Department of Athletics records

Collection

Identifier: A017

Scope and Content Note

The Department of Athletics collection consists of approximately 45.8 cubic feet of records, 1,667 reels of film, and 45 cubic ft. of trophies and plaques. The reels of film are found by their location on the shelves rather than by box number, as they are housed in plastic film containers. Because the original order of the records was indiscernible, they were arranged into 4 series: I. Department of Athletics, II. Department of Health, III. Department of Physical Education, and IV. Department of Student Activities. All series are arranged alphabetically then chronologically. The bulk of the records were generated during Herbert Wendell Gallagher's tenure as the Athletic Director, 1953-1977 and Irwin Cohen's time as track coach, 1963-1983 and later as Athletic Director 1983-1993. The Department of Athletics was part of the same Department as Physical Education, Health, and Student Activities from 1921 until the early 1960's. The collection also includes records from all of these now separate Departments. The films portray sporting events, primarily football and basketball, from 1934-2008 (location 24/3/4-7, 24/4/1-7, 25/1/1-7, 25/2/3-4, 25/3/7, 30/1/1-2, and boxes 22-26, 40-52). In addition, of particular note are a collection of 102 cartoons and drawings by prominent sports cartoonist Phil Bissell (box 53, FF1/D2). The cartoons, spanning the years 1964-1985, were used for game day programs and celebrate achievements by Northeastern athletes and coaches.

Dates

Creation: 1921-2014

Creator

Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Department of Athletics (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access:

Records are closed for 25 years from the date of their creation, unless researchers have written permission from the creating office. Personnel and student records are closed for 75 years from their date of creation.

Historical Note

In 1921 the Department of Student Activities was established, with divisions of Publications, Athletics, and Miscellaneous Activities. In 1924, Athletics was established on a University basis with 6 sports, with requirements for eligibility, letter awards, and other phases of intercollegiate competition. From 1929-1953, Edward Parsons was Director of Student Activities, with the later title of Director of Health, Physical Training, and Student Activities. In 1953, Herbert Gallagher was named Director of Health, Physical Training, and Student Activities. From 1960-1962, the Student Activities, Physical Education, and Health components were all separated from the Department of Athletics and in 1960, Herbert Gallagher was named Director of Health and Athletics and Charles Kitchin was named Director of Student Activities. Herbert Gallagher retired in 1977.

Herbert Gallagher attended Northeastern University from 1930 until 1935, earning nine varsity letters in three sports. He was coach of the Austrian national hockey team in the 1936 Olympic Games in Garmisch, Germany. He returned to Northeastern in 1937 to become a professor of physical education, coach of the varsity hockey and freshman baseball teams, and backfield coach of the football squad. In addition, Gallagher served as secretary-treasurer of the New England Athletic Conference, and was at various times president of the New England Athletic Conference, the Greater Boston Collegiate Athletic Conference, the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges, the Intercollegiate Ice Hockey Association, and the American Hockey Coaches Association. He also chaired the National Collegiate Athletic Association Ice Hockey Rules Committee and the United States Olympic Hockey Committee. (Source: box 2, folders 80-81)

Irwin Cohen also attended Northeastern University and graduated in 1961 only to return as an assistant coach in 1962. In 1966 Cohen took over as head coach for Cross Country and Track and Field where the track team rose to new heights in championships. Cohen was award New England Track Coach of the Year in 1972, 1974, 1976 and 1977 and was president of various track and field associations such as Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America Coaches Association and the New England Track and Field Association. Irwin Cohen would later become the Athletic Director for Northeastern University (1983-1993).

Established in 1974, the Varsity Club Hall of Fame recognizes Northeastern University's most impactful and outstanding student-athletes, coaches, and benefactors. Each year, individuals are selected for enshrinement based upon the following primary criteria: performance as a Northeastern student-athlete, character, athletic accomplishment beyond the University, and social impact. As of 2015, the Department of Athletics is home to 18 NCAA Division I sports, 43 club sports, and 32 intramural sports. The majority of Division I teams compete in the Colonial Athletic Association, with the exceptions being men's and women's hockey (Hockey East), and men's and women's rowing (Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges/Eastern Association of Women's Rowing Colleges).

Chronology

1903
: First World Series played at Huntington Avenue American League Baseball Grounds
1921
: Department of Student Activities with divisions of Publications, Athletics and Miscellaneous Activities established
1924
: Athletics established on a University basis with 6 sports, with requirements for eligibility, letter awards, and other phases of intercollegiate competition
1927
: King Husky I becomes first mascot
1929
: First year of hockey as a varsity sport
1933
: First year of football as a varsity sport
1951
: First year of ROTC
1958
: Bronze statue of King Husky I takes place of living dogs as mascots
1961
: Physical Education component separated from Department of Health and Athletics
1962
: Health component separated from Department of Athletics
1964-1965
: Crew started as varsity sport, G. Ernest Arlett named 1st coach. Team competes in Henley
1966
: Baseball team in College World Series
1968-1969
: Minor sports are organized for both men and women. First women's basketball, field hockey, and lacrosse varsity teams
1969
: Barletta Natatorium dedication and Parson's Field dedicated in the name of former athlete, coach and athletics director Edward S. Parsons
1974
: The Varsity Club Hall of Fame is established
1978
: Sports Publicity moved from Athletics Department to Public Affairs
1979
: Northeastern purchases Boston Arena from the state of Massachusetts, arena designated the George and Hope Mathews Arena in 1982
1984
: Center for Study of Sport in Society established
1986
: Dedham Campus Track is completed
1989
: Henderson Boathouse completed, selected as the best boathouse in the United States by American Rowing in 1990
1991
: Jeanne Rowlands, Director of Women's Athletics retires, Men's and Women's athletics departments merged months later, Northeastern admitted to Yankee Football Conference
1993
: The Red Sox and the Yawkey Foundation gives Northeastern a statue of Cy Young, which is placed outside Churchill Hall at the site of the first World Series in 1903
2000-2004
: The women's swimming and diving team won five straight America East championships
2002
: Huskies Football team advanced to the NCAA playoffs for the first time
2005
: Northeastern joins the Colonial Athletic Association.
2009
: Football team plays its final season.
2012
: Athletics Director Peter Roby appointed to the NCAA Division I men's basketball committee.
2015
: Women's Rowing, Men's Basketball, Men's Track and Field win conference championships.

