Dorothy Eda Hehnke
“We can’t stop them.”
—An athletic association president, 1922
In the early 1920s, Dorothy Eda Hehnke played half-court basketball at her Nebraska high school, one of few sports available to girls. At the time, most people mistakenly believed that girls could not handle the physical exertion or stress of competitive sports. In 1926 the state legislature outlawed girl’s play altogether—a ban not overturned until Title IX.
Who gets to play sports?
(1926) Gertrude Ederle
First woman to swim the English Channel, besting all records set by men and becoming an international sensation.
Goggles Gertrude Ederle wore while swimming the English Channel from France to England
(1932) Babe Didrikson
A former Olympic gold medalist who dominated the links in women’s golf—but was barred from the men-only U.S. Open.
Postcard featuring Babe Didrikson at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
(1936) Sonja Henie
Norwegian Olympic and World championship figure skater who spun her way to Hollywood stardom.
Sonja Henie’s ice skates.
(1948) Betsy Jochum
One of the best hitters in the short-lived All-American Girls Professional Baseball League created during World War II.
Betsy Jochum’s South Bend Blue Sox uniform dress.
(1953) Hanes Hosiery basketball team
A company team of women millworkers who won three national Amateur Athletic Union league championships.
Haines Hosiery team’s National Women’s A.A.U. (Amateur Athletic Union) championship trophy.
(1957) Althea Gibson
The first person of color to win the U.S. National Championships and Wimbledon, who broke the color barrier in international tennis
Tennis uniform Althea Gibson wore when she won the women’s singles title at Wimbledon in 1957
(1964) Patti McGee
First woman to win the National Skateboard Championships and first female pro skater
Patti McGee’s skateboard
(1926) Gertrude Ederle
First woman to swim the English Channel, besting all records set by men and becoming an international sensation.
Goggles Gertrude Ederle wore while swimming the English Channel from France to England
(1932) Babe Didrikson
A former Olympic gold medalist who dominated the links in women’s golf—but was barred from the men-only U.S. Open.
Postcard featuring Babe Didrikson at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
(1936) Sonja Henie
Norwegian Olympic and World championship figure skater who spun her way to Hollywood stardom.
Sonja Henie’s ice skates.
(1948) Betsy Jochum
One of the best hitters in the short-lived All-American Girls Professional Baseball League created during World War II.
Betsy Jochum’s South Bend Blue Sox uniform dress.
(1953) Hanes Hosiery basketball team
A company team of women millworkers who won three national Amateur Athletic Union league championships.
Haines Hosiery team’s National Women’s A.A.U. (Amateur Athletic Union) championship trophy.
(1957) Althea Gibson
The first person of color to win the U.S. National Championships and Wimbledon, who broke the color barrier in international tennis
Tennis uniform Althea Gibson wore when she won the women’s singles title at Wimbledon in 1957
(1964) Patti McGee
First woman to win the National Skateboard Championships and first female pro skater
Patti McGee’s skateboard
(1972) Title IX passed
(1973) Billie Jean King
Founder of the Women’s Tennis Association and winner of “The Battle of the Sexes” exhibition match against Bobby Riggs
Tennis dress Billie Jean King wore for her match with Bobby Riggs
(1974) Pat Summitt
Former Olympian who coached the University of Tennessee’s Lady Vols to 1,098 wins and eight NCAA championships
Pat Summitt’s clipboard and coach’s whistle
(1976) Renée Richards
The first transgender athlete to participate in the U.S. Open tennis tournament, having legally fought for the opportunity
Renée Richards’s tennis racket
(1978) Janet Guthrie
First woman driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500 auto races and an advocate for women in what she called the “good ‘ole boy” racing circuit
Fire-resistant coveralls Janet Guthrie wore while racing in the Indianapolis 500
(1979) Marian “Tyger” Trimiar
One of the first women licensed to box—and to win a women’s lightweight championship—who also fought for pay equity
Keepsake piece of a boxing robe Marian Trimiar wore for her first professional bout
(1983) Marilyn Hamilton
National Wheelchair Tennis champion and founder of the Winner on Wheels program for children
“Ultralight” sports wheelchair Marilyn Hamilton designed and used
(1990) Jaime Reyes
A goofy-footed street skater and pioneer in the male-dominated arena of skateboarding
Jaime Reyes’s pro model skateboard deck
(1992) Kristi Yamaguchi
The first Asian American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating
Kristi Yamaguchi’s figure skates
(1992) Bonnie Blair
The most decorated American woman in Winter Olympic history with five gold and one bronze medal in speed skating
Skating skin suit Bonnie Blair wore at the 1992 Albertville Olympic Games
(1994) Laura Shepherd
Three-time Soap Box Derby racing champion who dominated an event that until 1971 was for boys only
Laura Shepherd’s soap box derby car
(1996) Mia Hamm
A goal-scoring sensation who raised the popularity of women’s soccer and the visibility of women in national and global athletics
Team USA jersey Mia Hamm wore at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games
