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Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections Pullman, WA 99164-5610 USA (509) 335-6691 Inquiries

Archives 19
Women's Physical Education Department
Records, 1923 - 1976

The Women's Physical Education Department records were donated to the Washington State University Library by Professor Jane Harris Ericson in June 1977. (UA 77-15) The collection was processed in May 1978 by Pat Graham Pidcock.

HISTORICAL SKETCH

Women's physical education at W.S.U. began in 1901-02. Nine years later folk dancing was introduced into the program. Since that time dance has become an increasingly significant part of the women's physical education curriculum.

For further history, see "The History of the Development of the Women's Physical Education Major Program of the State College of Washington, From its Inception in 1919, to 1929," by Maxine Hazel Smith, Pullman, 1951 (Unpublished M.A. thesis).

DESCRIPTION

The records of the Women's Physical Education Department span the years 1923 through 1976 and are concerned with dance, gymnastics, and the Physical Education Majors (P.E.M.) Club. The collection includes correspondence mews, program preparations and schedules, newspaper clippings, and photographs.

The papers are grouped in two series. The first series contains correspondence (1923-1927) between W.S.U. faculty and Miss Elizabeth Burchenal, a folk dance specialist who conducted institutes on campus. Also in the first series are materials from the annual dance/gymnastics festival as well as other dance related activities. Memorabilia from the annual P.E.M. Club high school activities day, the club charter, and the club constitution make up the second series.

ARRANGEMENT

The papers are arranged in two series. The first is concerned with dance related activities: correspondence, financial reports, preparatory notes for productions, programs, clippings, photos. The second series is devoted to P.E.M. Club functions: plans, correspondence, scrapbooks and programs related to the annual activities day; club charter and constitution. Within each series the chronological order of each subdivision and the original filing order in each folder have been retained.

CONTAINER LIST