Chronology of Directors

1921-1926
: Joseph Spear, Director of Student Activities
1926-1929
: Harold Melvin, Director of Student Activities
1929-1953
: Edward Parsons, Director of Student Activities, later title of Director of Health, Physical Training and Student Activities
1953-1977
: Herbert Gallagher named Director of Health, Physical Education and Student Activities, later changed to Director of Health and Athletics
1977-1983
: Joseph Zabilski, Director of Athletics
1983-1993
: Irwin Cohen, Director of Athletics
1980-1991
: Jeanne Rowlands, Director of Women's Athletics
1993-1997
: Barry Gallup, Director of Athletics and Head Football Coach.
1997-2002
: Ian McCaw, Director of Athletics
2002-2007
: Dave O'Brien, Director of Athletics
2007-Present
: Peter Roby, Director of Athletics

Extent

165.80 cubic feet (55 containers, 1,667 reels of film, 7 flat file folders)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

In 1921, Northeastern University's (NU) Department of Student Activities was established, with divisions of Publications, Athletics and Miscellaneous Activities. In 1924, athletic participation in six sports at NU was formalized, with requirements for eligibility, letter awards, and other phases of intercollegiate competition. From 1929 to 1953, Edward Parsons was Director of Student Activities, with the later title of Director of Health, Physical Training and Student Activities. In 1953, Herbert Gallagher became the director. Between 1960 and 1962, the student activities, physical education, and health components were separated from the Department of Athletics. The Varsity Club Hall of Fame was established in 1974 and recognizes Northeastern University's most impactful and outstanding student-athletes, coaches, and benefactors. As of 2015, the Department of Athletics is home to 18 NCAA Division I sports, 43 club sports, and 32 intramural sports.

Overview

The bulk of this collection consists of athletic films and VHS tapes, mainly from football and basketball. The collection also documents the activities of Northeastern University's Department of Athletics and its predecessor, the Department of Student Activities, between 1930 and 1996. The bulk of these records were generated during Herbert Wendell Gallagher's tenure as Athletic Director, 1953-1977. The collection also includes records from the Departments of Physical Education and Health, which were sub-divisions of the Department of Student Activities between 1921 and 1962. Records include correspondence and memoranda, athletic films, newspaper and magazine clippings, athletic programs, press releases, schedules, score books, student lists, policies, agendas, trophies, and plaques. Of special interest are several letters from students and colleagues detailing their experiences in World War II. The collection also includes a significant amount of records pertaining to the Cross Country and Track and Field team from 1921-1998 that were created during Irwin Cohen's time as a track coach (1962-1983), these records consist of correspondence, records of team workouts, and programs from cross country and track and field events. The Varsity Hall of Fame records include files for each inductee, consisting of biographical data, induction programs, newspaper clippings, notes, photographs, press releases, and travel sheets. In addition, of particular note are a collection of 102 cartoons and drawings by prominent sports cartoonist Phil Bissell. The cartoons, spanning 1964-1985, were used for game day programs and celebrate achievements by Northeastern athletes and coaches.

System of Arrangement:

This collection is organized into five series: Series I. Department of Athletics, Subseries A. Administration, Subseries B. Varsity Club Hall of Fame, Subseries C. Baseball, Subseries D. Basketball, Subseries E. Cross Country, Subseries F. Football, Subseries G. Ice Hockey, Subseries H. Outside Associations and Committees, Subseries I. Phil Bissell Cartoons; Series II. Department of Health; Series III. Department of Physical Education; Series IV. Department of Student Activities; and Series V. Athletic Memorabilia.

Physical Location

24/2-4, 25/1-3, 9/1-4, 30/1, 32/2, 32/4, FF4/D1, FF4/D2, 42/3-4

Related Archival Materials:

A sortable index of the Varsity Club Hall of Fame inductees is available online at http://www.gonu.com/hof.aspx?tab=halloffame.

Bibliography

Marston, Everett C. Origin and Development of Northeastern 1898-1960. Boston : Northeastern University Press, c.1961. CALL NUMBER: LD4011.N22M3
Frederick, Antoinette. Northeastern University: An Emerging Giant: 1959-1975. Boston : Northeastern University Custom Book Program, c.1982. CALL NUMBER: LD4011.N22F7X
Frederick, Antoinette. Northeastern University, Coming of Age: The Ryder Years, 1975-1989. Boston : Northeastern University, c. 1995. CALL NUMBER: LD4011.N22F732
Feldscher, Karen. Northeastern University, 1989-1996: The Curry Years, Smaller but Better. Boston: Northeastern University, c. 2000. CALL NUMBER: LD4011.N22 F45 2000
Northeastern Athletics, Northeastern History and Championships http://www.gonu.com/sports/2010/3/25/GEN_0325105245.aspx, Accessed July 9, 2015.
Northeastern University. Northeastern Hall of Fame: Irwin M. Cohen, Northeastern University, http://gonu.com/hall/hall2.html
Northeastern University Athletics Official Web Site. Northeastern University, http://gonu.com/facilities/