.
By Agnes Crietzberg
Collection Overview
Scope and Contents of the Materials
This collection offers a good overall picture of the Women's Gymnastics Program at EKU during its short history. It includes photographs, news clippings, schedules, rosters and correspondence for every year of the program's existence. Program objectives, rules and routine requirements, statistics and even poetry written by and in honor of the gymnasts can also be found in this collection. Anyone interested in women's athletics at Eastern will find this collection useful.
Collection Historical Note
Tumbling and gymnastics exercise was a part of the instructional program when physical education moved into the new Weaver Health Building in 1931. Demonstration and performance groups were part of physical education program from time to time as interest warranted.
In 1964 Mr. Charles "Turkey" Hughes hired Dr. Barney Groves who worked with the gymnastics program at Eastern. Gymnastics was a club sport and provided a means for talented students to develop their skill and to perform in gymnastics exhibitions. Mr. Hughes supported the educational idea that collegiate competition should be developed from strong intramural and club sports programs. Intercollegiate gymnastics at Eastern received impetus from the earlier club sports programs.
The women's competitive program began to develop under the leadership of Dr. Ann Uhlir who became the Coordinator of the Department of Physical Education for Women in 1965. In 1970 the Department developed "A Statement of Belief" which served as the guiding philosophy during the time that women's athletic programs were housed in the Department of Physical education. At that time resources available for intercollegiate sports for women were limited. The athletic program was able to prosper because women faculty members served as volunteer coaches. Athletics was seen as part of the academic program and was part of one's professional obligation to the Department. When faculty members were not available, graduate assistants were appointed as coaches. The gymnastic program was initiated with graduate assistants as coaches since there were no faculty members with expertise in that area.
Biographical Note
Intercollegiate athletics for both men and women have been an integral part of Eastern Kentucky University since its inception in 1906. The position of athletic director had been around for many years, but it became more institutionalized in 1928 when Thomas E. McDonough assumed leadership. McDonough was largely responsible for overseeing the construction of the Weaver Health Building (1931), and Old Hanger Stadium (1936). After McDonough's resignation in 1942, Charles "Turkey" Hughes took over the position. Mr. Hughes was responsible for restarting athletic programs which were temporarily dismantled due to World War II. In 1961, Glenn Presnell took over the job as athletic director. Presnell was director during a period of rapid expansion at the university. During his administration, Alumni Coliseum (1962) and Roy Kidd Stadium (1969) were both constructed. Donald Combs assumed the position in 1971 and served as director until 1991. During his tenure, women's sports were returned to the university's program after being discontinued in the early 1930s.
The enactment of Title IX, an amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, in 1972 increased the opportunity for women to participate in sports. According to the policy, schools receiving federal funding had to provide men and women with equitable resources in educational programs and activities. There was some confusion at first over whether Title IX applied to college sports. The issue was resolved in 1974 with the Javits Amendment, which stated that Title IX included athletics. Like other schools, Eastern Kentucky University was required to comply with Title IX and offer financial aid, sports programs, and other opportunities to women in proportion to those offered to men.
When women's sports were reconstituted in 1973, a separate office, headed by Dr. Martha Mullins, was established to control their functions. However, in the early 1980s, the athletic offices were combined and they remain so today. Many changes have taken place in the Athletic Director's Office, but it continues to remain a vital part of Eastern Kentucky University.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives
Acquisition Source:
Chrietzberg, Agnes
Related Materials:
P.J. Novak Papers
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[
Box 2],
[
Folder OS 1: Oversize Photographs],
[
All]
- Box 1
- Barcode: 31234014059669
- Folder 1
- Item 1: Program History
- Item 2: Gymnastics at Eastern, undated
- Item 3: EKU Gymnastics Participants, 1970-1982
- Item 4: Statement of Belief, 1970-1971
- Item 5: Policies for the Women's Intercollegiate Sports Program at Eastern Kentucky University
- Folder 2: Photographic Series
- Item 1: Patricia Floyd on bars, 1971-72
- Item 2: Team Picture, 1973-74
- Item 3: Team Picture, 1973-74
- Item 4: Team Picture, 1974-75
- Item 5: Team Picture, 1974-75
- Item 6: Sherry Robertson on beam, 1974-75
- Item 7: Sherry Robertson on beam, 1974-75
- Item 8: Margaret Bauch, center, 1974-75
- Item 9: Susan Mollenkoph on bars, 1974-75
- Item 10: Patricia Barber on floor exercise, 1974-75
