Sonora Smart Dodd facts for kids
Sonora Louise Smart Dodd (born February 18, 1882 – died March 22, 1978) was an important person in American history. She was the daughter of American Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart. Sonora is famous for creating the idea of Father's Day, a special day to celebrate fathers.
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Sonora Smart Dodd: The Founder of Father's Day
Sonora's Early Life and Family
Sonora Louise Smart was born in Jenny Lind, Arkansas, on February 18, 1882. Her parents were William Jackson Smart and Ellen Victoria Cheek Smart. When Sonora was seven years old, her family moved from Marion, Arkansas, to a farm near Spokane, Washington.
When Sonora was 16, her mother passed away, leaving her father to care for six children. Sonora was the only daughter, and she helped her father, William, raise her younger brothers, including her new baby brother, Marshall. Later, Sonora Smart married John Bruce Dodd. They had one son named John Bruce "Jack" Dodd, who was born in 1909.
How Father's Day Began
While there was an earlier service in West Virginia in 1908 to honor fathers who died in a mining accident, Sonora Smart Dodd is recognized as the person who started the official national holiday for fathers in America.
Sonora deeply admired her own father. One day, while listening to a church sermon about the recently recognized Mother's Day, Sonora felt strongly that fathers also deserved a special day of recognition. She approached a group of church leaders in Spokane, called the Spokane Ministerial Alliance. She suggested that her father's birthday, June 5, be the day to honor fathers. The Alliance decided to celebrate it on the third Sunday in June instead.
The First Father's Day Celebration
The very first Father's Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. At first, the holiday's popularity faded a bit in the 1920s. However, over time, the idea of Father's Day grew and became popular across the entire nation.
Father's Day Becomes a National Holiday
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson sent a special message to Spokane, praising the Father's Day celebrations. Many people, like William Jennings Bryan, also admired the idea. Years later, in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed an official announcement, declaring the third Sunday of June as Father's Day. Finally, in 1972, President Richard Nixon made Father's Day a permanent national holiday, to be celebrated on the third Sunday of June every year.
Sonora Dodd was honored at Expo '74, a big World's Fair held in Spokane in 1974. She passed away four years later at the age of ninety-six. She was buried in Greenwood Memorial Terrace in Spokane.
Beyond Father's Day: Other Contributions
Besides her important work in establishing Father's Day, Sonora Dodd was also involved in other activities. She was active in the Spokane chapter of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, a group that promoted healthy living and social reforms.
In the 1920s, Sonora spent some time away from Spokane. She studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she learned about painting. She also wrote poetry and worked in fashion design in Hollywood.
See also
- Grace Golden Clayton
