Women’s sports history joins online collection

The UB Sports History Digital Collection has more than 500 images of student-athletes, some taken as far back as 1894. The one thing the collection is missing: women.

That is, until now. In the coming weeks of February, photographs and media guides documenting the 93-year history of women’s sports at UB will be digitized and made available on the digital collection website.

The UB Libraries will upload a portion of the records in February and add the complete collection by the end of the spring semester.

The Sports History Digital Collection was created in 2012 with a focus on the early years of UB sports between 1890 and 1970. While the UB Libraries have historical information on women’s sports and achievements at the university, the information has not been available in the online collection.

“We want the archives to be as inclusive as we can in representing the university’s history,” says Amy Vilz, university archivist. “Although our documentation of women’s sports at UB is far from complete, we can make our holdings more accessible through digitization and, hopefully, expand our understanding of the contributions of female athletes and their importance in university history.”

Women’s athletics began at UB in 1922 when Lillias MacDonald, the then newly appointed dean of women, helped establish a physical education program for women at the university.

But it wasn’t until 1963 that UB welcomed swimming and diving as its first women’s varsity athletic program. That first team, the Lady Bulls, had one meet on its schedule.

Today, there are nine UB women’s varsity athletic programs.

“Sports open an incredibly important realm of culture to girls and women,” notes Susan Cahn, professor in the Department of History who specializes in sports history. “Just look at how many Americans tuned in to watch the Super Bowl; sports are a part of popular culture. Participating helps women gain physical confidence and competence, and it allows them to challenge norms of femininity.”

Although strides have been made across the nation in improving female participation in sports, only 28 percent of the total money spent on university athletics programs has been spent on women’s sports, despite the fact that women make up 51 percent of students at Division I institutions, says Cahn.

The third annual Women in Sports Symposium on Feb. 11, sponsored by UB Athletics, will address such topics and more. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, the symposium aims to empower female athletes and educate the campus and surrounding communities on the importance of female participation in athletics and sports-related fields.

The UB Libraries welcome donations of materials to expand the Sports History Digital Collection. Alumni, staff, faculty or students who have items they wish to donate should call (716) 645-2916 or email lib-archives@buffalo.edu.