Finding Aid: RG162 - Springfield College Gymnastics Team Records

Item Information

Title:
Finding Aid: RG162 - Springfield College Gymnastics Team Records
Description:
This is the Finding Aid is for RG162 - Springfield College Gymnastics Team Records collection. Materials in this collection include newspaper clippings, magazine articles, news releases, manuscripts, scripts (including notecards), printed materials, correspondence, tickets, artwork, posters, memorandums, newsletters, notes, flyers, brochures, programs, schedules and rosters from performances, photographic prints, slides, negatives, film (16mm and various video formats), VHS videos, uniforms and other clothing and memorabilia having to do with the Springfield College Men’s & Women’s Varsity Gymnastics teams, the Springfield College Exhibition Team, and the Springfield College annual Gymnastics Homeshow. Materials date from the 1890s into the 2010s, with the bulk of the materials coming from the 1960s to the early 2000s. There are many documents and manuscripts that talk about the history of the Springfield College Gymnastics Team. These include a thesis written in 1922 by Arthur F. Schaefer, letters and materials written by Gymnastics Head Coach Frank Wolcott, and a 1971 history called the “Joy of Effort”. The history of the Gymnastics Exhibition Team and the Homeshow is told in a booklet that was created for the 100th annual Homeshow in 2009. Of special import to the history of Gymnastics are the published manuscripts titled “Roots of Gymnastics, 3rd edition” written by International Gymnastics Hall of Fame curator, A. Bruce Frederick. Materials regarding the Men’s Varsity Gymnastics team go all the way back to the start of the program in 1904 and continue through the 2000s. The bulk of the material falls from 1960 through 2015. Statistics and individual/team match scores or results make up the majority of materials within this series. These include packets of scores for the gymnasts & teams who participated in major championship matches such as the EIGL (Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League), NCAA, USAG (USA Gymnastics), New England Championships, and ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference). There are also many programs and brochures for championships and multiple team meets. Other documents include photographic prints and slides of team photographs, individual gymnasts, coaches, and action shots (both staged and not-staged) taken from meets and practices starting in 1904. Of interest, are photographs of Tim Daggett, 1984 Gold Medalist from Springfield, Massachusetts. There are also some 16mm films and VHS video tapes. Most of the VHS tapes contain films from championship competitions beginning in the early 1970s through the late 1980s. Materials with the Women’s Varsity team begin with the first full entering class of Women at Springfield College in 1951 and continue through the late 2010s, with the bulk of the materials beginning around 1968. Most of the materials are team rosters, team or meet statistics, individual statistics, overall team records, and information on the championships for the EAIAW (Eastern Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) conference, DGWS (Division for Girls’ and Women’s Sport), AIAW (Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women), the ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) conference, the NCAAA (including the USFG championships, USA Gymnastics championships, and NCGA championships). Photographs include team photos, individual gymnastics, and action shots (both staged and not staged) taken from meets and practices from around 1974-1975 school year through the modern era. Most of the films are of competitions or dual matches, but there are also many of the championship matches Springfield College participated in over the years. Of importance is a film of the first DGWS Women’s Collegiate Championships in 1969 that was won by Springfield College. Finally, there are also various memorabilia, posters, and trophies, mostly from various championships participated in by Springfield College. Within the Springfield College Exhibition team materials, including tour performances and the annual Homeshow, materials start in the 1920s and continue through the 2010s. Photographs within the series go all the way back to the 1930s, with the bulk coming from the 1960s onward. Much of the undated photographs have been divided by the type of activity, including Tableaux, clowns, dancing, triple and double balance teams, pyramid building, stacking of gymnasts, performances with parachutes and trampolines, and all the official gymnastics events. In addition to scenes from the exhibitions, photographs include some behind the scene shots and group photos. There are two series of photographs that depict the Exhibition Team during their tours. Additionally, there are photographs from the 1965 World’s Fair performances at Shea Stadium and photographs of Olympic Gold Medalist Jeff Blatnik and Tim Daggett during the 100th anniversary celebration performance in 1984. Most of the films are of the Springfield College Homeshow beginning in the late 1970s. Of interest are also a few films of exhibitions and special performances, including a 1979 ESPN performance, 2002 Basketball Hall of Fame performance, and an undated Fleet Center performance. Of importance are various scripts for the program, including note cards with changes made by MC of the shows Art Linkletter. Finally, there are materials from other exhibition performances, including at the 1965 World’s Fair, and the 1966 Montreal Expo. These exist alongside posters, flyers, schedules, memorabilia, and planning documents on the exhibition team tours. The early history of gymnastics at Springfield College goes all the way back to 1891 with a gym meet with the 23rd St. YMCA Leaders Corps in New York City. Dr. James Naismith, the creator of basketball, participated. The first exhibition Homeshow, an exhibition show that took place after the team put on shows in other communities around the Northeast, took place in May of 1905. The touring and the Homeshow is a tradition that continues throughout the history of the Springfield College Gymnastics team. The first full-time Varsity Men’s Gymnastics coach was Louis C. Schroeder (class of 1912), in 1915. Schroeder was succeeded five years later, in 1921, by Leslie J. Judd; a position he held until 1956. Judd is widely considered a father of modern Gymnastics. Under his leadership, the varsity gymnastics team attained international fame. Perhaps the greatest contribution Coach Judd made to the team was the world-famous Living Statuary of Youth or the Tableaux. Women’s gymnastics became an intercollegiate team in the 1963-64 school year, and was coached by Diane Potter. Arguably, the team’s greatest successes came under Mimi Murray. In her first year, 1969, the team went 7-0 and hosted and won the first National College Women’s Championship.
Creator:
Springfield College
Date:
2018
Format:
Documents
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Subjects:
Springfield College
Springfield College--Sports
Springfield College--Gymnastics
Springfield College--Gymnastics--Women
Springfield College--Gymnastics--Exhibition team
Springfield College--Gymnastics--Men
Springfield College--Sports--Men
Springfield College--Sports--Women
International Young Men's Christian Association College
International Young Men's Christian Association Training School (Springfield, Mass.)
Finding aids
Gymnastics
SC Dancers
Judd, Leslie J.
Murray, Mimi
Posner, Stephen E.
Wolcott, Frank A.
Raymond, Cheryl A.
National Association for Girls and Women in Sport: NAGWS
National Amateur Athletic Federation (U.S.). Women’s Division
National Collegiate Athletic Association
Eastern College Athletic Conference
Gymnasts
Dance
Dancers
Places:
Massachusetts > Hampden (county) > Springfield
Link to Item:
http://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/28149
Terms of Use:
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
Springfield College
Language:
English
Identifier:
246_157_105_167_2022-12-5_152418862-1221147270