1874-1900  |

 1901-1930  |

 1931-1960  |

 1961-1975  |

 1976-2016  |

1931

The 15th ATA Nationals were held at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.  Flood lights allowed night play for the first time.  Reginald Weir of New York City triumphed in the Mens Singles and Ora Washington won her third National Singles Championship.  Nathaniel and Franklyn Jackson won the Men’s Doubles.  Ora Washington and Blanche Winston were the winners of the Women’s Doubles.  Anne Roberts and Ted Thompson captured the Mixed Doubles.

1932

The Tuskegee Syphillis Experiment begins under the direction of the U.S. Public Health Service.  The experiment ends in 1972.

Franklin D. Roosevelt elected 32nd President.

Lynchings – 6

The 16th ATA Nationals were held at Shady Rest Country Club in New Jersey.  Reggie Weir, on a changed line call, went on to win the Men’s Singles title.  Ora Washington defeated Francis Gittens for the Women’s title.  Richard Hudlin and Doubles Turner won the Men’s Doubles and Ballade and Ora Washington won the Women’s Doubles.  Martha Davis and Henry Williams won the Mixed Doubles, while Franklyn Jackson won the Junior Singles.

1933

The 17th ATA Nationals were held at Hampton Institute.  Reginald Weir again faced Nat Jackson in the finals and won decisively in straight sets.  Ora Washington won her fifth consecutive Women’s Singles Championship.  Nathaniel and Franklyn Jackson won the Men’s Doubles, and Ora Washington and Anita Want won the Women’s Doubles Title.  Emma Leonard and Dr. Clarence O. Hilton captured the Mixed Doubles.  Hubert Eaton won the Junior Singles.

1934

The Apollo Theater Opens in Harlem

Lynchings – 15

The 18th ATA Nationals were held at Lincoln University in Lincoln, Pennsylvania.  Nathaniel Jackson won the Men’s and Ora Washington repeated yet again for the Women’s Championship.  Ora Washington and Lulu Ballard won the Women’s Doubles.  Nathaniel and Franklyn Jackson captured the Men”s Doubles Championship.  Emma Leonard and Dr. C.O. Hilton repeated as Mixed Doubles Champions.

1935

In Norris v. Alabama, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that a defendant has a right to trial my a jury of his peers.

Lynchings – 18

The 19th ATA Nationals were held at West Virginia State College.  Franklyn Jackson and Ora Washington won the singles – Washington her 7th in a row.  The Men’s Doubles title was captured by the Jackson Brothers and the Women’s Doubles title was retained by Ora Washington and Lulu Ballard.  the Mixed Doubles event was suspended from the schedule.  Girl’s added to ATA National Championships.

1936

Jesse Owens wins four Gold Medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Mary McLeod Bethune is the first black woman to receive a presidential appointment.

The 20th ATA Nationals were held at Wilberforce University.  Lloyd C. Scott won the Men’s Singles and Lulu Ballard ended Ora Washington’s streak to take the Women’s Championship.   Nathaniel and Franklyn Jackson retained their Men’s Doubles title for another year.  Ora Washington and Lulu Ballard successfully defended their Women’s Doubles Championship.  For the second consecutive year, the Mixed Doubles event was suspended from the schedule.

1937

Joe Louis knocks out Jim Braddock to become the World Heavyweight Champion.

The 21st ATA Nationals returned to Tuskegee Institute.  Dr. Reginald Weir won his 4th singles title and Ora Washington claimed her 8th.  James Stocks and Thomas Walker won the Men’s Doubles Championship.  Women’s Doubles was won by E. Lylyan Spencer and Bertha Isaacs.  Flora Lomax and W.H. Hall won the reinstated Mixed Doubles title.  Fred Johnson, the one-armed marvel, won the Veteran’s Singles.

Boy’s singles and junior doubles were added to the ATA National Championships.

1938

The 22nd ATA Nationals returned to Lincoln University.  Franklyn Jackson won the Men’s Singles title and Flora Lomax took the Women’s title.  Nathaniel and Franklyn Jackson regained their Men’s Doubles title.  Margaret and Roumania Peters won the Women’s Doubles and Lulu Ballard and Gerald Norman, Jr. won the Mixed Doubles title.

1939

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson organizes the Black Actors Guild.

