Records of the Athletic Department
Scope and Contents
The Records of the Athletic Department consists of documents dated 1922 to 2021, with the bulk falling from 1988 to 2008. The collection consists primarily of athletic brochures and programs, created yearly for the various athletic teams. Also included is a composite photograph of the 1922 football team and press releases from the early to mid 1930s.
Dates
- Creation: 1922-2021
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1988-2008
Creator
- Colorado State University. Department of Athletics (Organization)
Restrictions on Access
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
Restrictions on Use
Not all of the material in the collection is in the public domain. Researchers are responsible for addressing copyright issues.
History
The athletic department was founded in March 1892 as the Athletic Association at the State Agricultural College (now Colorado State University), for the purpose of organizing and encouraging the formation of a football team and other field sports. Throughout most of the 1890s athletics on campus was limited to recreational tennis, baseball, track and field, and intramural activities. In the fall of 1899, intercollegiate football was reestablished; the last intercollegiate game had been played in 1894. Baseball was played throughout the 1890s and in 1905 the team won the Colorado intercollegiate championship. Women's athletics began in the 1890s when a women's basketball team was first assembled. In 1903 the women's basketball team won what could be considered the first athletic championship by winning 5 out of 6 contests with neighboring schools, including the University of Colorado. A men's basketball team was established in 1904. By the mid 1910s, the college had men's intercollegiate teams in baseball, basketball, track, and cross-country.
After World War II, pressure from students and alumni saw the Board of Agriculture increase funding for intercollegiate athletics. Grant-in-aid for student athletes was increased from 60 scholarships to 132, a new football coaching staff was hired, and student fees for athletics was increased from $1.00 to $3.00. Besides football, men's basketball, baseball, track, wrestling, gymnastics, golf, tennis, and skiing fielded intercollegiate teams, as well as various intramural offerings for male students. Female students were participating in intramural sports in high numbers.
Over the years, the department has been a member of the Rocky Mountain Faculty Athletic Conference, the Big 7 Conference, the Skyline Conference, and the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). In 1999, Colorado State University along with seven other schools broke away from the WAC and created the Mountain West Conference. Currently Colorado State participates in the Mountain West Conference and fields men's intercollegiate teams in basketball, cross country, football, golf, and track and field; and women's intercollegiate teams in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.
Extent
6+ linear feet (4 record cartons, 1 oversize folder)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The athletic department was founded in March 1892 as the Athletic Association at the State Agricultural College (now Colorado State University), for the purpose of organizing and encouraging the formation of a football team and other field sports. This collection contains press releases, programs, and brochures.
Arrangement
The collection consists of 1 series in 4 record cartons and 1 oversize folder:
Series 1: Programs, brochures, and press releases, 1933-2019 and undated
Acquisition
The Records of the Athletic Department was donated by various individuals from 1994 to 2022. Football programs dating from 1935 to 1950 were donated by Karen McCormick, Program Director, Lory Student Center in 2016.
Online Materials
Some materials have been scanned and are available through the Colorado State University Libraries website. In the electronic version of this document, direct links appear in context.
Processing
Processing was completed in October 2012 and revised in 2016 and 2022. Materials were rehoused in acid-free folders and boxes.
Subject
- Colorado Agricultural College. (Organization)
- Colorado State University. (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Records of the Athletic Department
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Prepared by Vanessa Baca; revised by Karen Spilman; revised by Victoria Lopez-Terrill
- Date
- Copyright 2016, 2018
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the CSU Libraries Archives & Special Collections Repository
Fort Collins Colorado 80523-1019 USA
970-491-1844
library_dl_specialcollections@mail.colostate.edu