Timeline
1902 - 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.
1903 - Businessman Irvin F. Westheimer befriends a young boy in Cincinnati, Ohio; seeds are formed for the start of Big Brothers in Cincinnati.
1904 - Ernest Coulter founds the organized Big Brothers movement by obtaining 39 volunteers, who each agree to befriend one boy.
1912 - The New York Times reports Big Brothers activity in 26 U.S. cities
1912 - The first Canadian Big Sister program begins in Toronto.
1913 - The first Canadian Big Brother agency forms in Toronto.
1916 - Big Brothers work spreads to 96 U.S. cities.
1917 - The first national conference of Big Brothers and Big Sisters organizations is held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, leading to the later organization of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation.
1923 - Big Sisters work geared to African-Americans is underway in Louisville, Kentucky and Brooklyn, New York. 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.
1925 - Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation holds its first conference for agency executives. President Calvin Coolidge becomes patron of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation.
1934 - President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt become patrons of Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation.
1940 - U.S. National Committee on Big Brothers and Big Sisters service is created to continue to pursue the formation of a national group.
1947 - Big Brothers Association headquarters opens in Philadelphia.
1948 - Norman Rockwell produces the sketch that becomes a symbol for the Big Brothers Association.
1951 - Big Brothers of the Year Program begins, Associate Justice Tom Clark of the U.S. Supreme Court and J. Edgar Hoover are named.
1958 - Big Brothers Association is chartered by Congress.
1969 - Big Brothers Association grows to 150 affiliated agencies.
1970 - Big Sisters International is incorporated.
1971 - Big Brothers Association reports 208 affiliates.
1974 - The first provincial Big Sisters conference was held in Canada and delegates from across Ontario joined to share experiences, exchange ideas and participate in educational seminars.
1975 - There are almost 100 agencies with 5,200 matches in Canada. The Big Sisters Association of Ontario (provincial) is formally established.
1977 - Big Sisters International and Big Brothers Association merge, forming Big Brothers Big Sisters of America with 357 agencies. 1980 - 150 Canadian agencies are serving 7,200 children. 1981 - The Big Sisters Association of Ontario (provincial) is formally incorporated.
1984 - Big Brothers Big Sisters of America occupies its new headquarters at 230 North 13th Street in Philadelphia.
1985 - Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is honored with a commemorative stamp by the Postmaster General.
1995 - American Public/Private Ventures Study research shows measurable results on youth who have a Big Brother or Sister.
1998 - Big Brothers Big Sisters International is founded.
2001 - Big Sisters and Big Brothers organizations in Canada merge into one, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.
2004 - Big Brothers Big Sisters of America celebrates 100 years of serving America’s youth.
In 2013, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada will celebrate their 100th anniversary
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