The 23rd ATA Nationals were held at Hampton Institute.  Jimmie McDaniel from Xavier University beat Dr. Reginald Weir for the Men’s Championship and Flora Lomax was victorious over Roumania Peters for the Women’s title.  McDaniel and Cohen triumphed over the Jackson Brothers to win the Men’s Doubles title.   Roumania and Margaret Peters retained the Women’s Doubles title.  The Mixed Doubles was by by Ora Washington and Dr, Sylvester Smith.

1940

Richard Wright publishes his first novel, Native Son.

Hattie McDaniel is the first black actor to receive an Academy Award – Best supporting actress in Gone with the Wind.

The 24th ATA Nationals returned to Wilberforce University.  Jimmie McDaniel retained the Men’s title after a 5 set match against Richard Cohen of Denver.  Agnes Lawson claimed the Women’s Championship.  Clifford Russell and Howard Minnis won the Men’s Doubles and Margaret and Roumania Peters won the Women’s Doubles.  Flora Lomax and William Hall captured the Mixed Doubles.

The historic Don Budge versus Jimmie McDaniel Match at the Cosmopolitan Club in the Harlem Section of New York City takes place.  Budge wins the match 6-1, 6-2.

1941

Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor.  The United States enters World War II.

U.S. Army creates Tuskegee Air Squadron.

Holcombe Ward, USLTA president, send a congratulatory letter to the ATA on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee, stating, “I extend most cordial greetings and sincere wishes for the success less of the American Tennis Association in its further development, work and efforts to maintain the high standards of the game of tennis wherever played.”Wherever Played”, however, did not include USLTA tournaments.

The 25^th ATA Nationals are held in Tuskegee, Alabama. Jimmie McDaniel wins the Men’s title and Flora Lomax wins her third Women’s Singles title. Jimmie McDaniel and Richard Cohen win the Men’s Doubles title and Margaret and Roumania Peters win the Women’s Doubles title. Eoline Thornton and Harold Mitchell win the Mixed Doubles title. Raymond Jackson wins the Boys 18 Singles title and Thelma Mc Daniel wins the Girls 18 Singles title.

1942

The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) founded by James Farmer.

U.S. Marine Corps accepts African American men for the first time.

The 26th ATA Nationals were held at Lincoln University.  Dr. Reginald Weir won his 5th Singles title and Flora Lomax won the Women’s Singles.  Lomax and Lillian Van Buren took the Women’s Doubles and Howard Minnis and Clifford Russell captured the Men’s Doubles.  Kathryn Jones and William E. Jones won the Mixed Doubles.  Fred Johnson entered Althea Gibson in her first tournament – the New York State Open Championship, Girl’s Division.  Which she promptly won!

Fred Johnson enters Althea Gibson in her first tournament – the New York State Open Championships, Girls Division – which she wins.

1943

The 27th ATA Nationals were cancelled due to WWII.

1944

Frederick Douglas Patterson establishes the United Negro College Fund.

The 28th ATA Nationals were held at the Cosmopolitan Tennis Club in New York City.  Lloyd Scott defeated Robert Ryland for the Men’s title and Roumania Peters captured her first Women’s Singles title.  Margaret and Roumania Peters captured the Women’s Doubles.  Howard Minnis and Ronald Fieulleteau won the Men’s Doubles.  Lillian Van Buren and Delbert Russell took the Mixed Doubles title.

Althea Gibson captured the ATA National Girls Championship.

1945

World War II ends.

Nat King Cole becomes the first African American to have a radio variety show which airs on NBC.

Ebony Magazine publishes its first issue.

The 29th ATA Nationals returned to the Cosmopolitan Club.  Lloyd Scott claimed his second Men’s title and Kathryn J. Irvis won the Women’s Singles Championship.  Lloyd Scott and Louis Graves won the Men’s Doubles while Margaret and Roumania Peters repeated as Women’s Doubles winners.  Delbert Russell and Lillian Van Buren repeated as Mixed Doubles winners.

1946

The U.S. Supreme Court in Morgan v. Virginia rules that segregation in interstate bus travel is unconstitutional.

The 30th ATA Nationals were held at Wilberforce University.  Jimmie McDaniel of Los Angeles won the Men’s Championship/  Roumania Peters won her second Women’s title against 17 year old Althea Gibson from New York City.  James Stock and McDaniel defeated Lloyd Scott and Louis Graves for the Men’s Doubles title while Margaret and Roumania Peters captured the Women’s Doubles.  Ora Washington and George Steward took the Mixed Doubles.

1947

Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American to play Major League Baseball in the 20th Century.

