Director of Athletics records, 1939-2007, bulk 1968-2007

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Access restricted. Collection contains Duke University administrative materials. For a period of twenty-five years from the origin of the material, permission in writing from the office of origin...
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Summary

Creator:
Duke University. Athletics Dept. Vice President and Director of Athletics
Abstract:
The Athletic Director plans, administers, and directs intercollegiate athletic activities at Duke University including staff, publicity, promotion, ticket sales, and assures the University's adherence to appropriate rules, regulations, and guidelines. Collection contains records relating to the operations and activities of the Duke University Athletic Director, 1939-2007, bulk 1968-2007. A majority of the material was accumulated during Tom Butters' tenure as Athletic Director. Materials present include general correspondence, seven subject files arranged by accession, and contracts and schedules. Major subjects include National Collegiate Athletic Association, Atlantic Coast Conference, Duke University team sports, scholarships, fundraising, Iron Dukes, Athletic Council, and facilities and grounds.
Extent:
26 Linear Feet
Language:
Material in English
Collection ID:
UA.13.01.0002
University Archives Record Group:
13 -- Athletics
13 -- Athletics > 01 -- Department of Athletics

Background

Scope and content:

Contains material pertaining to the daily activities of the Duke University Athletic Director. The collection is divided into nine series: general correspondence, contracts and schedules, and subject series arranged in accession order. A majority of the material was accumulated by Tom Butters as Assistant Director of Athletics (1972-1975), Associate Athletic Director (1976), and Athletic Director (1977-1998). However, a small amount of material was created by Butters' predecessors, Carl James (1972-1976) and Eddie Cameron (1942-1972).

General correspondence is divided into two subseries: alphabetical and chronological. Alphabetical correspondence documents communication with other university offices, faculty, staff, alumni, and students; colleagues at other educational institutions and professional organizations; and various fundraising and promotional campaigns and events. Chronological correspondence contains primarily outgoing correspondence concerning similar topics.

Subject files contain material relating to Butters' work with the University and various regional and national athletics organizations. Prominent subjects throughout include the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). NCAA material includes correspondence, memoranda, and minutes concerning rules and regulations; annual conventions and special meetings; various committees including Division I Basketball Committee and Television Committee; and printed material. ACC material includes correspondence, memoranda, and minutes concerning annual meetings, workshops, and clinics; news and press releases; tournaments and bowl games; legislative proposals; and several committees including Television Committee and Restructuring Committee. Also present are materials relating to Butters' fundraising activities; work with the Iron Dukes and Alumni Association; Duke University Sports Hall of Fame nominees, inductees, and speeches; Athletics Council minutes and memoranda; and athletic facilities maintenance and upgrade projects including several made to Wallace Wade Stadium and Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Other material relating directly to Duke University athletics are sports files and scholarship athletes. Sports files contain rosters, stats, and contest reports for numerous men's and women's revenue and non-revenue sports. Scholarship material contains letters of intent, and correspondence concerning scholarship renewal and terms and conditions of acceptance. Additional noteworthy subjects include Title IX, College Football Association (CFA), Raycom, North Carolina Amateur Sports, National Association of College Athletic Directors (NACAD), and National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (NAIAW).

The Contracts and Schedules series contains contracts and agreements between Duke University and other colleges, universities, and academies, travel itineraries for road contests, game schedules, and lists of lettering athletes for several revenue and nonrevenue sports.

An addition (Accession UA2019-0087) contains correspondence and subject files, mostly dated 1996 to 2007.

Biographical / historical:

The Athletic Director plans, administers, and directs intercollegiate athletic activities at Duke University and interprets and participates in formulating extramural athletic policies. The Director employs and discharges coaching staff and other department employees on own initiative or at direction of board in charge of athletics. Additionally, the Director prepares and disseminates publicity to promote athletic events; plans and coordinates activities of coaching staff; prepares budget and authorizes department expenditures; plans and schedules sports events; and oversees ticket sales and income generated by ticket sales. The Athletic Director also works closely with coaches, staff, and University administration to ensure adhesion to University codes of conduct and rules and regulations set forth by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Tom Butters was a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and former pitcher for Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates organization (1962-1964). Butters began his career at Duke in 1967 when he became Director of Special Events. He became Duke University's head baseball coach in 1968, a position he held until 1970. He later became director of the Iron Dukes (1970), Assistant Director of Athletics (1972-1975), and Associate Athletic Director and assistant to the chancellor in 1976. In 1977, Butters became Duke University's fifth Athletic Director, preceded by James DeHart (1926-1930), Wallace Wade (1931-1942, 1946), Eddie Cameron (1942-1972), and Carl James (1972-1976). As Athletic Director Butters was known as an intrepid fundraiser and is credited with upgrading several athletic facilities erected in the 1930s and 1940s. While serving on the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Basketball Committee, Butters was instrumental in negotiating a one billion dollar contract with CBS. Upon his retirement in 1998, Butters had spent thirty years of his professional career involved with Duke University Athletics. He was succeeded by Joe Alleva (1998-2008).

Acquisition information:
The Director of Athletics records were received by the University Archives as a transfer between 1982-2019.
Processing information:

Processed by Josh Larkin Rowley, February 2009

Encoded by Josh Larkin Rowley, March 2009

Accessions UA82-116, UA83-107, UA84-58, UA86-7, UA86-53, UA89-48, UA90-3, UA94-106, UA99-16, UA2001-44 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.

Accession UA2019-0087 added in October 2019.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Access restricted. Collection contains Duke University administrative materials. For a period of twenty-five years from the origin of the material, permission in writing from the office of origin and the University Archivist is required for use of administrative records. After twenty-five years, records that have been processed may be consulted with the permission of the University Archivist. Contact Research Services for more information.

Access restricted. Collection contains some student records. In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended, Duke University permits students to inspect their education records and limits the disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records. Contact Research Services for more information.

Access restricted. Collection includes materials from the Duke University Board of Trustees. Records of the University's Board of Trustees which have been in existence for at least fifty years are available for scholarly research with the permission of the University Archivist. Access to records which have been in existence for less than fifty years shall be granted only by special permission, in writing, from the Board of Trustees. Contact Research Services for more information.

Terms of access:

Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Director of Athletics Records, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1gm5q