Senda Berenson Abbott

Senda Berenson Abbott (March 19 1868, Vilnius, Lithuania, Russian Empire – February 16 1954) was a pioneer of women's basketball, authoring the first Basketball Guide for Women (1901-07). She was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor on July 1, 1985 and into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.

She modified existing men's basketball rules for women in 1899.

Abbott was the sister of the art historian Bernard Berenson and a great-great-aunt of the photographer Berry Berenson and the actress and model Marisa Berenson.

Senda Berenson was the first person to introduce and adapt rules for women's basketball to Smith College. She is considered one of the pioneers of women's basketball.

Biography

Born in Lithuania, she immigrated to the United States with her family when she was seven years old, settling in the Boston area.

Berenson did not have much interest in athletics as a child, and preferred music, literature, and art. Back problems forced Berenson to give up the piano and she decided to enter the Boston Normal School of Gymnastics after much persuasion. There she eventually strengthened her body.

In 1911, she married professor of English at Smith, Herbert Vaughan Abbott. Soon afterwards, Berenson resigned from her position at the College.

Known as Mother of Women's Basketball, Berenson was the first woman enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. She remained editor of the Basketball Guide for Women and as chair of the U.S. Women's Basketball Committee for six years.

She modified men's basketball rules for women in 1892. She later also adapted volleyball for women.

External links

* [http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/bhof-senda-berneson.html Basketball Hall of Fame page on Abbott]
* [http://hoopedia.nba.com/index.php/Senda_Berenson_Abbott Hoopedia article]