History

The idea of having a day to honor fathers originated with Sonora Smart Dodd from Spokane, Washington. While listening to a Mother's Day Sermon in 1909, Sonora began to reflect upon everything her father had done for her. William Jackson Smart, Sonora's father, was a Civil War Veteran who was widowed after his wife had died during childbirth. Smart was left to raise Sonora and her five siblings by himself on a rural farm. Sonora's father was born in June so she chose that month to hold the first celebration. The first Father's Day was proclaimed by the mayor of Spokane on June 19, 1909.

In 1924, Calvin Coolidge recommended that Father's Day become a national holiday. The all-male U.S. Congress, however, was mindful that passing a measure so favorable towards males may be seen as a conflict of interest. The National Father's Day Committee was formed in New York City in 1926. A Joint Resolution of Congress recognized Father's day in 1956. In 1966, Lyndon Johnson established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June but the holiday was not officially recognized until the presidency of Richard Nixon in 1972. This year, Father's Day is June 18.

Additional Links

http://www.loveyoufather.com/fathers-day-history/index.html

http://www.loc.gov/wiseguide/jun03/father.html http://wilstar.com/holidays/fathers.htm

http://presentpicker.com/ppp/father/fathers_day_gifts.html

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/004706.html