WOMENS HISTORY
Alice Marble and HELEN Hull JACOBS
Alice Marble with Helen Hull Jacobs at the U.S. National tournament, September 12, 1936. (AP Photo)
In the 1930s, Alice Marble and Helen Hull Jacobs held a storied rivalry as they dominated the tennis world, each winning five major tournaments between 1932 and 1940. Both women, considered pioneers in the development of women’s tennis, served in the United States military after their respective tennis careers.
Billie Jean King and Title IX
Arguably on of the most important female athlete of all time, Billie Jean King was an incredible activist and advocate for women’s rights. King advocated for Title IX, a federal law written to guarantee equal opportunity in education for all students. The law emphasized no person should be excluded from educational programs or activities (those that receive federal funding) on the basis of sex. Title IX has had a lasting effect on women’s athletics and educational opportunities since it was passed in 1972.
