Sonora Louise Smart Dodd, a loving daughter from Spokane is renowned as
the founder of Father's Day celebration as we see today. It was only
through her relentless struggle and firm determination that fathers
everywhere are today officially given their due respect. Father's Day is
today celebrated in over thirty countries around the world. When
children of all these countries celebrate the day by expressing
gratitude for their father, they also owe a “thank you” to
Sonora as it was she who thought of idea the of celebrating Father's Day
and did everything to ensure that the idea succeeded in its true spirit.
Sonora Louise Smart Dodd: Childhood
Sonora was born to William and Ellen Smart at Jenny Lind, Arkansas in
1882. When Sonora was five, the Smart family moved to West in search of
better life and got settled in Spokane, Washington. When Sonora was 16
years old her mother died while giving birth to her sixth child. Eldest
of all children, Sonora realized the enormity of hardships that were to
be faced by her father - a Civil War veteran in raising the family. She
watched him take care of children with devotion and making endless
sacrifices so that his children live better.
Sonora Louise Smart Dodd: The Idea of Celebrating
Father's Day
Fairly mature at the age of 27, Sonora listened to a Sunday Sermon on
Mother's Day in 1909. Loving daughter of a devoted father, Sonora
wondered that if there is a day to honor mothers why is there no
corresponding day to honor all fathers. The question left a deep
impression on her mind and she resolved to get fathers their due respect
in the society.
Sonora Louise Smart Dodd: The Campaign and the Struggle
Sonora soon began her campaign for the official recognition of Father's
Day. Married and mother of a son by then, she approached the Spokane
Ministerial Association and the local Young Men's Christian Association
(YMCA) with the idea of celebrating Father's Day. Sonora received the
support of these two organizations and as a result Spokane celebrated
its first Father's Day on June 19, 1910.
Though Sonora wished that Father's Day be celebrated on June 5, her
father's birthday, but it so happened that there was not enough time for
preparation so the celebrations were deferred to June 19, the third
Sunday of June.
Print media, which was trying to promote Mother's Day, gave an extended
coverage to the unique Father's Day Celebration of Spokane. This
generated interest for the festival amongst the masses. Political leader
William Jennings Bryan became one of the earliest supports of Mrs Dodd
in her campaign.
Initially there was a lot of hesitation amongst the people. Some even
ridiculed the idea but Sonora's determination for establishing Father's
Day in US did not shake. Her campaign bore success as people by and
large accepted the need to recognize the important role played by a
father in raising a child. Soon the day came to be celebrated in several
cities across US.
Observing the popularity of the day President Woodrow Wilson approved
of the idea of celebrating Father's Day in 1916. And by the time
Sonora's father, William Smart died in 1919, Father's Day was a popular
occasion in US.
In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge too supported the idea of a national
Father's Day. But it was only after the struggle of four decades of
Sonora and her supporters that the day officially came to be recognized.
President Lyndon Johnson signed a Presidential Proclamation declaring
the Third Sunday of June as Father's Day in 1966. But in 1972, President
Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's
Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. Efforts of Ms Dodd were
appreciated and she came to be officially recognized as the 'Mother
of Father's Day'.
Sonora Louise Smart Dodd: Death
Sonora Louise Smart Dodd died in 1978 at the ripe age of 96. Besides
doing the noble job of giving father's their due recognition, Sonora
gained appreciation for her artwork and her writing for children's book
on the Native Americans of Spokane. To mark her significant contribution
towards society, a monument was constructed at YMCA, Spokane.
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