(1998) Shannon Dunn
A snowboarder who used her influence to design a smaller, lighter board to help make equipment accessible to more women
Shannon Dunn’s pro model snowboard
(2007) Lee Dockins
A gymnast who competed in more than 150 Special Olympics before coaching and promoting greater inclusion in sports
Leotard Lee Dockins wore at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China
(2008) Rochelle Ballard
A championship big-wave surfer and co-founder of International Women’s Surfing
Surfboard Rochelle Ballard used during the 2008 Pro Women’s Surfing circuit
(2010) Lindsey Vonn
Olympic gold medalist in the downhill event and World Cup champion in all five disciplines of alpine skiing
Lindsey Vonn’s downhill skis
(2012) Katie Ledecky
The most decorated female swimmer of all time, having won five Olympic gold medals and 14 world championship golds
Kickboard Katie Ledecky used during practice at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games
(2016) Simone Manuel
A multi-medal Olympic swimmer and champion for increased opportunities in swimming for young people of color
Swimsuit Simone Manuel wore during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games
(1973) Billie Jean King
Founder of the Women’s Tennis Association and winner of “The Battle of the Sexes” exhibition match against Bobby Riggs
Tennis dress Billie Jean King wore for her match with Bobby Riggs
(1974) Pat Summitt
Former Olympian who coached the University of Tennessee’s Lady Vols to 1,098 wins and eight NCAA championships
Pat Summitt’s clipboard and coach’s whistle
(1976) Renée Richards
The first transgender athlete to participate in the U.S. Open tennis tournament, having legally fought for the opportunity
Renée Richards’s tennis racket
(1978) Janet Guthrie
First woman driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500 auto races and an advocate for women in what she called the “good ‘ole boy” racing circuit
Fire-resistant coveralls Janet Guthrie wore while racing in the Indianapolis 500
(1979) Marian “Tyger” Trimiar
One of the first women licensed to box—and to win a women’s lightweight championship—who also fought for pay equity
Keepsake piece of a boxing robe Marian Trimiar wore for her first professional bout
(1983) Marilyn Hamilton
National Wheelchair Tennis champion and founder of the Winner on Wheels program for children
“Ultralight” sports wheelchair Marilyn Hamilton designed and used
(1990) Jaime Reyes
A goofy-footed street skater and pioneer in the male-dominated arena of skateboarding
Jaime Reyes’s pro model skateboard deck
(1992) Kristi Yamaguchi
The first Asian American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating
Kristi Yamaguchi’s figure skates
(1992) Bonnie Blair
The most decorated American woman in Winter Olympic history with five gold and one bronze medal in speed skating
Skating skin suit Bonnie Blair wore at the 1992 Albertville Olympic Games
(1994) Laura Shepherd
Three-time Soap Box Derby racing champion who dominated an event that until 1971 was for boys only
Laura Shepherd’s soap box derby car
(1996) Mia Hamm
A goal-scoring sensation who raised the popularity of women’s soccer and the visibility of women in national and global athletics
Team USA jersey Mia Hamm wore at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games
(1998) Shannon Dunn
A snowboarder who used her influence to design a smaller, lighter board to help make equipment accessible to more women
Shannon Dunn’s pro model snowboard
(2007) Lee Dockins
A gymnast who competed in more than 150 Special Olympics before coaching and promoting greater inclusion in sports
Leotard Lee Dockins wore at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China
(2008) Rochelle Ballard
A championship big-wave surfer and co-founder of International Women’s Surfing
Surfboard Rochelle Ballard used during the 2008 Pro Women’s Surfing circuit
(2010) Lindsey Vonn
Olympic gold medalist in the downhill event and World Cup champion in all five disciplines of alpine skiing
Lindsey Vonn’s downhill skis
(2012) Katie Ledecky
The most decorated female swimmer of all time, having won five Olympic gold medals and 14 world championship golds
Kickboard Katie Ledecky used during practice at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games
(2016) Simone Manuel
A multi-medal Olympic swimmer and champion for increased opportunities in swimming for young people of color
Swimsuit Simone Manuel wore during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games
Visual description
You are presently next to a square columns that is in front of the long wall case that comprises the first part of this exhibit titled We Belong Here that marks the 50th anniversary of Title 9. On the column is an illustration from a poster from the 1920s that shows a teenaged girl with wavy brunette hair tossing a basketball into a hoop. She is wearing a white tunic-length top with sleeves rolled above her elbows, a navy-blue kerchief, and navy-blue knee-length bloomers with black stockings and flat shoes. The illustration is a stand in for Dorothy Eda Henke who played half-court basketball at her Nebraska high school, one of the few sports available to girls before Title 9. Behind the illustration is a splash of green—like quickly brushed paint. A quote by a man about women in the 1920s already making inroads into sports reads: We can’t stop them.