- Item 11: Home Meet March-in, 1974-75
- Item 12: Team Picture, 1975-76
- Item 13: Team Picture, 1975-76
- Item 14: Beth Miles on beam, 1975-76
- Item 15: Mary Wilkerson on beam, 1975-76
- Item 16: Lee Ann Martindale, 1975-76
- Item 17: Charlotte (Charlie) Abbott Martin on vault, 1975-76
- Item 18: Taryn Wells on floor exercise, 1975-76
- Item 19: Sherry Robertson on beam, 1975-76
- Item 20: Taryn Wells on bars, 1975-76
- Item 21: Beth Miles on beam, 1976-77
- Item 22: Mary Lyons on beam, 1976-77
- Item 23: Mary Lyons on beam, 1976-77
- Item 24: Mary Lyons on beam, 1976-77
- Item 25: Mary Lyons on beam, 1976-77
- Item 26: Mary Lyons on beam, 1976-77
- Folder 3: Photographs
- Item 27: Home meet introductions, 1976-77
- Item 28: Team Picture, 1977-78
- Item 29: Team Picture, 1977-78
- Item 30: Team Picture, 1977-78
- Item 31: Team Picture, 1977-78
- Item 32: Rhonda Wilkerson on bars, 1977-78
- Item 33: Mary Lyons on beam, 1977-78
- Item 34: Kay Queen on beam, 1977-78
- Item 35: Mary Lyons on beam, 1977-78
- Item 36: Mary Wilkerson on floor exercise, 1977-78
- Item 37: Beth Miles on beam, 1977-78
- Item 38: Mary Lyons on beam, 1977-78
- Item 39: Diane Dusenberry on bars, 1977-78
- Item 40: Lisa Wray on beam, 1977-78
- Item 41: Mary Lyons on bars, 1977-78
- Item 42: Mary Lyons on bars, 1977-78
- Item 43: Mary Lyons on beam, 1977-78
- Item 44: Mary Lyons on beam, 1977-78
- Item 45: Team Picture, 1978-79
- Item 46: Team Picture, 1978-79
- Item 47: National Championship, Penn State, 1978-79
- Item 48: Halloween Gymnasts, 1978
- Item 49: Kathy Goode on vault, 1978-79
- Item 50: Kathy Goode on beam, 1978-79
- Folder 4: Photographs
- Item 51: Kathy Goode on beam, 1978-79
- Item 52: Rhonda Wilkerson on bars, 1978-79
- Item 53: Miriam Nagel on beam, 1978-79
- Item 54: Betty Tinker on beam, 1978-79
- Item 55: Team Picture, 1979-80
- Item 56: Team Picture, 1979-80
- Item 57: Team Picture, 1979-80
- Item 58: Manager setting out equipment
- Item 59: Gymnasts on floor exercise
- Item 60: Team Picture, 1980-81
- Item 61: Team Picture, 1980-81
- Item 62: Team Picture, 1980-81
- Item 63: Gymnast Laura Spencer - Overweight again
- Item 64: Team Picture, 1981-82
- Item 65: Team Picture, 1981-82
- Item 66: Team Picture, 1981-82
- Folder OS-1: Photographs (Oversize)
- Item 67: Beth Miles on beam, 1974-75
- Item 68: Sherry Robertson on beam, 1974-75
- Item 69: Beth Miles on bars, 1975-76
- Folder 5: Gymnastics Competitive Season, 1971-72
- Roster, Schedule, Summary of Meet Results, Official Score Sheets
- Folder 6: Gymnastics Competitive Season, 1972-73
- Roster, Schedule, Summary of Meet Results, Official Score Sheets, State Championship
- Folder 7: Gymnastics Competitive Season, 1973-74
- Roster, Schedule, Summary of Meet Results, Official Score Sheets, 1st Annual KWIC State Championship, AIAW Regional Championship
- Folder 8: Gymnastics Competitive Season, 1974-75
- Roster, Affidavit of Eligibility, Summary of Meet results, All-around and Individual Scores, Official Score Sheets, 2nd Annual KWIC State Championship, Southern Regional Gymnastics Championship
- Folder 9: Gymnastics Competitive Season, 1975-76
- Schedule, Team Roster, Meet Summary Team, Summary of All-Around and Individual Scores, Intersquad Meet, Official Score Sheets, 3rd Annual KWIC State Championship, AIAW Region II Championship
- Folder 10: Gymnastics Competitive Season, 1976-77
- Roster, Affidavit of Eligibility, Coach's Report, AIAW National Gymnastics Composite Score Sheet, Summary of Year and Score Analysis, Intersquad Meet, Official Score Sheets, 4th Annual KWIC State Championship, AIAW Region II Championship, AIAW National Championship, AIAW Gymnastics Operation Code and National Composite Score Sheets, Request for Travel, Program, Individual Results, Team Results
- Folder 11: Gymnastics Competitive Season, 1977-78
- Roster, Affidavit of Eligibility, Report of Spring Program, Coach's Report, Summary of Year - Scoring Analysis, AIAW Gymnastics Composite Score Sheet, Intersquad Meet, Official Score Sheets, 5th Annual KWIC State Championship, AIAW Region II Championship, Newsletter and Meet Information, Results, AIAW National Championship, Meet Information Report from AIAW National Gymnastic Championship, Results
- Folder 12: Gymnastics Competitive Season, 1978-79
- Roster, Affidavit of Eligibility, Coach's Report, Summary of Year - Scoring Analysis, AIAW Gymnastics, Composite Score Sheet, Intersquad Meet, Official Score Sheets, 6th Annual KWIC State Championship, AIAW Region II Championship, Program, Results, AIAW National Championship, Program, Gymnasts Qualifying for Nationals, Composite Event Score Sheet, Team Results, Gymnastics Budget Summary, Scholarship Request for Beth Miles, Equipment/Supply Request, Reports of Violations
- Folder 13: Gymnastics Competitive Season, 1979-80
- Roster and Schedule, Affidavit of Eligibility, Report on Spring Program, Coach's Report, Summary of Year - Scoring Analysis, AIAW Gymnastics Composite Score Sheet, Official Score Sheets, 7th Annual KWIC Championship, Tournament Guidelines, Results, AIAW Region II Championship, Entry Form, Team rosters, Official Score Sheets Results, AIAW National Championship - Division I, Operating Code
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[
Box 2],
[
Folder OS 1: Oversize Photographs],
[
All]