individual champion title by capturing the women’s tennis singles championship. Cooper, born in Ealing, Middlesex, England, wore an ankle-length dress in accordance with proper Victorian attire while she was playing, and she followed her singles victory by also winning the mixed doubles championship with partner Reginald Doherty. She didn’t win a medal, though. Those weren’t awarded until the 1904 Summer Olympics.
Female Professional Artist
Around 1552, the first female professional artist was Sofonisba Anguissola. She was an Italian Renaissance painter who was praised by Michelangelo himself for her drawing ability. Anguissola’s self-portraits and family paintings earned her royal endorsements from the aristocracy of Milan, Mantua, Parma, and others. In 1559, she was invited to Spain to become a court portraitist for Philip II. Anguissola was also the first important woman artist of the Renaissance and the first female painter to enjoy an international reputation.
Female Sports Announcer, Radio
In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Mrs. Harry Johnson, whose first name was never recorded, was the first female sports announcer. She was heard over the radio in Omaha, Nebraska, accompanying her husband, who was the sports announcer for Central States Broadcasting. During the broadcasts of local high school sporting events, Mrs. Johnson provided insightful color commentary. She filled in airtime during lags in the sporting action and also helped keep statistics of the game to make a better sports broadcast. She and her husband made a great on-air team.
Female Sports Announcer, TV
In 1965, the San Diego, California-born Donna de Varona became the first female network sports announcer in television history when she signed a contract with ABC’s Wide World of Sports. As a former Olympic athlete and champion, de Varona parlayed her sporting experience into broadcasting and traveled all over, temporarily filling in when regular anchormen became ill or went on vacation.
Female Supreme Court Judge
On September 25, 1981, Sandra Day O’Connor (born 1930) joined the U.S. Supreme Court as its 102nd justice and its first female judge. President Ronald Reagan had announced earlier, on July 7, 1981, that O’Connor was his appointee to fill a court vacancy. O’Connor was confirmed by a Judiciary Committee vote of 17 to 1 and won approval by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 99 to 0. She made it clear that the high court’s role was to interpret the law, not to legislate. O’Connor served as an Associate Justice for more than 24 years until the swearing in of her replacement on January 31, 2006.
Ferris Wheel
In 1893, the world’s first Ferris wheel was built for the World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, bridge builder George Washington Gale Ferris, who was greatly knowledgeable in structural steel, invented the amusement ride. The first Ferris wheel stood about 265 feet tall, weighed 1,200 tons, carried 36 cars, seated about 1,500 passengers, and sported 3,000 electric lights. It was an awe-some display that was powered by two 1,000-horsepower engines. With its construction costs being roughly $400,000, Ferris’s wheel certainly accomplished what the Chicago fair organizers wanted—something to rival the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
Fighter Plane
The Vickers F. B. 5 Gunbus was the first fighter plane. It was a two seater bi-plane (two wings on each side) developed by the British Vickers company in 1914. As an experimental gun carrier, it had sufficient lift to carry a machine gun and its operator as well as the pilot. The gunner could fire the machine gun in a tiny forward compartment. Although this aircraft lacked speed, it was put into service over France in early 1915 during World War I.
Filibuster
On June 11, 1790, at Federal Hall in New York City, the first filibuster for the purpose of delaying legislative action occurred in the U.S. House of Representatives. Elbridge Gerry of
Female Professional Artist
Around 1552, the first female professional artist was Sofonisba Anguissola. She was an Italian Renaissance painter who was praised by Michelangelo himself for her drawing ability. Anguissola’s self-portraits and family paintings earned her royal endorsements from the aristocracy of Milan, Mantua, Parma, and others. In 1559, she was invited to Spain to become a court portraitist for Philip II. Anguissola was also the first important woman artist of the Renaissance and the first female painter to enjoy an international reputation.
Female Sports Announcer, Radio
In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Mrs. Harry Johnson, whose first name was never recorded, was the first female sports announcer. She was heard over the radio in Omaha, Nebraska, accompanying her husband, who was the sports announcer for Central States Broadcasting. During the broadcasts of local high school sporting events, Mrs. Johnson provided insightful color commentary. She filled in airtime during lags in the sporting action and also helped keep statistics of the game to make a better sports broadcast. She and her husband made a great on-air team.
Female Sports Announcer, TV
In 1965, the San Diego, California-born Donna de Varona became the first female network sports announcer in television history when she signed a contract with ABC’s Wide World of Sports. As a former Olympic athlete and champion, de Varona parlayed her sporting experience into broadcasting and traveled all over, temporarily filling in when regular anchormen became ill or went on vacation.
Female Supreme Court Judge
On September 25, 1981, Sandra Day O’Connor (born 1930) joined the U.S. Supreme Court as its 102nd justice and its first female judge. President Ronald Reagan had announced earlier, on July 7, 1981, that O’Connor was his appointee to fill a court vacancy. O’Connor was confirmed by a Judiciary Committee vote of 17 to 1 and won approval by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 99 to 0. She made it clear that the high court’s role was to interpret the law, not to legislate. O’Connor served as an Associate Justice for more than 24 years until the swearing in of her replacement on January 31, 2006.
Ferris Wheel
In 1893, the world’s first Ferris wheel was built for the World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, bridge builder George Washington Gale Ferris, who was greatly knowledgeable in structural steel, invented the amusement ride. The first Ferris wheel stood about 265 feet tall, weighed 1,200 tons, carried 36 cars, seated about 1,500 passengers, and sported 3,000 electric lights. It was an awe-some display that was powered by two 1,000-horsepower engines. With its construction costs being roughly $400,000, Ferris’s wheel certainly accomplished what the Chicago fair organizers wanted—something to rival the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
Fighter Plane
The Vickers F. B. 5 Gunbus was the first fighter plane. It was a two seater bi-plane (two wings on each side) developed by the British Vickers company in 1914. As an experimental gun carrier, it had sufficient lift to carry a machine gun and its operator as well as the pilot. The gunner could fire the machine gun in a tiny forward compartment. Although this aircraft lacked speed, it was put into service over France in early 1915 during World War I.
Filibuster
On June 11, 1790, at Federal Hall in New York City, the first filibuster for the purpose of delaying legislative action occurred in the U.S. House of Representatives. Elbridge Gerry of
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