Call Number:

000.003

Repository:

Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections

Extent:

.29 linear ft. (3 volumes)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Haverford College Athletics scrapbooks (HCS.000.003), Quaker & Special Collections, Haverford College, Haverford, PA.

Date:

1896-1907 (inclusive)

Abstract:

There are three scrapbooks in the collection. The first (1896) deals primarily with the Haverford cricket team. The second (1905-1906) focuses on the Haverford football team, with additional clippings for Haverford cricket, relays, gymnastics, debate, and soccer, as well as clippings about general college happenings. The third (1906-1907) also focuses on Haverford football, including articles on football games, recruits, alumni activity, and pictures of members of the team.

The sport of cricket was introduced to Haverford College around 1833 by William Carvill, the English landscape artist who planned Haverford's campus. In the 19th century, cricket was one of the most popular sports at the College, and a rivalry quickly developed between Haverford and the University of Pennsylvania. The first intercollegiate cricket match was played between the two teams in 1864, and won by Haverford, thus beginning one of the oldest rivalries in college sports history in the United States. Today, Haverford's cricket program is the sole team at the varsity level in the country.

Football was played at Haverford from 1879 to 1972, during which time it occupied an important role in athletics at the College. The football season culminated each year in a highly anticipated match against rival Swarthmore College. From 1904 to 1915, president Isaac Sharpless cancelled this end-of-season match, citing the distraction the game caused across campus. The sport was discontinued by president John R. Coleman in 1972, after the team shrunk from 30 members to 12 during the off-season. He determined that there were too few players to safely continue the program.

Information from Haverford College Athletics, the Haverford Magazine, and the New York Times.

There are three scrapbooks in the collection. The first (1896) deals primarily with the Haverford cricket team, providing information on players and matches. It also includes several articles on the Yale Crew Team. The second scrapbook focuses on the Haverford football team from 1905-1906, and includes write ups on players, photos of the team, game results, and anticipations for games, especially the end of season Haverford-Swarthmore match. Additional athletic clippings are present for Haverford cricket, relays, gymnastics, debate, and soccer. This scrapbook also includes clippings about general college happenings, such as registration, new faculty hires, and college antics. The third scrapbook (1906-1907) again focuses on Haverford football, and was kept by the mother of fullback/captain, Carrol Brown. Athletic material includes articles on football games, recruits, and alumni activity, as well as pictures of members of the team. There is also some information on Haverford soccer and gymnastics. Outside athletics, there are write ups on Haverford registration numbers and student self-governance.

Three volumes, arranged chronologically.