1918 – 2017

Adolph Kiefer

American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, businessman, chief executive officer (1918–2017)

swimmerinventorbusinessperson

Born

1918-06-27, Chicago

Died

2017-05-05

Birthplace state

Illinois

Biography

Adolph Kiefer was born in Chicago in 1918 and competed as a swimmer for the University of Texas. He won a gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke at the 1936 Summer Olympics and held world records in multiple backstroke events. He was the first swimmer to complete the 100-yard backstroke in under one minute. Later, he invented products for aquatic competition and founded Adolph Kiefer and Associates, a swimming equipment company, in 1947.

Occupation

Adolph Kiefer is recorded as a swimmer, a inventor and a businessperson, born in Illinois (1918–2017).

Connections to Illinois

Adolph Kiefer was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1918. Explore other notable figures from Illinois, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Illinois›Illinoishistory ›Historic sites in Illinois›

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Chicago

Adolph Kiefer came from Chicago. A full Aubrey report on Chicago pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Chicago report

Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Illinois

Other historical figures born in Illinois, ranked by historical prominence.

Ronald Reagan

president of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and actor (1911-2004)

Walt Disney

American animator, producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor and entrepreneur, founder of The Walt Disney Company (1901–1966)

Ernest Hemingway

American author and journalist (1899–1961)

Robin Williams

American actor and comedian (1951–2014)

Ray Bradbury

American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)

Bobby Fischer

American chess player (1943–2008)

James Watson

American molecular biologist, geneticist, zoologist and Nobel Laureate (1928–2025)

Frequently asked about Adolph Kiefer

Who was Adolph Kiefer?

Adolph Kiefer was American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, businessman, chief executive officer (1918–2017), born in Illinois (1918 – 2017).

When and where was Adolph Kiefer born?

Adolph Kiefer was born on 1918-06-27 in Chicago.

When did Adolph Kiefer die?

Adolph died on 2017-05-05.

What was Adolph Kiefer known for?

Adolph Kiefer is recorded as a swimmer, a inventor and a businessperson.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your location View a free sample report