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Delphine Hanna, M.D., Pioneer of Organized Physical Education
A pioneer in organized physical education, Dr. Delphine Hanna became the first instructor in Physical Education at Oberlin College in 1885. She served as director of the Women's Gymnasium (1887-1955), director of the Department of Physical Training for Women(1887-1903). Hanna also established the first four-year curriculum for a Bachelor's degree in physical education for women and was made Professor of Physical Education at Oberlin, the first professorship in physical education in the U.S. -
Period: to
1885-1945
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Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published and became one of the writer's most famous works. -
Anthropometric Measurements
The success of some fitness programs were assessed by the anthropometric measurements of their participants. This new invention creates a quantitative platform to measure the body fat composition of an individual through recording specific dimensions of the body such as skin-fold thickness, height, weight and bodily circumference. -
Amy Morris Homans, Boston Normal School of Gymnastics
Amy Morris Homans and Mary Hemenway founded the Boston Normal School of Gymnastics to train female physical education teachers. Later, the school affiliated with Wellesley College and established a graduate program directed by Homans. -
Marie Owens, America's 1st Female Police Officer
In 1889, Canadian born, Marie Owens, was one of five female factory inspectors with the Chicago city health department who enforced child labor, welfare, and compulsory education laws. At the time, public outrage was growing over sweatshop conditions in factories across the city. Owens was transferred to the Police Department in 1891, holdong the rank of Sergeant, with arrest powers, and a police star. -
First Basketball Game Played
James Naismith was the Canadian physical education instructor who invented basketball in 1891. The first game was played in December 1891. -
Fashion and Cycling
By 1894, women were riding bicycles, and fashion adapted. Pattern magazines were full of "bicycle costumes" to preserve modesty and to preserve health. -
When the Saints Go Marching In
The now popular song "When The Saints Go Marching In" was created by Katherine E. Purvis & James M. Black in 1896 -
Spanish American War
The Spanish-American War was a four-month conflict between Spain and the United States, provoked by word of Spanish colonial brutality in Cuba. Although the war was largely brought about by the efforts of U.S. expansionists, many Americans supported the idea of freeing an oppressed people controlled by the Spanish. At war's end, America emerged victorious with newly acknowledged respect as a world power About the war -
Margaret Ives Abbott
1st American Woman to win 1st Place in Olympic Golf and second woman overall, to win first place at the Olympics in golf. -
Invention of Electric Vibrator Chair
John Harvey Kellogg’s “Electric Vibrator chair” was invented in 1900 -
Theodore Roosevelt's Presidency
At 42,“Teddy” Roosevelt became the youngest man to become president of the US. During Roosevelt’s presidency, he bulked up the navy and coined the term, “speak softly and carry a big stick.” Roosevelt was frequently known as the “trust buster,” for his attempts to break monopolies and the Sherman Antitrust Act. Roosevelt also received a nobel peace prize for his negotiations in the Russo-Japanese War -
"Universal Test for Strength, Speed and Endurance" by Dudley Allen Sargent
Known as the 'founder of physical education in the United States' Sargent's viewpoints that without "solid physical education programs, people would become fat, deformed, and clumsy." In this book he explains his perspectives and finding in educational programs and discusses the multiple gym apparatices that he had created over time. -
My System by J.P. Muller
In 1904 J.P. Muller created a book called My System, which included his philosophy of health and guidelines for 18 exercises. The Muller technique consisted of body swings, lunges, stretches, hops, push ups, etc. -
May Sutton , 1st American Woman to win Wimbledon Title
May Sutton Godfrey. In 1904, at age 17, May Sutton won the singles title at the U.S. Championships. She also teamed with Miriam Hall to win the women's doubles title and in June 1905, she won the Northern Tournament in Manchester. Sutton went on to become the first American to win the Wimbledon singles title. In 1907, she won at Wimbledon again. -
Antiquities Act
