A Time Line of Planned Parenthood: Part One of Six

In honor of Planned Parenthood being 100 Years Strong ™, I thought it would be best to take a look at how the revolutionary organization became what it is today. In a six-part series, I will describe the history of Planned Parenthood all the way from 1916 to 2016 in order to help the millennial generation become more informed in order to solidify or change their stance on the defunding of Planned Parenthood. “Knowledge is power”, after all and there is nothing more important than for the miliennial generation to gain power over their political stance on social issues instead of succumbing to moratorium.

1916 – 1936

The Doors Open.

Planned Parenthood was founded on the revolutionary idea that women should be able to be informed and receive the treatment they need to live strong, healthy lives and pursue their dreams.

1916 – America’s first birth control clinic opens.

On October 16^th, 1916, Margaret Sanger, along with her sister Ethel Byrne and fellow activist Fania Mindell, opened a birth control clinic in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

1927 – Supreme Court upholds states’ rights to forced sterilization in Buck v. Bell.

The Supreme Court allows the practice of forced sterilization for “the health of the patient and the welfare of society” by an eight to one vote in their final decision for Buck v. Bell.

1930 – Margaret Sanger opened a clinic in Harlem.

Margaret Sanger opens a new birth control center in Harlem in response to several African American women being refused access to New York City’s health and social services during the height of the Great Depression. Margaret’s opening of the new birth control clinic was endorsed by the New York Urban League.

1932 – Dr. N. Louise Young, first African American woman to practice medicine in Maryland, opens a clinic.

Dr. N. Louise Young was a gynecologist and obstetrician who opened her own practice in Baltimore in 1932.

1936 – Birth control is no longer classified as “Obscene”.

Margaret Sanger illegally ordered pessaries, which are birth control devices, through the U.S Postal Service to be delivered from Japan.