How The History of Father’s Day Started with a Tragedy

The story of Father’s Day USA began with pain, rather than glorious parades and presents. On December 6, 1907, a tragedy hit Monongah, West Virginia. The Monongah mining disaster took the lives of 362 men, most of them fathers. 

In a flash, the town was changed forever. Children waited for dads who never came home. Mothers wiped tears while setting dinner plates that would stay empty.

Just months later, on July 5, 1908, a gentle woman named Grace Golden Clayton stood inside a small church in nearby Fairmont. She looked at a room full of grieving families. 

Her voice shook as she spoke, but her words were full of care. She suggested honoring the fathers who were never able to return. 

That quiet Sunday, July 5, 1908, marked the first Father’s Day service, but few people were aware of it. Why? The town was also busy honoring the Fourth of July. There was a parade and big celebrations. The tribute by Grace Clayton was almost forgotten. But it was her idea that planted the first seed.

Two years later, far away in Spokane, Washington, another daughter was thinking about her dad. Her name was Sonora Smart Dodd, and she had a big heart. Her father, William Jackson Smart, was a veteran of the Civil War. After his wife passed away, he raised six children all on his own.

In May 1909, while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon, Sonora had an idea. If we honor moms, why not dads? She rushed to the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) in Spokane and asked for help. She brought her dad’s old war hat and collected signatures from people who supported her.

The first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane took place on June 19, 1910. Boys handed out hand-drawn cards. Girls made badges for their dads. A local band played happy music. The YMCA gym was filled with laughter and hugs. That day, Spokane felt like a warm, loving home.

Although it was beautiful, the rest of the country barely took notice. But Sonora never gave up.

As the 1920s rolled in with jazz and big city lights, Sonora moved to Chicago to study art. Without her pushing the idea, the movement slowed down. Newspapers said Father’s Day was just a trick to sell ties and socks. People began to wonder if this holiday would be genuine or just another shopping day. 

During the Great Depression (1929–1939), conditions worsened. Families were broke. Dads lined up for food. Kids whispered about empty plates. Buying gifts was out of the question.

But some business owners saw an opportunity. In 1938, a group of sellers formed the Father’s Day Council. They sold ties, golf clubs, and shaving kits. Their ads joked, “No more socks! Give Dad something new!”

Still, many people were unsure whether Father’s Day should be about gifts at all.

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson supported Father’s Day. He pressed a button in the White House, and a flag rose outside Spokane’s City Hall. But Congress disagreed. They were afraid holidays were turning into sales events.

In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge wrote to U.S. Governors. He said Father’s Day was important. But again, lawmakers held back.

Over the years, several presidents have expressed interest in the idea, but Congress has consistently rejected it. They didn’t want to create a holiday that seemed like stores made up.

It was 1957, and silence was kept in the Senate room. Senator Margaret Chase Smith delivered a speech from Maine. Although she was small, her voice carried strength. A call for fairness was made after decades of one-sided honor.

A fist was slammed on the table. The speech was reported in newspapers. Headlines were printed across the country. Agreement was quietly shown in homes, and breakfast tables were filled with quiet talk. More attention was brought to the cause.

Support was increased because of her stand. The issue was discussed in families. Store displays were updated, and past promotions were discontinued. A need for a day to honor fathers was finally recognized.

In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a paper. It stated that the third Sunday in June would be Father’s Day. The radio played the news. People smiled. But it wasn’t official yet; the order could be taken away.

Then, in 1972, President Richard Nixon signed a law. This made Father’s Day a permanent national holiday. Cameras flashed. Families cheered. Sonora Smart Dodd, now an older woman, heard the news in Spokane. Her dream had finally come true.

Today, Father’s Day is not limited to only cards and cookouts. It’s about remembering dads who gave their all. It’s about saying thank you to the ones who stay up late, who show up to games, who teach us how to ride bikes or fix things.

Some families celebrate with backyard BBQs. Others visit graves or light candles. Some write letters, draw pictures, or just give a big hug.

What matters most is the feeling. The meaning of Father’s Day is love, thanks, and remembering.

• 1907: Monongah mining disaster
• 1908: First Father’s Day service by Grace Golden Clayton in Fairmont, WV
• 1910: Sonora Smart Dodd organizes Father’s Day in Spokane
• 1916: President Wilson supports the idea
• 1924: President Coolidge encourages governors to honor it
• 1938: Father’s Day Council formed
• 1957: Senator Margaret Chase Smith gives her bold speech
• 1966: President Johnson issues a proclamation
• 1972: President Nixon signs it into law

1. Who started Father’s Day?
   Grace Golden Clayton held the first service in 1908, but Sonora Smart Dodd helped make it popular in 1910.
2. Why did it take so long to make Father’s Day official?
   Some people thought it was too commercial. Congress didn’t want a holiday pushed by stores.
3. How is Father’s Day different from Mother’s Day?
   It began later, faced more challenges, and was often viewed as less critical. But both days honor love and family.
4. What is the real reason we celebrate Father’s Day?
   The real reason Father’s Day is celebrated is to honor the love, sacrifices, and guidance of fathers and father figures. The idea started after a mining tragedy in 1907 and was later revived by Sonora Smart Dodd in 1910 to honor her father, who raised six children alone.
5. Why is Father’s Day always on the third Sunday of June?
   Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June because that date was chosen during the first official celebration in Spokane, Washington, in 1910.