Townsend Toulmin, Bertha

Bertha Louise Townsend Toulmin “Birdie”
Born: March 07, 1869
Died: May 12, 1909
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Citizenship: United States
Handed: Right
Inducted: 1974

Grand Slam Record
U.S.     Singles     1888-89
Singles finalist     1890
Doubles     1889
Doubles finalist     1890

A Philadelphia-born right-hander, Bertha Louise Townsend appeared in the Championships in her hometown five times. She won in 1888, unseating original champ, Ellen Hansell, in the challenge round, 6-3, 6-5. She fought off the challenge of Lida Vorhees, 7-5, 6-3, to become the first repeating female champ, but then fell to Ellen Roosevelt, 6-2, 6-2, in the 1890 challenge round.

She reappeared, married, in 1894, to reach the final of the all-comers, losing 6-2, 7-5 to Helen Hellwig, who became champion. The following year she was a semifinalist, and that ended her career with an 8-3 U.S. singles record.

She was born March 7, 1869, died May 12, 1909, in Haverford, PA as Mrs. Harry Toulmin, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974.

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