The 31st ATA Nationals returned to Tuskegee Institute.  Panamanian George Stewart won the Men’s Singles Championship handily, beating Lloyd Scott 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.  Young Althea Gibson turned the tables on last year’s champion Roumania Peters and captured her first Singles title.  The Peters sisters retained their Women’s Doubles title and John Chandler and Harold Mitchell captured the Men’s Doubles.  Mixed Doubles were won by Ora Washington and George Stewart.

1948

President Truman orders the desegregation of the Armed Forces.

Alice Coachman becomes the first African American woman to win an Olympic Gold Medal when she captures gold in the high jump.

The 32 ATA Nationals were held at South Carolina State University.  George Stewart and Althea Gibson repeated as Singles Champions.  Steward and Hubert Eaton won the Men’s Doubles while the Peters sisters, “Pete and Repeat” added another Women’s Doubles title.  Althea Gibson paired with Dr. R. Walter Johnson to take the Mixed Doubles title.

1949

Businessman Jesse Blanton, Sr. establishes WERD-AM, the first black-owned radio station.

The 33rd ATA Nationals were held at Wilberforce University.  The Men’s Singles final was postponed indefinitely due to rain.  The Men’s Doubles was also postponed, with George Stewart and Hubert Eaton winning at a later date.  Althea Gibson won her third Women’s Singles brown.  Margaret and Roumania Peters captured the Women’s Doubles event.  Althea Gibson and Dr. R. Walter Johnson successfully defended their Mixed Doubles title.

1950

Gwendolyn Brooks becomes the first African American to receive a Pulitzer Prize.

Ralph Bunche becomes the first African American recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

The 34th ATA Nationals we’re again held at Wilberforce University.  Oscar Johnson from Los Angeles defeated former champion George Stewart for the Men’s title.  Althea Gibson took her 4th Women’s Singles Championship title.  She teamed with Dr. R. Walter Johnson to capture the Mixed Doubles title.  James Stocks teamed with Oscar Johnson to win the Men’s Doubles.

Althea Gibson becomes the first African American to play in the US Nationals. She beats Barbara Knapp 6-2, 6-2 at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, Queens, New York in this historic first round match. In the second round, Gibson loses to Louise Brough 1-6, 6-3, 6-8. She is leading in the third set 7-6 when a thunderstorm forces the halt of play. The next day Gibson loses three straight games to lose the match.

1951

The U.S. Supreme Court rules racial segregation in District of Columbia restaurants is unconstitutional.

The 35th ATA Nationals continued at Wilberforce University.  George Steward and Althea Gibson captured the singles titles.  Brother and sister Leo and Mary Fine won the Mixed Doubles.  Margaret and Roumania Peters won the Women’s Doubles.  Dr. Hubert Eaton and George Stewart captured the Men’s Doubles.

Victor Miller and Roosevelt Megginson became the firs blacks to compete in the USLTA Interscholastic Championships in Charlottesville, Virginia.

1952

Ralph Ellison published “Invisible Man.”

Tuskegee Institute reported no lynchings in the United States for the first time in the 71 years of keeping records.

The 36th ATA Nationals continued at Wilberforce University.  The Singles Championships saw a repeat of the previous year with George Steward defeating Norman Appel and Althea Gibson vanquishing Mary Etta Fine.  The Peters sisters, Margaret and Roumania captured yet another Women’s Doubles title.  Althea Gibson and Dr. R. Walter Johnson captured the Mixed Doubles title.

1953

The 37th ATA Nationals were held at Bethune Cookman College.  George Stewart and Althea Gibson repeated as Singles Champions.  Margaret and Roumania Peters continued their steak in the Women ‘s Doubles.  Althea Gibson and Dr. R. W. Johnson retained their Mixed Doubles title.  The Men’s Doubles was call off because of rain.

Lorraine Williams becomes the first African American to win a USLTA National Championship – The National Girls’ 15 Singles title.

1954

The Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education declares segregation in all public schools in the United States unconstitutional, nullifying the earlier doctrine of “separate but equal.”

Malcolm X becomes Minister of the National of Islam’s Harlem Temple 7.

The 38th ATA Nationals returned to Bethune Cookman  College.  Earthna Jacquet and Althea Gibson won the singles events.  Jacquet teamed up with Wilbert Davis to win the Men’s Doubles Championship.  Ending a decade long grip on the Women’s Doubles title by the Peters sisters, Evelyn George and Ivy D. Ramsey captured the title. Althea Gibson and Dr. R. Walter Johnson successfully defended their Mixed Doubles Championship.

