Sonora Luise Smart

historical figure

Sonora Luise Smart was an American woman credited with establishing the modern celebration of Father's Day in the United States. In 1909, inspired by a sermon honoring mothers, she sought to create a similar day to recognize fathers, particularly her own, who had raised six children alone after the death of his wife. Her efforts led to the first official Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington, in 1910, and the holiday gained popularity across the country, eventually being signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966.