Father's Day

It's that time of year again. Charcoal grills are stoked for barbecues. Commercials promote power tools and flatscreen televisions. It is an unofficial mark of the beginning of summer, as it often occurs within days of the summer solstice. Father's Day is June 20.

Father's Day is not the Hallmark holiday it is made out to be. Interestingly enough, the holiday was first envisioned by an Arkansan. Sonora Louise Smart was born in Sebastian County, Arkansas to a Civil War veteran who single handedly raised Sonora and her brothers when their mother died. Ms. Smart was touched by the recently celebrated Mother's Day and wanted a similar holiday to honor and celebrate men such as her father.

The holiday was held informally in June starting in 1910--making this year the centennial of its celebration--but its adoption as a national holiday received little enthusiasm. It was derided as an unnecessary invention. Despite this, Father's Day celebrations were held in high esteem by American presidents. Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and Lyndon Johnson supported turning the grassroots event into a national holiday before Richard Nixon did so in 1972.

The library has resources to find ways to celebrate Father's Day beyond the ubiquitous tie and mass produced card. There are hundreds of craft books children and adults alike can use to create something special for the holiday. These include homemade cards, customized clothing, and festive decorations for the day. There are dozens of books on grilling, and you can use the holiday to brush up on your father's favorite sports such as football, baseball, golf, and fishing. You can also check out fatherhood.gov for creative ideas on how to spend time with your father.