"Every-day Dignity was Forgotten"

by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

An earlier post, included a 1953 photo from "Kid Day" at Newton High School.  Although I have yet to discover when this tradition was started, we do have fun glimpses into the activities it included over the years.

A large collection of photographs belonging to Newton native Myra Utz was recently donated.  Among the photos in an album featuring Myra's younger years was a page labeled "Kid Day '37'".

Myra Utz Photograph Album
1920-1938
HCHM Photo Archives

Evening Kansan Republican, 21 May 1937

According to the newspaper the day featured "knee pants, bashful barefoot boys and proud senior girls with 'little sisters' short dresses and dolls and all-day suckers." 

Jean Trouslot, with an all day sucker
 'Kid Day' 1937
Myra Utz Collection
HCHM Photo Archives

"Everyday dignity was forgotten" as the seniors came to school dressed as children and  performed for a special assembly.  Several  Seniors sang, recited poetry and played the piano.  The program was  followed by a picnic lunch at Athletic Park. The entire school was let out for the event.

The Weekly Newtonian: Senior Edition,
20 May 1937
HCHM Archives

Then the "tug of war at  the tenth street bridge between the two rival classes of N.H.S.".  

Tug of War - 1937
Sand Creek by Athletic Park
Utz Collection

The Seniors and  Juniors faced off with the chilly water of Sand Creek between them.  

Tug of War
Sand Creek at the Broadway Bridge
HCHM 89.30.6

Tug of War
Cook Collection
HCHM 2012.169.049

Tug of War
Cook Collection
HCHM 2012.169.048

No announcement of which class took a dip in the Sand Creek could be found.

End of Tug of War
Cook Collection
HCHM 2012.169.050

Our upcoming exhibit, "Games People Play" will feature group games, like tug of war. What were some of your favorite group games?  Do you have a photo or story to share?  We love to hear it and maybe include it in the exhibit.

Sources

• The Weekly Newtonian: Senior Edition, 20 May 1937
• Evening Kansan Republican, 21 May 1937
• HCHM Photo Archives

Games People Play, which will open in February 2014, will  include board and card games.  There will also be arcade and computer games. Watch our blog and facebook for opportunities to share stories about other games.

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Thirty-seven Words:Title IX & Women's Athletics

by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

Lately, I have been spending a lot of time at the ball diamond, watching two of my children play ball.  I realized that forty years ago my daughter, who loves to play sports, would not have been encouraged to play competitively. There would not have been a team for her to play on. Thirty-seven words adopted June 23, 1972 changed everything.

Sports Illustrated Cover

June 23 marked the fortieth anniversary of the federal legislation known as "Title IX". Although the focus of the legislation was on employment, and the act does not specifically mention "sports", the effect of Title IX was most clearly seen in high schools, which were required by the act to provide equal opportunities for women athletes.

Halstead Girls' Basketball, 1913

Girls in Harvey County had been participating athletic activities for many years, but prior to 1972, it was mainly intramural competitions.  All of the funding for competitive sports at the high school level was on the boys teams.

Newton High School Girls' Basketball, 1921

Walton Girls' Basketball, 1926-27

Hesston Girls' Basketball, 1924-25

Newton High's first Women's Basketball team in 1972.

Newton High School Girls' Basketball, 1972
First Competitive Team

In those early years, the women's teams did not receive much funding. If they lettered in the sport, as Susan Griffith did, they got a letter, but they made their own letter jackets.

Letter Jacket, 1972
Hand constructed by Susan Griffith Agel

Susan Griffith Agel letter

"Women athletics at NHS have finally proved they are worthy of recognition, not only at the local level, but in state competition.  Next year should be even better."  Marcy Wiebe, 1974

Slowly things began to change.  The 1974 Railroader noted that NHS gymnastics placed third at the state level and basketball placed fourth at state. By 1978, women's athletics received the same amount of space in the school year book as men's. 

Newton High Girls' Basketball, 1975

 The 1978 Railroader proudly noted, "Newton Ahead of Times in Handling Girls' Sports."

NHS Girls' Basketball, 1975

Experts agree that the benefits of Title IX, even today, are "almost incalculable." The number of girls competing in high school sports has ballooned over the four decades since Title IX.  In 1972, 294,015 competed; by 2011 the number had grown to 3,173,549 according to the May 7, 2012 Sports Illustrated article. The benefits are also apparent.  In general, girls who compete in sports get better grades, graduate at higher rates and have more confidence.

Watching my daughter and her friends play, it is hard to remember that just a few years ago, it would not have been possible.

Do you have memories of participating in a sport during the early 1970s?