1947 - Althea Gibson

By dbloom

  • Truman Doctrine

    The Truman Doctrine became the foundation of American foreign policy, and led, in 1949, to the formation of NATO, a military alliance that is still in effect. Historians often use Truman's speech to date the start of the Cold War. The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union with its satellite states (the Eastern Bloc), and the United States with its allies (the Western Bloc) after World War II.

  • Jackie Robinson integrates baseball.

    Robinson broke the baseball color line when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

  • North Carolina Tournament - Durham

    Women's singles:
    F. AG d. Doris M. Miles; 6-1, 6-4.
    Women's doubles:
    F. AG/Vivian Sanson d. Nellie Randall/Doris Miles in doubles; 6-2, 6-3.
    Mixed doubles:
    Eaton/AG and Miles/Dr. Johnson was rained out and to be played at a later date that wasn't published.
    NYAN and Pittsburgh Courier 05 July 1947.

  • New England Tennis Tournament - New Haven at Yale Tennis courts

    Women's singles:
    F. AG d. Ethel Freeman; 6-2, 6-0.
    Women's doubles:
    F. AG/Doris Miles d. Cleo Grosvenor/Ethel Freeman; 6-2, 7-5.
    Afro American July 19 1947 (no other confirming articles)

  • Pennsylvania Open Tennis Tournament-Philadelphia Germantown YMCA

    unk round. AG d. Fannie Ford.
    S. AG d. Virginia Ford; 6-1, 6-0.
    F. AG d. Erma Gray; 6-0, 6-1.
    Philadelphia Inquirer July 27, 1947 & A/A Aug 9, 1947

  • Washington DC tournament

    The Pittsburgh Courier mentions this tournament on Aug 21 1948. The date is unknown07

  • Eastern Open Tennis Tournament - Shady Rest Country Club, Scotch Plains, NJ

    Women Singles
    3 (?) AG d. Ruth Gonzales; 6-1, 6-2.
    F. AG d. Nana Davis; 6-1, 6-0
    Mixed doubles
    unk round- George Stewart, Frances Gittens d. AG/Whirlwind; 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
    Courier News 04 and 02 Aug 1947.

  • Central Motor City Tournament- also called All Star Invitational Tennis Tournament

    Michigan Chronicle says AG will be playing in this tournament but no results were published.

  • Missouri Valley Open - Kansas City

    Pittsburgh Courier reports AG won this tournament Aug 21 1947

  • Mid Western Tournament - Indianapolis, IN

    Women's singles:
    F. AG defeats Elizabeth Stanfield; 7-5, 6-2
    Mixed doubles:
    F. AG/Johnson final against Delbert Russell/Lillian VanBuren a no decision after rain postponed the match.
    Chicago Defender Aug 23, 1947

  • ATA Tourney at Tuskegee, ORA WASHINGTON WINS LAST NTL TITLE against Althea and Whirlwind, the mantle is passed (Ora looses to AG and Dr. J PA Open 1948)

    Women's singles:
    1 or Q. AG d. Sarah L. Jesse; 6-1, 6-1
    S. AG d. Nana Davis; 6-1, 6-1
    F. AG d. Roumania Peters; 7-5, 6-0 Mixed doubles:
    F. George Stewart/Ora Washington d. AG/Whirlwind; 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
    Atlanta Daily World 23 and 26 Aug; New Journal and Guide 23 Aug; [Chicago Defender 30 Aug[(https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GCBTQ28q2VjXNCEvheQRvkPcbdrs8dMI) Exhibition Matches:
    Mary Hardwick plays Althea Gibson
    Charles and Mary (Hardwick) Hare beat Roumania Peters and Dr. Hubert Eaton, 6-0

  • Exhibition match with Mary Hardwick

    ATA tournament in Tuskegee.
    Philadelphia Tribune 30 Dec; Bermuda Recorder 14 Aug 1957 Mary Hardwick plays Althea Gibson
    Charles and Mary (Hardwick) Hare beat Roumania Peters and Dr. Hubert Eaton, 6-0

  • Dan Bankhead first negro pitcher

    Dan Bankhead joins the Brooklyn Dodgers as their first black pitcher.

  • Round Robin Tournament - Lynchburg, VA

    results unknown

  • First A/A football team to play below the Mason Dixon line

    Harvard's Chester Pierce becomes the first African American college football athlete to perform on the playing field of a predominantly-white university below the Mason–Dixon line, at University of Virginia.