Suggested Research Topics - Michigan Athletes in the Olympics
Gold medal winners Ralph Craig (100 and 200 meters, 1912), DeHart Hubbard (broad jump, 1924), and Eddie Tolan (100 and 200 meters, 1932) are probably the best known of the U of M athletes who competed in the Olympic Games. From the earliest modern games, however, many U of M athletes have represented the United States and other countries. (In the 1952 games, for example, swimmer John Davis won a gold medal for Australia and three members of the Michigan track team competed for Canada.) Matt Mann, Cliff Keen, and others have served as coaches of U. S. Olympic teams. In 1924 U of M hosted the tryouts for the U.S. track and field team. Michigan does have a long and rather distinguished association with the Olympic games.
There is currently no comprehensive listing of U of M athletes who participated in the Olympics and only a few, very sketchy, narrative accounts. In this paper the student would attempt to compile an authoritative list of Michigan athletes who participated in the Olympics and give an account of their efforts. If the latter becomes too large a project it could be restricted by time period, or by sport.
Sources:
Printed Secondary Material:
- Official reports of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the host nation city organizing committees, available in the Graduate Library.
- Chester, David, The Olympic Games Handbook, and other published histories of the Olympic Games and accounts from contemporary magazines available in the Graduate Library
- Dick Schaap, Illustrated History of the Olympics.
- "Michigan's Part in the Olympic Games" Michigan Alumnus Vol. 7, 1900-1901
University Records and Manuscript Material:
- Athletic Department Scrapbooks
- Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (Media Guides, Press Releases, Photos)
Printed Primatry Material
- Michigan Daily
- Michiganensian
- Michigan Alumnus
- Inlander
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.