1880s:
The first organised yell was
recorded at Princeton
University.
1890s:
Organised cheerleading was
initiated at the University of
Minnesota, as well as the first
school "fight song".
1900s:
Usage of the megaphone was
becoming popular. (When the
megaphone was invented is not
known but it was in use on the
day cheerleading began in 1898.)
The first cheerleader
fraternity, Gamma Sigma, was
organised.
1910:
The first "homecoming" was held
at the University of Illinois
1920s:
Women became active in
cheerleading. The University of
Minnesota cheerleaders began to
incorporate gymnastics and
tumbling into their cheers. The
first flash-card cheering
section was directed by Lindley
Bothwell at Oregon State
University.
1930s:
Universities and high schools
began performing pom-pon
routines and using paper
pompons.
1940s:
The first cheerleader company
was formed by Lawrence R.
Herkimer of Dallas, Texas.
1950s:
College cheerleaders began
conducting cheerleading
workshops to teach fundamental
cheerleading skills.
1960s:
The vinyl pompon was invented by
Fred Gastoff and introduced by
the International Cheerleading
Foundation (now W.C.A.). The
"Bruin High Step" style of
pompon routine was developed by
UCLA cheerleaders and the
International Cheerleading
Foundation.
1967:
Marked the first annual ranking
of the "Top Ten College Cheer
Squads" and the initiation of
the "Cheerleader All America"
awards by the International
Cheerleading Foundation.
1970s:
In addition to cheering for the
traditional football and
basketball teams, cheerleaders
began supporting all school
sports, sometimes selecting
several different squads to
cheer for wrestling, track and
swimming. The first nation-wide
television broadcast of the
Collegiate Cheerleading
Championships on CBS-TV in the
Spring of 1978, initiated by the
International Cheerleading
Foundation
