The Hat Lady

“In the chaotic condition of the world today there is a definite challenge to the women of America. Our standards and programs are the hope of the women of the world. To successfully meet such a challenge and shoulder our responsibilities we must be mentally and physically fit. Not only that – we must provide or help to provide a program that will help others to be well adjusted socially, morally and physically.

“These girls come to the ‘Y’ as a group of girls, adequately supervised with a woman instructor who is interested in each one as an individual…activities for these girls include team games, progressive skill tests, elementary tumbling, and swimming. Supervised playgroups of this type offer splendid opportunities for the development of a spirit of cooperation, fair play, responsibility, self expression, and, of course, better health. Our problem is not just to teach a girl how to swim or play a game, but we have a responsibility to help these girls of today become healthy, courageous women of tomorrow who know the real joy of living.”  

What a timely quote! An article in the Journal of Physical Education entitled “Women’s and Girls’ Work In The YMCA” tells how a local YMCA developed a “well-rounded swimming program” for girls under 14 years of age. Where was this Young Men’s Christian Association with its swim program for girls? Anderson, Indiana, my hometown. When was the article published? January 1941. Who was the author? The by-line reads - Caroline J. Cleveland…my mother.   

When she died in 1998, in addition to its standard obituary, The Herald Bulletin published a separate article, “Anderson’s ‘Hat Lady’ Dies at 89.”  It begins, “Caroline Cleveland was a scholar, a teacher, a musician, an athlete, and a member of many social and political organizations, but she’ll probably be remembered as Anderson’s ‘Hat Lady.’ ” Her collection of  over 1000 hats included stylish, contemporary, flowered, antique, and funny (I remember the “red lobster” hat). She gave hat programs in Anderson and Indianapolis to “civic, church, and ladies’ groups.” Her obituary noted she was “founder of the Women’s and Girls’ Program of the Anderson YMCA.”

 How did Caroline Jones end up doing pioneering work in Anderson? Born in 1908, she grew up 13 miles northwest of Anderson in Frankton, population 1600.  She loved being active, had great hand–eye coordination, and considered “athletic.” These traits earned her the “tomboy” moniker. My grandfather George Jones taught her to throw a ball differently than most other girls at the time. After graduating first in her class at Frankton High School, she headed to Ball State Teachers College for teacher training. College was her first opportunity to play organized team sports, field hockey and softball. Graduating in 1926 with her teaching degree, she taught at her alma mater until she moved to Anderson in 1930 to become the “Women’s Secretary” at the YMCA. There she met Sid Cleveland. 

When her article was published in early 1941, World War II was raging in Europe. The U.S. would not enter until December after the attack on Pearl Harbor. But war was coming. Societal roles were shifting. More women were working outside the home in a variety of jobs, including factories like the two General Motors plants in Anderson. Change was afoot but girls still had no school sports and very few recreation opportunities in the community. Women and girls could swim at the one “municipal pool” in a city of 41,000.   There was a YWCA in town but it didn’t have a pool, offered few classes, and lacked the resources of the ‘big Y.’ It was primarily a residential facility for young women in the workforce, no longer living at home. Today entire families frequent the YMCA. Back then, only men and boys could use it. But in response to a real community need, the Anderson YMCA opened its doors to women and girls and began offering “a definite program of physical education and recreation.” Her reputation as an excellent swim teacher spread to other Y’s in central Indiana.

Her article continues, “In the summer of 1936 we organized the first class for girls under 14 years of age. This was the result of inquiries from mothers who were interested in their daughters learning to swim. We decided that an enrollment of 20 would be necessary. With the cooperation of those mothers and interested daughters, 40 enrolled. This summer (1940) we had approximately 300 girls of this age in classes.” 

She and her staff developed other programs such as the swim class for the “industrial girls,” young women working mostly at the General Motors plants. This late afternoon class started shortly after their shift ended at 4 pm. The “Mermaids’ Club” was for 13-17 year olds who participated in “ornamental swimming and floating.” (My mom was teaching synchronized swimming in the 1930s!) “The girls are all excellent swimmers and this type of work contributes to grace, skill, and poise.”

Despite few opportunities, my mother was an everyday athlete and encouraged others to become everyday athletes. Two favorites she used to tell illustrate why her pioneering work resonates so deeply with me.

On a spring afternoon in 1929 at Ball State in Muncie, Indiana, the women's softball team was practicing when the president strolled by. He called out to one of the seniors, “Hey Caroline, why don’t you throw one over here?”  She lobbed a soft throw that he caught easily with his bare hands. “Oh come on, Caroline. Burn one in here,” he said with a slight smile. She relished the ending, “So, I wound up and threw hard. He tried to catch the ball with his right hand but dropped it. ‘Ouch!’ He immediately started shaking his hand.” Grandpa Jones taught his daughter how a girl can throw.

In 1938 the Y’s Executive Director presented a special challenge. A YMCA in Indianapolis had reached out for help to teach a 12 yo girl to swim. Their staff hadn’t been successful and wasn’t sure “Betty” could ever learn to swim. “Unfortunately, Caroline, Betty has had polio.” 

In those days a weekly roundtrip of 90-100 miles was a big deal, especially for a child’s swim lesson. After two months of patient coaching, the big day had come. Betty would try to swim across the width of the pool. The Y’s second floor had a circular track that looked down onto the pool. Many staff and members leaned against the track’s protective fence to watch. Sid Cleveland was one of them. Mom would end the story with a slight smile as she quoted my dad, “When Betty touched the other side of the pool, Sid said there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.” Romancin’ at the YMCA…they married in 1939.

Caroline Jones had few opportunities as a young woman to participate in sports or recreation. She took full advantage of the few she did. Her personal experiences informed her professional work. Her being an everyday athlete was at the heart of helping others. She understood the tight link between physical and mental health. She understood how sports can change people’s lives for the better. She knew that the benefits of physical activity extend well beyond physical health. She was engaged in her community and advocated for women and girls to participate.

What a legacy of championing sports and physical activity, expanding recreation opportunities for others, and being a role model. The epiphany? Decades later, that’s what I’m trying to do! Thank you, Mom. Well done! 

If you’d like to read my mother’s whole article, you can find it here.