By Canadian Press

Museum in New York acquires Billie Jean King archive

Sep 16, 2016 | 4:30 PM

NEW YORK — The New-York Historical Society has acquired the archive of tennis great Billie Jean King .

The museum said Friday it includes documents, objects, personal scrapbooks and photographs. Highlights include her 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the first to be awarded to a female athlete.

Other items include a patriotic Philadelphia Freedoms team dress that inspired a song by friend Elton John. King wore it during the 1974 inaugural season of the World Team Tennis league, which she co-founded.

King won 39 Grand Slam titles and lobbied for pay equality in the sport. She famously beat Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes” match on Sept. 20, 1973.

The National Tennis Center, which hosts the U.S. Open, was renamed for her in 2006.

TWO & OUT

PETERS: Celebration from Iranian ex-pats speaks louder than our skepticism of Trump

7h ago

LOOPED IN

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: March 5, 2026

Mar 05, 2026

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Supporting British Columbians through the Strategic Investment Fund

Mar 05, 2026

Selected items will go on view at the museum’s Center for Women’s History, slated to open next spring.

The Associated Press