Athletics, Society, And History

An Undergraduate Course In The History Of American Sport

Abstract

Over the past generation, the dictum that Clio is more than past politics has given rise to a new social history that concerns itself with the lives of ordinary people. The new social history has prompted research and the creation of courses examining family, gender, race, ethnicity, work, and even recreation. Nevertheless, many academics remain skeptical about the legitimacy of courses in sport history.

Since 1982 I have taught "Athletics, Society, and History," an undergraduate American history course, at the State University of New York at Oneonta. By providing an intellectual rationale and practical "how-to" information, based on my own experience, I hope to encourage others to develop courses in sport history. To gain support from departmental colleagues and administrators, many of whom may initially regard athletic studies as facile, a proposal for a course in American sport history needs to provide considerable information about goals, content, and resources.