👤 Sonora Smart Dodd
American activist who founded Father's Day, first celebrated in Spokane, Washington, in 1910.
| Aliases | Mother of Father's Day |
|---|---|
| Alternate names | Sonora Louise Smart Dodd |
| Entity type | 👤 Person |
| Permanent ID | E004 |
| Parent topic | History & Culture |
| Wikidata | Q460305 |
| Wikipedia | Sonora_Smart_Dodd |
About Sonora Smart Dodd
Sonora Smart Dodd (1882–1978) proposed a day honoring fathers after hearing a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Her inspiration was her own father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran who raised six children alone after his wife died in childbirth.
The first celebration took place in Spokane on 19 June 1910. Dodd campaigned for the holiday for the rest of her life; it became permanent US law only in 1972 — six years before her death and 58 years after Mother's Day.
Timeline
| 1882 | Born in Arkansas. |
| 1909 | Proposes a Father's Day after a Mother's Day sermon. |
| 1910 | First Father's Day celebrated in Spokane, June 19. |
| 1972 | Father's Day becomes permanent US law. |
| 1978 | Dies in Spokane, aged 96. |
Famous Examples & Highlights
- Founded Father's Day
- First celebration: Spokane, 1910
- 62-year campaign for recognition
- Father: Civil War veteran William Smart
Relationships
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Key place | Spokane |
| Key events | First Father's Day Celebration (1910) |
| Country | United States |
Parent & Child Topics
Parent: History & Culture
Opposite & Comparison Entities
No natural opposite recorded for this entity in the graph.
See Also & Related
See Also
Related People
Related Places
Related Quizzes
Father's Day Quiz Women's History Quiz Extraordinary Women Quiz
Covered In These Guides
Full guides and practice quizzes: Father's Day Quiz, Women's History Quiz, Extraordinary Women Quiz.