This national act was passed during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency. Section I of the act describes the “penalties for inappropriately excavating, damaging, or destroying historic ruins, artifacts, or any other object of antiquity.” Section II of the act gives the president authority to protect any public spaces as national parks or monuments. -
Anna Jarvis, Activist & Founder of Mother's Day
Anna Marie Jarvis is the activist and creator of the National Holiday, Mother's Day. On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day "as a public expression of love and reverence for the mothers of our country". -
Alice Stebbins Wells, 1st American Born Policewoman
In 1909, Alice Stebbins Wells, a Los Angeles social worker petitioned Mayor George Alexander and the City Council, requesting that an ordinance providing for a Los Angeles Policewoman be adopted. On September 12, 1910, Mrs. Wells was appointed as the nation's first female policewoman with arrest powera. -
Harriet Quimby 1st Female Pilot in America
On August 1, 1911, Harriet Quimby became the first American woman to earn a pilot's license, license #37, sanctioned by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale and administered by the Aero Club of America. She was also a journalist, photographer, and actress. -
Juliette Gordon Low, Founder of Girl Souts USA
On March 12, 1912, Juliette Gordon Low gathered 18 girls to register the first troop of American Girl Guides. The name of the organization was changed to Girl Scouts the following year. With the Girl Scout movement in the United States, Juliette brought girls of all backgrounds into the out-of -doors, developing skills of self-reliance and resourcefulness, preparing them for future roles as professional women in the arts, sciences, and business. -
"Natural Method" Exercising
Georges Hebert pioneered a new workout method focused on improving natural movement skills such as walking, running, balancing, jumping, crawling, climbing, lifting, throwing and self-defense. Hebert trained all the soldiers in the French navy at this time and also opened the most modern and largest indoor/outdoor training center in Reims -
Margaret Higgins Sanger, Opened 1st Birth Control Clinic
Margaret Higgins Sanger was an American birth control activist, sex educator and nurse. She popularized the term birth control, opened the first birth control clinic in the United States, and in 1921, she founded American Birth Control League that evolved into the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Her efforts helped legalize contraception. She wanted prevent unsafe abortions. -
Loretta Perfectus Walsh, 1st Woman to Enlist in US Navy
At age 20, Loretta Walsh was the first female to sign up for a four year enlistment in the US Navy Reserve, becoming the first active duty Navy woman, and the first woman to serve in any of the armed forces in a non-nurse occupation. Walsh became the first woman Navy petty officer when she was sworn in as Chief Yeoman on March 21, 1917. -
America's Involvement in WWI
The invasion of German U-boats in US territory on April 6th 1917 marked the beginning of America’s involvement in WWI. Before then, America maintained a stance of neutrality. President Wilson sought for peace, and initiated mediation between Britain and Germany. Wilson’s idea of the League of Nations helped to end the war in 1918. -
Edith Wharton, 1st Woman in America to Win Pulitzer Prize
Edith Wharton was the first woman awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. She was also awarded and honorary Doctorate of Letters from Yale University and full membership in the Ameican Academy of Arts and Letters. Wharton wrote over 40 books in 40 years, including authoritative works on architecture, gardens, interior design, and travel. -
Marie Luhring, 1st Female Automotive Engineer in America
In February 1921, Marie Luhring, was noted as the first female automotive engineer and the first female member received into the Society of Automotive Engineers with acclaims. Luhring was employed at the International Motor Company of New York city, maker of the Mack truck, where she was hired to design motor truck parts. -
Nellie Tayloe Ross, 1st Female Governor in America
Nellie Tayloe Ross was an American politician, the 14th Governor of Wyoming from 1925 to 1927, and director of the United States Mint from 1933 to 1953. Ross was the first woman to be elected governor of a U.S. state, and remains the only woman to have served as governor of Wyoming. -
Introduction to Pilates
Joseph Pilates, a German-born gymnast and circus performer, brought his technique to the United States in 1925 -
Stock Market Crashes and so do fitness levels....
