Cover Page, Girls' Athletics, 1919-1920
The 1920’s were considered The Golden Age of Sport because it was the beginning of high level competitive sport and tremendous athletes began to emerge in every sport. Previous to this time, it was a magnificent time for men sports, but the opposite was true for women. It wasn’t considered lady like to participate in a contact sport, jumping around in basketball, etc. Women were encouraged to play more lady like sports such as golf, tennis, swimming, and field hockey. Women’s looks were more important to people than their accomplishments in the sport. Women began to get more freedom in sports in the 1920’s. With the increase popularity of sport, women were able to participate in more sports than in earlier years.
Women's Athletic Board, 1919-1920
At Wooster, women sports were organized by “The Big Six”, and athletic council. They were called The Big Six because there were only six sports in the 1920’s: hiking, hockey, swimming, tennis, track, and basketball. Each member of The Big Six was a manager for each of the teams.
Girls Swimming in Severance Gym Pool, 1918-19
Women were participating in the same six sports throughout the 1920’s and nothing changed within the sports either. They still had The Big Six and a team manager for each sport. In the 1920’s the women of the college were required to take a swimming class in order to graduate from the college. It may have an effect on the curriculum causing women to be more active and having to learn how to swim.
Cover Page for Women's Athletics, 1918-1919
Women at Wooster had six major sports that they participated in: basketball, swimming, hiking, hockey, track, and tennis. There is a W in the yearbook with 4 letters on it, B, H, S, T which stood for those sports, and it also had a chevron across it. These letters were given to women at Wooster for the first time ever. For the first 500 points awarded for participation in different activities, a woman could earn a W. The chevron was awarded for 150 points in any one sport.
What Women Call Athletics', 1925-1926
In 1921, Kathleen Lowrie, came in the, making an impact on the women sports association as well. She served as Chair of the Department of Women’s Physical Education from 1921 to 1953. She was responsible for building a strong sports program in sports at Wooster. She was also held responsible for developing the Women’s Athletic Association.