent was Junko Tabei from Japan.
She reached the summit by way of the Southeast Ridge on May 16, 1975. -
First Woman to Cover Sports Illustrated
As a respected sports publication, Sports Illustrated has featured every great athlete on its cover, great male athletes that is. Jackie Joyner-Kersee became famous for her accomplishments in track and field at the Olympics and the World Championships. Her recognition came from her excellence in the long jump and the heptathalon. This landed her the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1987 making her the first women to be on the cover. -
Congress Enacts Civil Rights Restoration Act
The Civil Rights Restoration Act states that people who receive any type of federal funding must comply with all civil rights laws, not just in the program or activity in which they receieve funding for. This bill famously applied to Title IX because it prohibited sex discrimination in the educational institutions that receive federal funding. Originally, it was vetoed by President Reagan, but was later passed by Congress.
