Columnist Muriel Stevens: Bracing to shop for our fathers

Wednesday, June 12, 2002 | 8:26 a.m.

Celebrating Dad, that's what Father's Day is all about -- but there's more. Father's Day encompasses all men who represent a father figure -- stepfathers, grandfathers, brothers, "Big Brothers" and more.

It wasn't until I started to write about Dad that I realized I knew everything about the origin of Mother's Day, but little about Father's Day. Here's what I learned:

It was 1909 when Mrs. John B. Dodd of Washington state first presented the idea as an honor to her father, William Smart. Smart, a Civil War veteran, had become a single parent after his wife died after giving birth to their sixth child.

With five children and a newborn, Smart managed to raise his brood on a farm in Eastern Washington. It was only when Mrs. Dodd reached adulthood that she realized how difficult and selfless her father's life must have been.

It was in Spokane, Wash., on June 19, 1909, that the first Father's Day observance took place. Soon, the idea swept the country. President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day in 1924. It didn't become official until 1966 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the presidential proclamation that named the third Sunday of June as Father's Day.

We celebrate Dad, as we do most holidays, with a gift. There's one I think is a treasure, the just released anthology "Father," edited by Claudia O'Keefe (Pocket Books Essays, $13.95). This celebration of the bond between father and child by such acclaimed writers as John Updike, Jonathan Kellerman, E. Annie Proulx, Dean Koontz, Calvin Trillin and Winston Groom is a terrific read.

Kellerman's story, "Daddy's Girl," is as suspenseful as any of his books. At first when reading it I thought Daddy's girl was having a nightmare, but this nightmare was real until Daddy saves her. It's a hair-raising memoir. In all, 24 gifted writers share memories and tributes -- a gift to be shared.

More gifts: OK, I know ties are usually a last resort, but ties today can be works of art. Museum stores sell them (try The Museum Co. in the Forum Shops at Caesars), Neiman- Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue have a large selection of designer ties, and so does every men's store and department store. And if Dad likes classic designs there are plenty of those.

Of course, if Dad has a hobby, buying a gift is a cinch. Just don't overdo it. Dinner out is something a dad usually enjoys, but don't let him pay. Ask, in advance, to have the check directed to the person paying.

DVDs are another good gift. It takes a long time to build a collection of films for any new system. Remember when CDs replaced audio tapes? I still have 8-tracks and a player. When, if ever, the music I treasure makes it to the newer modes, I'll give them up. If Dad is like me, check out used music stores for a gift.

Spa treatments, gift certificates, sports gear, even special coffees make good gifts for Dad. Just recently I traded ginger-flavored teas with a male friend who thought his tea was more gingery than mine. It was a draw as to which was more flavorful, but I now know what to buy him for a future celebration.