Big Brother Big Sister Program

  • The beginning

    The beginning
    Ernest Coulter, court clerk, helps organize the first New York Children's Court; Ladies of Charity, later Catholic Big Sisters of New York, starts to befriend girls who come before the New York Children's Court.
  • Period: to

    BbBs program

  • President helps out

    President helps out
    President Calvin Coolidge becomes patron of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation.
  • Global spreading

    Global spreading
    Businessman Irvin F. Westheimer befriends a young boy in Cincinnati, OH; seeds are formed for the start of Big Brothers in Cincinnati.
  • Lucky contestent

    Lucky contestent
    Ernest Coulter founds the organized Big Brothers movement by obtaining 39 volunteers, who each agree to befriend one boy.
  • News Paper help

    News Paper help
    The New York Times reports Big Brothers activity in 26 cities.
  • The big speech

    The big speech
    Ernest Coulter embarks on nationwide lecture tour on behalf of Big Brothers; planning begins for a national Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization.
  • Gather up Everyone

    Gather up Everyone
    The first national conference of Big Brothers and Big Sisters organizations is held in Grand Rapids, MI.
  • Celebrity

    Celebrity
    Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., becomes treasurer of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation;
    First motion picture based on a Big and Little Brother relationship is released by Paramount Pictures.
  • Too many people

    Too many people
    Six hundred delegates attend a Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation meeting in New York City.
  • Bring peace to everyone

    Bring peace to everyone
    Six hundred delegates attend a Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation meeting in New York City.