To mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, we’re cataloging 25 objects that define the country’s history.
Before Arthur Ashe became the first Black man to win Wimbledon, and before Billie Jean King won the famous “Battle of the Sexes,” there was another pioneer in tennis: Althea Gibson. She broke the color barrier in 1950 and went on to win 11 Grand Slam titles using her aggressive, attacking play style.
Her outfit from her historic victory at Wimbledon in 1957 and one of her rackets from 1958 were donated to the Smithsonian Institution.
Eric Jentsch, a curator of popular culture and sport at the National Museum of American History, said her story and legacy still resonate today.
“She was an individual, first and foremost, who knew her talents and worth,” Jentsch said. “You couldn’t use an argument that she wasn’t good enough.”
The story of Gibson breaking the tennis color barrier in 1950 at the U.S. National Championships, known today as the U.S. Open, is incredible. Can you describe what Gibson faced in that moment?
“I would say that getting to that point was helped by members of the Black community and from white women that were part of the tennis establishment advocating for her and helping her career and getting her into the door. I would say that that was one of the many steps that Gibson took as a pioneer. She was definitely one of one in many of the events and things that she did in her life.
How would you compare her experience to Jackie Robinson’s?
“I wouldn’t want to compare either of their experiences, because I’m sure it was very difficult on both. I’d say that baseball probably had a much stronger internal structure. It was professional. There were a lot of people knocking on the door to follow Robinson.
“And Gibson was pretty much a pioneer. A one of one. She was the person who not only integrated tennis championships in America, not only won Wimbledon, but she broke the color barrier in international tennis. She was the first person of color in the French Open. She was the first person of color in the Australian Open. So her whole life was kind of being the representative, the first person, into formerly enclosed spaces. After retiring from tennis, she picked up golf and broke the color barrier at the [Ladies Professional Golf Association].”
When people see Gibson’s racket and outfit, what impact does this have on people?
“I think people are still a little surprised with the story. Gibson, unlike Robinson, perhaps had to wait longer for the American public as a whole to really recognize her achievements, and I’ve noticed over the years there’s been a lot more interest in her story.
“Currently, we have objects that were donated by Gibson to us in our Entertainment Nation exhibit. And we know that people really get excited about them and take pictures next to them and understand the importance of her groundbreaking achievements.”
This interview has been edited for clarity.
____
Will Walkey produced and edited this interview for broadcast with Catherine Welch. Walkey also produced it for the web.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2026 WBUR