Pacific University Women's Athletic Association Scrapbook

Collection

Identifier: RG-7-155

Staff Only

Dates

Creation: 1937-1938

Creator

Women's Athletic Association (Pacific University) (Organization)

Historical Note

Women at Pacific University organized team sports as early as the 1890s. They were given fewer resources and were required to follow more restrictive rules than the men's teams, however. In April 1921, students formed a local chapter of the national Women's Athletic Association (WAA) in order to advocate for women's sports. As reported in the campus newspaper:

In order that Girls' Athletics will have a larger part in our college life and to put us on an equal footing with other standard schools, steps were taken last week toward a girls' athletic organization. The [sports participation] point system standardized by the national association will be adopted in all our branches of athletics." -The Index, Apr. 12, 1921

Because of its strong sports and education programs, many women began attending Pacific University in order to become physical education teachers. The WAA worked to provide ways for them to play against other universities' women's teams, despite a lack of funding or institutional support from Pacific University. As documented in their scrapbook, the WAA organized competitions, oversaw the awarding of women's varsity letters, sent representatives to regional and national women's association meetings, held fundraisers, hosted social events and sponsored other activities to provide social and athletics program support to women students.

Pacific's WAA was active through at least 1950 (possibly later). Women's sports would not receive equitable support from the university until after the passage of Title IX in 1972.