1955

Rosa Parks refuses to relinquish her seat on the bus to a white man, initiating the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

14 year old Chicago resident Emmitt Till is murdered in Mississippi for allegedly whistling at a white woman.

Chuck Berry records “Maybellene.”

The 39th ATA Nationals returned to Wilberforce University.  Robert Ryland defeated Howard Minnis for the Men’s title and Althea Gibson continued her reign by defeating Nana Davis Vaughn.  Walter Thomas and C. Albert Dixon of Syracuse, New York captured the Men’s Doubles.  Taking the Women’s doubles title were Mary Etta Fine and Eva Find Bracey.

1956

Nat “King” Cole becomes the first African American to host a prime time variety show on national television  – appears on NBC.

The 40th ATA Nationals continued at Wilberforce University.  Robert Ryland defeated Vernon Morgan, the New York State ATA champion, to retain his Singles title.  Althea Gibson won her record 10th consecutive title by beating Nana Davis Vaughn.  Angela and Lorraine Williams won the Women’s Doubles, while Dr. Hubert Eaton and George Stewart captured the Men’s Doubles.  Gwendolyn McEvans and Lt. col. W.A. Campbell won the Mixed doubles.

Althea Gibson wins the French Championships and becomes the first African American to win a Grand Slam tennis championship.

1957

Congress passes Civil Rights Act of 1957 – the first legislation protecting black rights since Reconstruction.

Martin Luther King, Jr.,  Charles K. Steele and Fred L. Shuttlesworth establish the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.  The SCLC becomes a major force in organizing the civil rights movement and base its principles on non-violence and civil disobedience.

President Eisenhower sends federal troops into Little Rock, Arkansas to ensure the enforcement of a federal court order to desegregate Central High School.

The 41st ATA Nationals again at Wilberforce University.  George Stewart and Gwen McEvans won the singles titles.  Stewart and John Chandler teamed to win the Men’s Doubles.  Fine and Bracey won the Women’s Doubles.  Doris Harrison and Ernie Ingram captured the Mixed Doubles.

Althea Gibson becomes the first African American to win the US National Championships.

Althea Gibson wa named the Associated Press Woman Athlete of the Year and winner of the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Trophy as Female Athlete of the Year.

1958

Alvin Ailey Dance Theater is formed

The 42nd ATA National were held at Wilberforce University.  Wilbert Davis and Mary Etta Fine won the singles titles.  Wilbur Jenkins and Tom Calhoun won the Men’s Doubles.  Miss Fine and her sister, Eva Fine Bracey, captured the Women’s Doubles.  Clyde Freeman and Gwen McEvans captured the Mixed Doubles.

Althea Gibson wins her second US National Women’s Singles title.  Althea Gibson wins her 2nd  Wimbledon Championship.

Again, Althea Gibson was named the AP Woman Athlete of the Year.  Later in the year, she announced her retirement from amateur tennis.

1959

Berry Gordy, Jr. founds Motown Records in Detroit, Michigan.

The 43rd ATA Nationals continued to be held at Wilberforce University.  Wilbert Davis retained his title defeating Wilbur Jenkins of Jacksonville, Florida in five sets.  Gwen McEvans won her second Women’s Championship by beating Darnella Everson.  Joseph Pierce and Shaw Emmons won the Men’s Doubles in a one set sudden death match limited because of darkness.  Marlene and Darnella Everson captured the Women’s Doubles.

Bob Ryland participates in tennis promoter Jack Marsh’s World Pro Championships in Cleveland and becomes the first black male tennis professional.

1960

The sit-in protest movement begins at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) is founded at Shaw University.

Civil rights Act of 1960 was passed by Congress, which provided for penalties for obstructing anyone in registering or casting a vote.

Wilma Rudolph wins three track and field gold medals at the Rome Olympics.

The 44th ATA Nationals returned to Hampton Institute.  17 year old Arthur Ashe, Jr. beat 6 time champion George Stewart to capture the Men’s Singles Championship.  Mimi Kanarek won the Woman’s title.  The Men’s Doubles winners were Wilbur Jenkins and Tom Calhoun.  Bessie Stockard and Lorraine Williams captured the Women’s Doubles.  Elaine Bush and George Stewart captured the Mixed Doubles.

Arthur Ashe, Jr. captured the US Boy;s 18 Indoor Championship.