Althea Gibson

59 years ago on July 6, 1957, Althea Gibson won the women’s singles title at Wimbledon and became the first African American to win the tournament. She is pictured here in France the prior year in 1956, where she won the French title.

In the past 120 years, these women have all made an impact on our world.

We were so inspired to come across this upcoming film project from TIME called “Firsts,” a series that sits down with pioneering female athletes, scientists, lawmakers, entertainers and entrepreneurs for exclusive interviews on their unique journeys.

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Althea Gibson at the West Side Tennis Club, Queens, New York, 1950 © Bettmann

Althea Gibson, American tennis player who was the first Black person to win the French, Wimbledon, and U.S. singles titles.

1971 International Tennis Hall of Fame Inductee

When 28-year-old Serena Williams lifted up her Wimbledon trophy this past week, the spirit of a young woman from Harlem some 53 years earlier also graced the South London stadium that day. That kindred spirit being none other than Althea Gibson, the first African-American tennis player to win the women's singles title at Wimbledon in 1957...

Reflect on Minnesota’s history through nostalgic photos from the