Jessie Hubbell Bancroft (1867–1952)

Jessie Hubbell Bancroft was born in Winona, Minnesota and learned about the Delsarte System of Physical Culture while studying at Winona Normal School. She became a pioneer of physical education in the USA, with a particular interest in good posture. From 1893 to 1903, she was director of Physical Training of the Brooklyn, NY schools and from 1904 until her retirement in 1928, she was assistant director of Physical Education of the schools of Greater New York City.

She was a co-founder and president of the American Posture League and a co-founder of the American Physical Education Association, which she served as secretary. In 1924, she was the first living person to receive the Luther Halsey Gulick Award for advances in physical education. She was the first woman elected a fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology, and was also named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Her many publications included books such as The Posture of School Children
(1913); Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium
(1909, rev 1942); and School Gymnastics, Free Hand: A System of Physical Exercises for Schools (1896).