Throughout the roaring '20s and Great Depression priorities continued to be partying, eating, and drinking while watching some entertainment. Unfortunately with the Stock Market crash almost all the momentum that withstood legislation following World War One was lost in the fitness and health fields. -
The Great Depression
The great depression was a significant time in US history that began when the stock market crashed on “Black Tuesday,” October 29th, 1929. This decade-long catastrophe was a severe economic downturn caused by an overly-confident, over-extended stock market and a drought that struck the South. In an attempt to end the Great Depression, the U.S. government took unprecedented direct action to help stimulate the economy. -
Herbert Hoover's Presidency
Welcome to Hooverville: Hoover took office in 1929, the beginning of the great depression. Though the presidents prior to Hoover undeniably contributed to the economic downfall, Hoover quickly became the target for most of blame by the American people. Hoover seemed insensitive to the suffering, and ghettos were called “hoovervilles.” President Hoover did create many jobs though when he proposed the construction of the Hoover dam. -
Jack LaLanne "The Modern Fitness Movement"
During the decline of public interest in fitness Jack LaLanne sought to develop new equipment and programming through eating a healthy diet and weight lifting. He was soon known as America's number one fitness nut and appeared on television many times to express his new ideas. -
Mabel Lee, 1st Female President of the American Physical Education Association
Mabel Lee was influenced by Amy Morris Homans. Lee directed physical education for women at the University of Nebraska (1924-1952). She was elected first woman president of the American Physical Education Association(1931). Lee led the profession as a proponent of wholesome sport for women. -
Gustav Zanders "Mechanical Wondercycle Exercizulator
In 1931 Zander’s Horse-Simulation machine made a huge comeback with what was called the “Mechanical Wondercycle Exercizulator” -
Amelia Mary Earhart
Amelia Earhart, an American aviation pioneer and author, was the the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Earhart set many avaition records, wrote best-selling books about her flying experiences, & was instrumental in the formation of "The Ninety-Nines", an organization for female pilots. She joined the faculty of the Purdue University aviation department in 1935, visting as a faculty member of the National Woman's Party, & was early supporter of Equal Rights Amendment. -
Franklin D Roosevelt's Presidency
FDR was the only president in US’s history to be elected into office four times. He began his presidency in 1933, and finally retired from the office after the second World War. Roosevelt was known for the successful New Deal, which was a national economic revision made within the first 100 days he was in office. After the great depression, Roosevelt acted as commander in chief and allied with Britain and France to fight against Nazi Germany. -
"Every person should strive to be the best shape they can"
During Roosevelt's presidency he promoted physical fitness heavily in schools as he worked to improve the efficiency and success of the United States armed forces as he deemed the most cost effective way to up combat survival is through physical fitness. FDR seemed to work so strongly on this as the drafting for World War One saw one out of every three draftees being declared 'unfit for combat'. -
Frances Perkins, 1st Female US Secretary of Labor
Appointed by Roosevelt, Perkins was the first woman Cabinet member. During her term as Secretary of Labor, Perkins expanded factory investigations, reduced the workweek for women to 48 hours and championed minimum wage and unemployment insurance laws. She worked to end child labor and provide safety for women workers. -
Over the Rainbow
Judy Garland first recorded the song on the MGM soundstages on October 7, 1938, using an arrangement by Murray Cutter. A studio recording of the song, not from the actual film soundtrack, was recorded and released as a single by Decca Records in September 1939. In March 1940, that same recording was included on a Decca 78-RPM four-record studio cast album entitled The Wizard of Oz. -
Agricultural Nation
By mid-1941 the United States was primarily an agricultural nation that required hard labor from all family members to meet the demands of their buyers. At this time the U.S. military was expanding and increased demands for food in Britain required more workers on the farm and incraesed agricultural prices. One of the governments ideas during this time is since most men work on the field is that recruits should be more fit. -
America's Involvement in WWII
WWII was the most widespread and deadliest war in history, involving more than 30 countries and resulting in more than 50 million military and civilian deaths (with some estimates as high as 85 million dead). Sparked by Adolf Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939, the war would drag on for six deadly years until the final Allied defeat of both Nazi Germany and Japan in 1945. -
Cordelia Elizabeth Cook, 1st Woman to Receive Purple Heart & Bronze Star Metal
During WWII, Cordelia Cook, a surgical nurse of first lieutenant rank in the United States Army Nurse Corps. Cook was sent to Europe during WWII and the hospital in Italy she was working at was bombed. In spite of dangers and sustaining a shrapenel wound, Cook continued her nursing duties. Cook was the first woman to receive both the Bronze Star Medal & Purple Heart military awards.
