African American Sports History Signed Photograph of Althea Gibson, circa 1970

Althea Gibson

Manuscripts & Autographs

Gibson, Althea signed photograph, circa 1970, documents the public legacy of the first Black player admitted to the U.S. National Championships and one of the central figures in the desegregation of international tennis. Gibson won major singles titles at the French Championships, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Nationals, and her 1950 entry into Forest Hills challenged the racial exclusion that had shaped elite American tennis.

Gibson, Althea. Signed photograph. Circa 1970. Silver gelatin photograph, 10 x 8 inches. Signed in black marker, “To Ray Kenter with Best Wishes, Althea.” The image presents Gibson after the height of her championship years, when her name carried significance beyond tennis as a marker of Black athletic achievement in segregated and recently integrated sporting institutions. Between 1956 and 1958 she won major championships across singles and doubles play, including Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals in 1957 and 1958.

Gibson’s career also extended into professional golf; the LPGA identifies her as the first African American player to join the LPGA Tour, adding a second major barrier-breaking chapter to her athletic life. Light handling wear, very good. A strong signed image for the study of African American sports history, women athletes, tennis integration, and the public memory of mid-century athletic desegregation.

Item #16663

Price: $450.00