History of Oberlin Athletics, undated

This collection consists of the following record series; I. Biographical Data; II. Academic Teaching Files; III. Coaching Files; IV. Community Service; V. Correspondence, and VI. Historical Writing Files. The files support a wider understanding of Oberlin College.

Files relating to Kinsey's teaching and coaching careers (Series II and III) are fairly routine. Research materials documenting the swimming, cross country and track teams are most abundant. His lecture notes and printed matter on sex education, 1905-1939, are descriptive and prescriptive material on relationships and information on contraception, sexually transmmitted infections, and sexual activity.

The Department of Physical Education staff meeting notes, 1940-1958, document both the women's and the men's physical education and athletic programs. A newsletter and a 1954 alumnae directory report on department news and list names, addresses, and current activities of physical education alumnae for the classes of 1894 to 1954. Single documents include a paper by student Helen M. Foster titled "The Bacteriology of Milk" and the "Report of the Committee to Evaluate the Recreation Program of the Phyllis Wheatley Center."

Included in this collection, especially in the coaching and historical writing files, is information about the women's physical education program. Of special interest is the documentation on the women's gymnasium, 1873-1890, and its director, Dr. Delphine Hanna (1854-1941), who served from 1885 to 1920. A letter from Hanna to "her girls" describes her initial training in physical education, her early experience at Oberlin, and the Ladies Hall fire of 1885. Notes from a conversation with Fannie Wright, 1933, a nongraduating student of the 1880s who taught physical education with Hanna in 1888 and replaced her while she was on leave until 1890, are also documented.

In addition, series three and six also contain research materials and notes for Kinsey's thesis, "The History of Physical Education in Oberlin College, 1833-1890." They are mostly undated, but are probably circa the 1920s and 1930s.

In Series IV, Community Service, there are several programs and publications from activities sponsored jointly by the YWCA and the YMCA which Kinsey was involved with spanning 1930s to 1950s. A modest amount of materials relating to the Shansi Memorial Association and the Oberlin Recreation Committee are also located in this series.

Series V, Correspondence, 1922-1970, includes a number of letters from women in behalf of organizations or institutions regarding recreation, sports, job recommendations, and Oberlin Shansi Memorial Association. Correspondence with other physical education professors or coaches usually concerns track and cross country. A modest amount of correspondence is from other Quakers (American Friends Service Committee) and sheds light on that portion of his life.