Alphabetical Files, 1923-1976

Scope and content:

The Alphabetical Files are arranged into the following categories: Addresses, Administration, Annual Reports, Budget, Correspondence, Curriculum, Departmental Studies and Reports, Facilities, History, Photographs, Publicity, Recreation, Staff Meetings, Task Force and Curriculum Committee Action, and Women's Athletics. Within each of these subsections, materials are arranged either chronologically or alphabetically. The original arrangement of the materials has been maintained as much as possible.

Many of the subseries are self-explanatory, but several are worth noting in more detail. The Administration subseries contains information about the departmental structure and it also (along with the Task Force and Curriculum Committee Action subseries) contains information about the eventual merging of the Women's Department with the Men's Department. The Correspondence subseries includes administrative correspondence, but also the annual Christmas letters that were sent to former staff and majors. These letters provide a succinct overview of each year.

The Curriculum subseries includes information about the development of activity courses, requirements, and the major program. The department also kept files on each of the major students, but please note that these are restricted under FERPA. The Departmental Studies and Reports subseries contains some surveys of student attitudes toward physical education, along with reports on the department in general. The Facilities subseries documents the struggle to improve gymnasium facilities for women. The Photographs subseries has a wide variety of photographs of female students playing sports and participating in recreational events.

The Recreation subseries documents the Women's Athletic Association, the Women's Recreation Association, and other groups that organized recreational activities for women at Duke. As previously mentioned, the Task Force and Curriculum Committee Action subseries is the record of the eventual merging of the Women's Department with the Men's Department in the 1970s. The Women's Athletics subseries documents the changing approach toward women's athletics as a result of Title IX and new resolutions by intercollegiate sports organizations.

Contents

Using These Materials