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Women at Duke University

University Archives materials and collections documenting the history of women at Duke University

Secondary Sources

  • Rowbury, Shannon. "The Changing Face of Women’s Sports at Duke: From Throwing Like a Girl to Competing with the Men." EDUC 146S Research Paper, Duke University, 2007. Electronic copy available via DukeSpace.

Archival Materials

For women in athletics, consult these collections below: 

  • Women's Department of Health and Physical Education records, 1923-1976
    • Major topics in this collection include the curriculum and administration of the department, student attitudes toward P.E., the attempt to build or renovate the gymnasium facility for women, the eventual merging of the Women's and Men's departments, and the effect of Title IX on women's athletics.
  • Athletics Reference Collection: Women's Sports
    • Boxes 14-16 contain information about women's sports, including general information, basketball, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field/cross country, and volleyball. 
  • University Archives photograph collection, 1861-ongoing 
    • Women's athletics: box 43
    • Women's physical education: boxes 69-70
  • Sports Information Office records, 1932-ongoing
    • The collection contains press releases, photographs, audio reels, and other material pertaining to sports at Duke University.
  • Sports Information Office: Photographic Negatives collection, circa 1924-1992, 1995, undated 
    • Sports covered in this collection include the following: baseball, basketball, boxing, cheerleading, cross country, fencing, field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, track, wrestling, and volleyball. There are also negatives that pertain to general athletics. The subjects of the negatives include athletes, coaches, team pictures, and game action.