Mary Ewing Outerbridge 1852-1886

"Mother of Tennis"


Mary Ewing Outerbridge was born in 1852 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While on vacation in Bermuda in 1874, Mary observed something which she had never seen before. She observed Englishmen playing tennis. Englishmen have been playing tennis well before 1874, but this was new to an American. The game of Tennis was never introduced in America. These British officers of the garrison were playing tennis which fascinated Mary. She was so fascinated with tennis that Mary became interested in the game and purchased rackets and balls and brought them back to the United States.

Mary Outerbridge brought a diagram with her and laid out an hour-glass shaped court at the Staten Island Cricket and Baseball Club in New York.This court was the first tennis court in America, and the first tennis game played in America took place on February 1874. Mary was present to see tennis played in America, and for her efforts to bring tennis to the United States, Mary Outerbridge is called the "Mother of Tennis". Mary died at the young age of 34 in 1886, but not forgotten. Mary Outerbridge was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1981.

Some debate over whether Mary Outerbridge was indeed the first to introduce tennis to America is still in contest. Many people did not believe that Mary Outerbridge saw tennis played outside of the United States and then brought it home. People also believed that Mary was not the first to introduce tennis to America, but rather, a man was. Some historians give credit to Dr.James Dwight, stating that Mary Outerbridge was in Bermuda in 1875, making it impossible for her to introduce the first game, which was played in 1874. However, official documents show that Mary Outerbridge arrived in New York from Bermuda early in 1874, being the first to introduce tennis to this country.

Further Resources for Studying Mary Ewing Outerbridge

New York Times, April 28, 1931, p. 26:3.
Tennis, September 1994, v.30, pp. 126-8.

Return to the New York City Women's Biography Hub
Return to the Course Homepage for HST/WMS 386

Prepared by Leonard Bromberg, a student in Professor Catherine Lavender's History/Women's Studies 386 (Women in New York City, 1890-1940) course, The Department of History and The Program in Women's Studies, The College of Staten Island of The City University of New York.

Send email to Leonard Bromberg at Scorp6042 or to Professor Lavender at lavender@postbox.csi.cuny.edu.
Fall Semester 1998. Last modified: December 15, 1998