Suggested Research Topics - Sports Clubs, the Athletic Association, and the Board in Control: Governance of University of Michigan Athletics, 1863-1900

From the organization of the Pioneer Cricket Club in 1860 through 1890, athletics on campus were largely managed by "clubs" that had no official standing with the university. In 1890 the Michigan Athletic Association was formed. It was entirely controlled by students. For a three dollar fee any student could join the association and have a voice in the management of the university's athletic teams. The association sponsored the election of managers for each of the sports, scheduled games, maintained athletic fields, and collected the gate receipts from games. By default the association set the university's policies on athletics. The association's undisputed control of athletics seems to have been short-lived however. With the creation of the Board in Control of Athletics in 1894, the faculty began to assert control over the conduct of intercollegiate athletics. By some accounts the Athletic Association concurred in the need for greater control by the faculty but other evidence suggests there was a continuing struggle over who would control university athletics; faculty, students, alumni, coaches, or the administration.

This question is one that has received some attention in the historical and sociological literature but has focused largely on the eastern schools. This paper would attempt to trace the development of athletic governance at the university and compare Michigan's experience with that of other schools.

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In an effort to encourage creative thinking about possible research topics for students unfamiliar with archives and their inevitable complexities, archivists and student employees of the Bentley Historical Library have authored "suggested research topics ." The purpose of these is not to define a topic but rather to stimulate thinking about a topic where the holdings of the Bentley Library are particularly strong.