History of Father's Day

The first Father's Day was celebrated on June 19th, 1910. Sonora Smart Dodd, of Washington, first proposed the idea of a "father's day" in 1909 because she wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife died in childbirth with their sixth child. He was left to raise the newborn and his other five children alone on a rural farm in eastern Washington state. As Sonora grew up, she realized the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent. Since her father was born in June, she decided to honor him, and all fathers, during that month.

In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Finally in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day.

Father's Day has greatly evolved over time and is now not only a day to honor fathers, but also stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and other male role models.