Tennis Racquet, used by Althea Gibson
Object Details
- date made
- 1950 - 1959
- user
- Gibson, Althea
- maker
- Lee, Harry C.
- Description (Brief)
- Althea Gibson (1927-2003) used this racquet when winning the woman's singles title at Wimbeldon in 1958. Gibson was the first African-American to play in, and win, Wimbledon. She hoisted the prestigous event's silver trophy twice (1957 and 1958.) She was also the first black woman to play in the U.S. Tennis Championships (1950) to win the U.S. Open, and to complete a Grand-Slam.
- Gibson also broke the color barrier in professional golf when she joined the LPGA in 1964.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- name of sport
- Tennis
- web subject
- Sports
- level of sport
- Professional
- web subject
- Women
- African American
- See more items in
- Culture and the Arts: Sport and Leisure
- Highlights from the Culture and the Arts Collection
- Credit Line
- Gift of Althea Gibson
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- ID Number
- 1988.0260.06
- accession number
- 1988.0260
- catalog number
- 1988.0260.06
- Object Name
- racquet, tennis
- Physical Description
- wood (overall material)
- nylon (overall material)
- varnish; leather; paint; synthetic (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 18 in x 11 in x 2 1/2 in; 45.72 cm x 27.94 cm x 6.35 cm
- overall: 27 1/4 in x 9 1/8 in x 1 1/2 in; 69.215 cm x 23.1775 cm x 3.81 cm
- Record ID
- nmah_748877